This straightforward Grilled Hen Salad combines juicy grilled hen, contemporary greens, candy mango, black beans, and a creamy cilantro lime yogurt dressing for a high-protein, high-fiber meal that’s excellent for lunch or dinner.
Grilled Hen Salad with Mango and Black Beans
Grilled Hen Salad is one in all my favourite summer season meals as a result of it’s straightforward, excessive in protein, and filled with contemporary substances. This model options juicy grilled hen, mango, black beans, crisp romaine, cucumbers, and tomatoes, all tossed with a creamy cilantro lime dressing with Greek yogurt that provides a lot taste. The dressing additionally doubles as a marinade for the hen, making each chew vivid, zesty, and scrumptious.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Hen Salad Recipe
Loaded with protein, fiber, and colourful greens, this wholesome grilled hen salad with cilantro lime dressing is hearty sufficient for dinner and excellent for meal prep lunches, whereas nonetheless feeling gentle and refreshing for heat climate.
- A whole, satisfying meal: Whoever stated salad doesn’t work for dinner clearly hasn’t tried one with over 34 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber!
- Nice for meal prep: You possibly can prep some elements a day early, and it’s straightforward to pack for on-the-go meals.
- Quick: As soon as the hen marinates, it cooks in underneath quarter-hour, making it an excellent possibility for busy weeknights.
Grilled Hen Salad Elements
The creamy cilantro lime dressing serves two functions: as a salad dressing and as a hen marinade, including vivid, savory taste to each chew. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.
- Boneless, skinless hen breasts are a lean supply of protein. Whereas they’re not as flavorful as thighs, the salad dressing makes them extra thrilling.
- Kosher salt for seasoning.
- Romaine lettuce: Chop 2 romaine hearts into small items.
- Greens: Cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, crimson onion.
- Mango: Ripe mangoes are mushy to the contact however not mushy. To chop them, you may both peel or minimize off the pores and skin. Then, stand the mango upright, slice the flesh off across the pit, and cube it. Alternatively, you may minimize the mango with the pores and skin nonetheless on. Then, slice the mango into cubes and minimize it out of the pores and skin.
- Canned black beans for protein and fiber
- Cilantro leaves for garnish
Cilantro Lime Dressing for Salad
Don’t fear about completely dicing all of the substances. A tough chop works as a result of all the pieces will get blended anyway.
- Cilantro: Pack the leaves and tender (AKA skinny) stems tightly right into a 1-cup measuring cup.
- Jalapeño: Take away the stem and seeds, then roughly chop it.
- Aromatics: Inexperienced onions and garlic for taste.
- Lime juice: The acidity brightens the dressing and tenderizes the hen.
- Creamy substances: Utilizing entire milk Greek yogurt and mayonnaise creates a richer dressing than low-fat choices.
- Kosher salt brings all of the flavors collectively
Learn how to Make Grilled Hen Salad
Should you don’t have a grill or grill pan, use a cast-iron skillet or an air fryer (air fry at 380°F for five minutes per facet). Additionally, letting the hen relaxation earlier than slicing it’s going to assist it keep juicy, so don’t rush it! See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.
- Learn how to make cilantro lime salad dressing: Add all of the dressing substances to a blender or mini meals processor and mix till clean. Pour 2 tablespoons right into a mixing bowl and refrigerate the remaining.
- Marinate the hen: Pound the hen breasts to a fair thickness so that they cook dinner evenly. Toss them with the dressing and allow them to marinate for half-hour to eight hours.
- Grill the hen on an outside grill or a grill pan indoors. Prepare dinner over medium-high warmth for 4 to six minutes per facet, checking for doneness with an instant-read thermometer. When it reaches 165°F, take away the hen from the grill and let it relaxation for five minutes earlier than slicing.
- Assemble the salad: Add all of the greens, mango, and black beans to a salad bowl. High with hen, drizzle with dressing, and garnish with cilantro.
Variations
- Protein choices: Swap hen breasts for boneless, skinless thighs and even rotisserie hen for those who’re quick on time. You may additionally use shrimp, steak, or salmon. If utilizing seafood, solely marinate it for 20 minutes.
