High Protein Chicken Street Corn (Printable version)
A hearty grilled chicken and street corn salad packed with fresh vegetables and a creamy lime dressing.
# What you need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/2 tsp cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
→ Salad
08 - 4 ears fresh corn (or 3 cups frozen/thawed corn kernels)
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
11 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
12 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
13 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
14 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta)
→ Dressing
15 - 3 tbsp Greek yogurt (or light sour cream)
16 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
17 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
18 - 1 tsp honey
19 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
20 - 1/4 tsp salt
# How To:
01 - Preheat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil, then evenly coat both sides with smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Place the chicken on the hot grill and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - Grill the corn ears for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating occasionally, until lightly charred. Carefully cut the kernels from the cobs using a sharp knife. If using frozen corn, char the kernels in a hot skillet for 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, toss together the grilled corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, avocado, and crumbled cotija cheese.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, honey, chili powder, and salt until smooth and well combined.
07 - Add the sliced chicken to the salad bowl, drizzle with the dressing, and toss gently to combine. Serve immediately, garnished with extra cilantro and cheese.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of charred sweet corn and creamy avocado creates an irresistible texture contrast.
- You get a massive punch of flavor without spending hours chained to the stove.
- It delivers an impressive amount of protein to keep you full and energized for hours.
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest is absolutely mandatory to avoid dry, chewy slices of breast meat.
- Wait to add the avocado until right before serving to prevent it from turning an unappetizing brown color.
03 -
- Patting the chicken completely dry with paper towels before adding oil guarantees a superior crust on the grill. The Maillard reaction simply cannot happen if the surface moisture blocks the high heat.
- Removing the silks completely from the corn before grilling prevents annoying burnt strings in your final salad.