Cajun Chicken Salad - An easy flavourful cajun chicken salad with a homemade smoky cajun seasoning, salad, avocado and sour cream and mayo dressing.
Cajun Chicken Salad
In this recipe chicken breast/thighs is marinaded in cajun spices such as smoke paprika, garlic, thyme, cayenne and more.
The chicken is delicious and juicy on the inside and is served with a creamy dressing and crunchy salad.
This is the ideal salad to have for a healthy light lunch or dinner that is ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
Enjoy it as a low-carb meal during the warmer months, or meal prep it for the week.
Ingredients & substitutions
This is what you will need to make this salad:
Chicken breast or thigh
You can use either one of these in this cajun chicken salad. This recipe also works well with salmon. Chicken breast is the leaner option.
Cajun Seasoning
Oil, Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Oregano, Thyme, Cumin Powder, Fennel Powder, Smoked Paprika, Black Pepper.
Or use a store brought cajun seasoning mix.
Salad
Spinach Leaves, Cucumber, Gherkins, Jalapeños, Corn. You can add any veg you like here or use a store brought salad too.
Avocado
This is chopped and dressed with Lime, Chilli Flakes, Salt and Pepper. You can also mash the avocado instead.
Creamy Dressing
Sour Cream, Mayonnaise, Milk, Lemon Juice, White Vinegar, Chives, Garlic, Salt and BlackPepper. You can replace the Mayo and Sour Cream with Plain or Greek Yoghurt.
How to make it
Chicken Marinade
Add Chicken and marinade ingredients to a bowl and set aside for 30 minutes. You can skip straight to cooking if you are short on time.
Salad
Chop salad ingredients and place on a platter.
Cook the corn in a pan for 3 - 4 minutes until lightly golden. Add the corn to the platter.
Avocado
Cut Avocado and add Lime, Chilli Flakes and Salt and Pepper. Add to the platter.
Dressing
Combine all the ingredients for the dressing (Mayo, sour cream, milk, lemon, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper and chives) in a bowl and whisk together.
Cook Chicken
Heat a non-stick pan on medium to high heat.
Add Oil. One hot, add chicken and cook for 3 - 4 minutes each side depending on thickness. Rest for a few minutes then chop against the grain into strips and add to platter.
Drizzle over dressing.
Optional - serve with Nacho chips.
Can I make it ahead?
You can marinate and cook the chicken a few days in advance.
The dressing can also be made-up to 3 days ahead and kept covered in the fridge.
You can cut up all your veg aside from avocado and keep in a container in the fridge.
Assemble the salad up to one hour in advance then drizzle the dressing on top just before you are ready to serve.
What Should You Serve With Cajun Chicken Salad?
This Chicken salad pairs well with many recipes.You can serve it as it is with nachos or serve:
With some Pasta for an easy healthy salad.
With tacos, wraps or bread for a filling lunch.
With crackers for a healthy snack.
Tips,Tricks and Variations for Cajun Chicken Salad
Dressing
If you prefer not to use Mayonnaise and Sour Cream, use Plain or Greek Yoghurt.
Salad
Add any of your favourite salad ingredients - chopped red onions, red peppers etc.
Nuts and Seeds
Add some toasted seeds and nuts for some crunch - Sunflower, sesame, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts walnuts or pecans.
Crotuons
Stir in some toasted croutons for texture.
Add some dry Fruit
Golden Raisins, Suttanaas or Cranberries work well.
Add some fresh Fruit
Strawberries or Grapes work incredibly well in this recipe.
Adjust the flavours by adding herbs to the dressing
Such as Parsley, Oregano or Thyme.
Add Cheese
A sprinkling of Feta works well with this recipe.
Resting Time
All salads benefit from 10 - 15 minutes of time to rest. This allows the flavours to mingle.
Use leftover roast chicken
To save time use leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken.
How long does Cajun chicken salad last for?
It will last for 3 - 5 days in a airtight container or tightly covered bowl.