- Vegetarian: Omit the hen, and add additional veggies, like avocado or bell peppers.
- Lettuce: Use little gem or spinach as a substitute of romaine.
- Vegetable swaps: Substitute crimson onions with shallots or cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes. Should you use a bigger tomato, take away the seeds earlier than chopping. If utilizing a daily cucumber, peel it first.
- Fruit selections: If mango isn’t in season, thaw frozen mango. This salad would even be delish with pineapple or peaches.
- Not a cilantro fan? Whereas it’s the star of the present, you may substitute chives or parsley.
- Make it spicier: Depart the seeds and ribs within the jalapeño, or substitute it for a serrano. You too can high your salad with diced jalapeños for an additional kick.
- Make it lighter: I like to recommend utilizing the full-fat merchandise, however you may strive it with 2% Greek yogurt and lightweight mayo.
- Protein increase: Add queso fresco or cotija cheese on high.
- Add some crunch: High your salad with crushed tortilla chips.
Meal Prep Ideas
- Do the prep early: Many of the work will be finished a day prematurely if that’s extra handy. Grill the hen, make the dressing, and prep a number of the toppings, so there’s much less work to do the day you eat the salads.
- Learn how to pack it: Retailer the chopped romaine in a single massive container and the hen, veggies, mango, and black beans in one other. Hold the dressing in a separate container. To assemble on the go, add the toppings to the bigger lettuce container and drizzle with dressing.
- Storage: The hen and dressing will final for as much as 4 days within the fridge.
- Repurpose leftovers: Wrap the salad substances in tortillas for straightforward hen tacos.
- Freeze the hen for as much as 3 months, then thaw it within the fridge in a single day earlier than consuming.
Extra Grilled Hen Salads You’ll Love
For extra summer season dinner conceptsstrive one in all these 5 easy grilled hen salad recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
Yield: servings
Serving Dimension: 1 salad, about 2 ¼ cups
- 1 tightly packed cup cilantro, leaves and tender stems
- 1 medium jalapeño, stem and seeds eliminated and roughly chopped
- 2 inexperienced onions, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ cup greek yogurt, entire milk
- 1 tablespoon mayo
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 pound boneless skinless hen breasts
- 5 heaping cups chopped romaine, from 2 romaine hearts
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, unhealthy ones
- ¼ small crimson onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)
- 3 Persian cucumbers, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 cups ripe mango, cubed, from 2 small
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- Cilantro leaves, for garnish
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To make the dressing, add the cilantro, jalapeño, inexperienced onions, lime juice, garlic, greek yogurt, mayo and ½ teaspoon salt to a blender. Mix till utterly clean. Switch 2 tablespoons right into a mixing bowl. Cowl the remaining dressing with plastic wrap and put aside within the fridge till prepared to make use of.
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Pound the hen breasts barely to make them a fair thickness all through, this helps forestall them from drying out on the grill. Season with salt. Add the hen breasts to the blending bowl with the reserved dressing. Toss nicely to mix. Cowl and let marinate within the fridge for at the very least half-hour however as much as 8 hours.
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Preheat an outside grill or indoor grill pan to medium excessive warmth and calmly oil the grates. Place the hen breast on the grill in a fair layer. Prepare dinner for 4-6 minutes per facet, till the hen is properly charred on each side and cooked by. The interior temperature must be 165° F. Take away the hen from the grill and relaxation 5 minutes. When the hen is cool sufficient to deal with, slice it on the bias.
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To assemble the salad, add the romaine to a salad bowl. High with the cherry tomatoes, crimson onion, cucumbers, mango, and black beans. High with the sliced hen. Drizzle the dressing on high of the salad and high with cilantro leaves.
Final Step:
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** dressing makes 1 cup
** whole salad makes about 9 cups
Serving: 1 salad, about 2 ¼ cups, Energy: 325 kcal, Carbohydrates: 31.5 g, Protein: 34.5 g, Fats: 7.5 g, Saturated Fats: 1.5 g, Ldl cholesterol: 88.5 mg, Sodium: 316 mg, Fiber: 9 g, Sugar: 15.5 g
