Spicy Chipotle Grilled Chicken Salad: Your Ultimate Summer Meal with Black Beans, Corn, and Guacamole
Experience a burst of flavor with this incredible chipotle spice-rubbed grilled chicken salad, perfectly complemented by crisp lettuce, hearty black beans, sweet corn, and creamy guacamole. This easy-to-prepare meal is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for weeknight dinners or a vibrant summer gathering. Alternatively, use the versatile dry rub to create delicious grilled chicken to serve with any side dish you desire. Either way, this recipe is a true winner!
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Chicken is a staple in many households, and ours is no exception. Its lean protein and mild taste make it incredibly adaptable, allowing it to shine in countless recipes. From comforting soups and hearty casseroles to light salads, and prepared in methods like baking, roasting, or grilling, chicken consistently forms the backbone of our family’s favorite dinners. This versatility ensures that we can enjoy it multiple times a week without ever getting tired of it, making it an essential component of a balanced and delicious diet.
Given our family’s love for chicken, it’s no surprise that I frequently develop new and versatile chicken recipes. This particular creation joins the ranks of other beloved dishes such as our Maple Mustard Chicken, the satisfying Mediterranean Chicken Pesto Pasta, and the zesty Spicy Chicken Noodle Salad. Each recipe offers a unique flavor profile, but all share the common thread of being easy, delicious, and family-friendly.
As soon as warmer weather arrives, our preferred method for cooking chicken shifts to the grill. Grilling imparts a wonderful smoky flavor and creates a perfectly tender interior, especially when paired with a well-crafted spice rub. This recipe features a homemade chipotle spice blend, which I developed to replicate and even improve upon a favorite store-bought version. The result is a flavorful and spicy grilled chicken that is equally delightful on its own or as the star of a vibrant salad.
The recipe I’m excited to share with you here is truly a fantastic two-for-one deal, offering incredible flexibility for your meal planning:
- First, you get a phenomenally delicious chipotle spice-rubbed chicken that can be enjoyed simply as a main course with any side dish you prefer. Its robust flavor means it stands proudly on its own.
- Second, it provides the foundation for an easy and flavorful Southwestern-inspired salad, featuring black beans, corn, and creamy guacamole. This vibrant salad serves as a perfect, healthy base for the spiced chicken, transforming it into a complete and satisfying meal.
My hope is that this dry-rubbed chicken will quickly become a go-to favorite in your culinary repertoire. Its ease of preparation and explosive flavor make it ideal for busy weeknights. And when you’re in the mood for something fresh and light, simply pair it with the easy, colorful salad. Our family absolutely adores this combination for simple summer meals, and I’m confident yours will too!
Crafting the Perfect Chipotle Spice Rubbed Grilled Chicken
Essential Ingredients for Your Chipotle Spice Rub
This chipotle spice rub is a powerhouse of flavor, delivering a delightful smoky heat that works wonders on chicken and is equally fantastic as a seasoning for vegetables. You’ll likely have some rub leftover after preparing your chicken (unless you’re cooking for a very large crowd!), which is excellent news. This extra rub can be stored in an airtight container for future use, making it a wonderful and versatile seasoning for roasted or grilled potatoes, sweet potatoes, or other vegetables, adding just the right amount of warmth and complexity.
To create this incredibly aromatic and flavorful rub, you will need the following ingredients:
- Dried ground chipotle peppers: These are the star, providing the signature smoky, moderate heat that defines this rub. Look for pure ground chipotle for the best flavor.
- Kosher salt or sea salt: Essential for enhancing all the other flavors and seasoning the chicken properly. Kosher salt’s larger flakes distribute well.
- Paprika: Adds a lovely reddish hue and a subtle sweetness that balances the spice of the chipotle. Both sweet or smoked paprika work well, with smoked adding another layer of depth.
- Black pepper: A classic seasoning that provides a sharp, pungent note and a touch of heat. Freshly ground is always best.
- Dried rosemary: Contributes an aromatic, piney, and slightly citrusy note, pairing beautifully with chicken and other savory dishes.
- Dried thyme: Offers a delicate, earthy, and slightly floral flavor that complements the other herbs and spices.
- Garlic powder or granulated garlic: Provides a savory, umami depth without the moisture of fresh garlic, ensuring a true dry rub.
- Onion powder: Adds a subtle, sweet, and pungent onion flavor that rounds out the spice blend.
- Chicken pieces: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs are the easiest and quickest to grill. However, you can absolutely grill bone-in legs, thighs, and breasts for an equally delicious result, just be mindful of the adjusted cooking times.
Using a dry rub is a fantastic way to infuse maximum flavor into your chicken without the mess or extended marinating time often associated with wet marinades. The spices cling directly to the meat, creating a delicious crust as it cooks. Plus, making your own spice blend means you control the quality and freshness of the ingredients, and you can adjust the heat level to your family’s preference. This homemade chipotle rub will elevate your grilled chicken to restaurant quality with minimal effort.
