Baja Chicken Kale Salad With Avocado Lime Dressing

3 Reviews
Published Jan 13, 2019 ∙ Kristina Stosek

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This Baja Chicken Kale Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing is a hearty and tasty gluten-free dish that’s perfect for warmer weather. If you’re looking for a nutritious and satisfying salad to enjoy this summer, this Baja chicken kale salad will definitely hit the spot!

What Does “Baja” Mean?

“Baja” refers to a style of food that combines Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. This chicken kale salad gives you the delicious taste of Mexican cuisine without the extra calories, using healthy fats instead.

baja chicken kale salad with avocado and corn chips on a plate

What Gives This Chicken Kale Salad Its Baja Flavor?

The secret to the Baja flavor in this chicken kale salad lies in the carefully chosen spices. The chicken is seasoned with chili, cumin, and garlic, then cooked in fresh lime juice, creating that signature Baja taste.

What Vegetables Are in Baja Salad?

This delicious salad features baby kale, avocado, green onions, black beans, and corn—a classic combination found in many Baja salads.

What’s in the Avocado Lime Dressing?

This dressing is creamy and garlicky, with a burst of fresh lime juice and a hint of sriracha for added spice. The creaminess comes from avocado and coconut milk, while cilantro adds a refreshing touch.

To make the dressing, simply blend all the ingredients in a high-speed blender until rich and creamy. It’s so good, you might just want to eat it with a spoon!

How Is Baja Chicken Kale Salad Made?

First, brown the chicken and season it with the spices, then cook it with fresh lime juice.

Next, toss the kale and veggies with the creamy avocado lime dressing just before assembling the salad.

Once the kale and veggies are well-coated, top the salad with the flavorful spiced chicken and crunchy gluten-free corn chips.

The corn chips are optional; you can add as many or as few as you like. However, I find that the chips make the salad heartier and add a satisfying crunch!

baja chicken kale salad with limes on the side

Delicious and Satisfying Baja Chicken Kale Salad

Yes, this salad tastes as good as it sounds! If you enjoy Mexican food, you won’t be disappointed with this satisfying Baja chicken kale salad.

Make-Ahead Baja Chicken Kale Salad

The best part is that you can prepare the chicken and the dressing in advance. When you’re ready to serve, simply toss the greens with the avocado lime dressing and add your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

If you love Mexican food, check out our gluten-free Mexican recipes to get you inspired. Or, check out our popular list of summer salads.

Baja Chicken Kale Salad With Avocado Lime Dressing

3 reviews
Published Jan 13, 2019 · Kristina Stosek
Prep Time:
20 min
Cooking Time:
15 min
Serves:
4

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. avocado or coconut oil
2 chicken breasts, sliced into about 1-inch wide strips
1 tsp. GF chili powder
1 tsp. GF cumin powder
1 tsp. GF garlic powder
Juice of 1 large lime
Himalayan salt and GF ground black pepper to taste
6 cups roughly chopped baby kale, stems removed
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans (if using canned, drain and rinse thoroughly)
1 1/2 cups cooked corn (I used fresh corn, but you can use frozen corn)
4 green (spring) onions, sliced
1 avocado, sliced
Crushed GF tortilla chips
AVOCADO LIME DRESSING
1 medium avocado
Handful of fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, grated or minced
1/4 cup coconut milk or other non-dairy milk
Juice of 1 large lime (about 3 Tbsp.)
1 tsp. Pure maple syrup
1 - 2 tsp. GF Sriracha hot sauce (optional)
1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add juice of 1 lime and cook for about 10 more minutes until the chicken is cooked. Set aside
  2. To make the dressing, blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth
  3. In a large bowl combine kale, black beans, corn, green onions and avocado. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine. Top with chicken and tortilla chips

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