You can eat it the next day and up to the 5th day. Beyond that, it should be discarded.
Can you freeze cajun Chicken Salad?
I would not recommend freezing any chicken salad. The dressing contains dairy and this will separate so I would not recommend it!
More Chicken Salad Recipes that you will love!
Easy Rotisserie Chicken Salad Recipe
Chicken Tikka Salad - Perfect for Meal Prep
Indian Chicken Salad with Avocado Green Chutney Dressing
Best, Easy and Spicy Mexican Chicken Salad
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Cajun Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 1 lb Chicken Breasts
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1 flat teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Pinch Ground Fennel
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper powder
Salad
- ½ Cucumber deseeded and chopped into rounds
- Handful Spinach Leaves
- 1 tablespoon Gherkins chopped
- 1 tablespoon Pickled Jalapeños
- 2 tablespoon Corn
Avocado
- 1 Avocado Stone removed and sliced
- ½ Lime Juice Only
- ½ teaspoon Red Chilli Flakes
- Pinch Salt and Black Pepper
Dressing
- 115 g Sour Cream Sauce
- 115 g Mayonnaise
- 120 ml Milk
- 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon White Wine Vinegar
- 2 Garlic Cloves Crushed
- 1 teaspoon Chives Chopped
- ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Other
- 2 tablespoon Oil Olive, Veg or Corn
Instructions
Chicken Marinade
- Add Chicken and marinade ingredients to a bowl and set aside for 30 minutes. You can skip straight to cooking if you are short on time.
Salad
- Chop salad ingredients and place on a platter.Cook the corn in a pan for 3 - 4 minutes until lightly golden. Add the corn to the platter.
Avocado
- Cut Avocado and add Lime, Chilli Flakes and Salt and Pepper. Add to the platter.
Dressing
- Combine all the ingredients for the dressing (Mayo, sour cream, milk, lemon, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper and chives) in a bowl and whisk together.
Cook Chicken
- Add Oil. One hot, add chicken and cook for 3 - 4 minutes each side depending on thickness. Rest for a few minutes then chop against the grain into strips and add to platter.
Assemble
- Drizzle dressing over salad.Optional - serve with Nacho chips.
Notes
Can I make it ahead?
The dressing can also be made-up to 3 days ahead and kept covered in the fridge. You can cut up all your veg aside from avocado and keep in a container in the fridge. Assemble the salad up to one hour in advance then drizzle the dressing on top just before you are ready to serve.What Should You Serve With Cajun Chicken Salad?
This Chicken salad pairs well with many recipes.You can serve it as it is with nachos or serve: With some Pasta for an easy healthy salad. With tacos, wraps or bread for a filling lunch. With crackers for a healthy snack.Tips,Tricks and Variations for Cajun Chicken Salad
Chicken You can marinate and cook the chicken a few days in advance. Dressing If you prefer not to use Mayonnaise and Sour Cream, use Plain or Greek Yoghurt. Salad Add any of your favourite salad ingredients - chopped red onions, red peppers etc. Nuts and Seeds Add some toasted seeds and nuts for some crunch - Sunflower, sesame, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts walnuts or pecans. Crotuons Stir in some toasted croutons for texture. Add some dry Fruit Golden Raisins, Suttanaas or Cranberries work well. Add some fresh Fruit Strawberries or Grapes work incredibly well in this recipe. Adjust the flavours by adding herbs to the dressing Such as Parsley, Oregano or Thyme. Add Cheese A sprinkling of Feta works well with this recipe. Resting Time All salads benefit from 10 - 15 minutes of time to rest. This allows the flavours to mingle. Use leftover roast chicken To save time use leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken.How long does Cajun chicken salad last for?
It will last for 3 - 5 days in a airtight container or tightly covered bowl. You can eat it the next day and up to the 5th day. Beyond that, it should be discarded.Can you freeze cajun Chicken Salad?
I would not recommend freezing any chicken salad. The dressing contains dairy and this will separate so I would not recommend it!Nutrition
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