Simple Directions for Perfectly Grilled Chicken
Grilling chicken to perfection requires just a few simple steps, especially when armed with this incredible chipotle spice rub. Follow these instructions for tender, flavorful results every time:
- Prepare the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine all the dry rub ingredients. Whisk them together thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of flavors. This simple step is key to a consistent taste across all your chicken pieces.
- Rub the Chicken: Use your hands to generously rub the spice mixture over all sides of your chosen chicken pieces. Don’t be shy – ensure every part of the chicken is coated, as this creates that delicious crust and infuses deep flavor. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw chicken.
- Marinate or Grill: For maximum flavor penetration, allow the chicken to marinate in the dry rub for at least 30 minutes, or up to four hours in the refrigerator. If you’re short on time, you can grill immediately, and it will still be incredibly flavorful.
Now, let’s get that chicken on the grill! Proper grilling technique ensures juicy, tender chicken every time:
- Preheat Your Grill: Always start with a clean, preheated grill. For boneless chicken, aim for medium heat. For bone-in, you’ll use both direct and indirect heat zones. Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
- Grill Boneless Chicken: Place boneless chicken pieces (breasts or thighs) over direct medium heat. Grill for approximately 8-10 minutes per side. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your chicken. Cook until the thickest part of the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when checked with a reliable meat thermometer. Brian and I absolutely swear by this meat thermometer for accurate doneness checks – it’s a game-changer for avoiding dry chicken!
- Grill Bone-In Chicken: If using bone-in chicken, begin by placing skin-side down over direct medium-high heat. Grill until the skin is beautifully marked and crispy, typically 5 to 8 minutes. Then, turn the pieces over and move them to indirect heat. Close the grill lid and continue to cook until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part (avoiding the bone) registers 165°F (74°C). This usually takes 15-20 minutes for legs, and 20 to 30 minutes for thighs and breasts, depending on their size. Remember to turn the chicken halfway through the indirect grilling time for even cooking.
Always allow your grilled chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing it from the grill. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a more tender and flavorful result. Just a few minutes of patience can make all the difference between good grilled chicken and truly spectacular grilled chicken!
It’s truly amazing how dedicating just a few minutes to mixing some spices and rubbing them onto chicken 30 minutes to a few hours before grilling can transform a simple meal into a restaurant-worthy dish. This small investment of time yields enormous flavor dividends.
This chipotle spice rub is genuinely a flavor game-changer, elevating ordinary grilled chicken to something extraordinary. The smoky, savory notes, combined with a hint of heat, create an unforgettable taste experience that will have everyone asking for more.
PRO TIP: Always grill more chicken than you think you’ll need! Refrigerate the delicious leftovers to easily create future meals like flavorful salads, quick wraps, hearty sandwiches, or even quesadillas. The irresistible smokey-grilled flavor truly can’t be beaten and adds a gourmet touch to any dish.
Assemble Your Ultimate Grilled Chicken Salad with Corn, Black Beans, and Guacamole
While our chipotle-rubbed grilled chicken is absolutely divine on its own, layering it over a bed of vibrant, Southwestern-inspired vegetables transforms it into a mouth-watering and complete main dish salad. This creates a satisfying meal that’s both healthy and incredibly flavorful, perfect for a light lunch or a hearty dinner.
Creating this Southwestern-style salad is surprisingly simple and can be done while your chicken is cooking, ensuring a fresh and quick meal in 30 minutes or less. We rely on pantry staples like convenient frozen corn (which you can easily prepare in advance), wholesome black beans (canned or pre-cooked work great), and your favorite shredded cheese. These ingredients come together effortlessly to form a vibrant base for your star chicken.
Grilled Chicken Salad Ingredients
Gather these fresh and flavorful components to build your sensational salad:
- Crisp Lettuce: Romaine, iceberg, or a spring mix all work wonderfully as the refreshing base.
- Sweet Corn: Fresh, frozen, or canned – drained and rinsed.
- Black Beans: Rinsed and drained, providing a creamy texture and protein boost.
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a spicy jalapeño Jack for extra kick.
- Additional Vegetables (optional): Elevate your salad with chopped red onion, juicy tomatoes (cherry or Roma), bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange for color and sweetness), or a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
- Creamy Guacamole: Store-bought for convenience, or whip up a batch of homemade chunky guacamole with ripe avocados, diced tomatoes, onion, a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, and a touch of garlic.
- Your perfectly grilled Chipotle Chicken: Sliced or diced for easy eating.
- Salsa for serving or your preferred salad dressing: A zesty salsa adds authentic Southwestern flair. If you prefer a dressing, I highly recommend our healthier American French Dressing, or a vibrant cilantro-lime vinaigrette would also be excellent.
Simple Directions for Assembling Your Salad
Putting together this gorgeous and delicious salad is quick and easy:
- Prepare Your Base: Begin by layering fresh, chopped lettuce on individual plates. For a family-style presentation or serving a group, you can beautifully arrange all the ingredients on a large platter.
- Build the Layers: Over the lettuce, evenly distribute approximately 1/4 cup each of corn, black beans, and shredded cheese. This creates a colorful and textured base. Feel free to add any additional vegetables you’ve chosen, such as chopped onions or peppers, at this stage.
- Add the Star Chicken: Once your chipotle-spiced grilled chicken has rested, slice it against the grain into bite-sized pieces or strips. Arrange these flavorful chicken pieces attractively on one side of each salad.
- Include the Guacamole: Spoon a generous dollop of your creamy chunky guacamole right next to the chicken. The cool, rich avocado provides a wonderful contrast to the spicy chicken.
- Finish with Dressing: Drizzle your salad with your favorite salsa for an authentic Southwestern kick, or use a salad dressing of choice. A light vinaigrette or a creamy dressing would also work beautifully.
Serve this complete and satisfying salad with crunchy tortilla chips for dipping into the guacamole and salsa. It’s truly a warm-weather-friendly meal that the whole family will adore, offering a perfect blend of fresh, spicy, and savory flavors.
Chipotle Spiced Grilled Chicken Salad FAQs
While the dry rub adds a lot of incredible flavor even if applied right before cooking, allowing the chicken to marinate enhances its depth. If you have the time, rubbing the chicken 30 minutes to 1 hour (or even up to 4 hours) in advance will allow the spices to penetrate deeper into the meat, resulting in an even more intensely flavorful and tender grilled chicken. This also helps create a better crust on the grill.
Absolutely! Both boneless chicken thighs and breasts work perfectly in this recipe. Chicken tenders will also cook beautifully but will require much less cooking time due to their smaller size – keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking. Bone-in chicken pieces (legs, thighs, breasts) can also be used, though their cooking time will need to be increased as detailed in the grilling instructions. Ensure all chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
Yes, you can certainly prepare many components of this meal in advance to streamline your cooking process. All the salad ingredients, except for the guacamole, can be chopped and mixed ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. The chicken can be rubbed with the spice mixture up to four hours before grilling and kept chilled. For the freshest taste, we recommend preparing the guacamole just before serving to prevent browning, and grilling the chicken closer to mealtime for the best texture.
Chipotle refers to a smoked, dried jalapeño pepper. This smoking process gives it a distinct smoky flavor profile in addition to its moderate heat. On the Scoville scale, chipotles generally rank between 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), placing them as milder than a cayenne pepper but spicier than a poblano. In this rub, the chipotle provides a noticeable but not overwhelming warmth, balanced by the other spices. You can adjust the amount of ground chipotle to suit your personal preference for heat.
While grilling adds an irreplaceable smoky flavor, you can absolutely adapt this recipe for other cooking methods. To pan-fry, heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side for boneless cuts. For baking, place the seasoned chicken on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-30 minutes, or until it reaches 165°F (74°C) internally. Adjust cooking times based on chicken thickness and type.
Explore More Easy Grilled Main Dishes
If you’re looking for more delicious and simple grilled recipes to add to your repertoire, check out these fantastic options:
- Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Tacos with Chipotle Sauce: A light and zesty seafood option perfect for a summer evening.
- Sesame Cabbage Salad with Grilled Chicken (30 Minute Main Dish): Another quick and flavorful chicken salad that comes together in a flash.
- Smashed Garlic Burgers with (or without!) Jalapeño (Brew Pub Style): For when you crave a hearty burger with a kick.
- Grilled Beef Greek Style Lettuce Wraps: A fresh and healthy way to enjoy grilled beef with a Mediterranean twist.
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Chipotle Spice Rubbed Grilled Chicken Salad with Guacamole, Corn & Black Beans
Ingredients
Chipotle Spice Rub:
- 2 tablespoons dried ground chipotle
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt, (or 2 ½ teaspoons sea salt)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Grilled Chicken & Salad:
- 6 boneless chicken thighs or 3 boneless chicken breasts*
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 ½ cups cooked black beans, or 1 14-ounce can
- 1 ½ cups cooked corn
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar, jack, or jalapeno jack cheese
- 1 cup prepared guacamole like this best chunky guacamole
- salsa for serving or dressing of choice, like American French
Instructions
Spice Rub Marinade:
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Prepare spice rub by mixing all the spices and seasonings together in a small bowl.
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30 minutes to up to 4 hours before grilling, rub the chicken all over with the chipotle spice rub and place in refrigerator.
Grill Chicken:
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Grill the chicken over medium heat, about 8-10 minutes on each side, or until the thickest part of the meat reads reads 165°F on a thermometer. *
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Serve on it’s own or slice the chicken for the salad.
Corn, Bean & Guacamole Salad:
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Prepare salad by dividing the lettuce between 4 to 6 plates.
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Evenly distribute the remaining salad ingredients, except the guacamole and salsa, on top of the lettuce (alternately, layer the salad ingredients on a large platter).
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Keep plates refrigerated while the chicken cooks and then divide the sliced chicken among the plates. Top each with a dollop of guacamole.
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Serve with salsa and tortilla chips.
Notes
Note: Nutrition was calculated with complete salad.
Nutrition
This updated recipe was originally sponsored by Foster Farms in 2015.
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