Street Corn Chicken Salad with Creamy Cotija Dressing
A hearty Tex-Mex salad featuring charred corn, shredded chicken, and a tangy cotija-yogurt dressing. Packed with crunch from corn and pickled jalapeños, balanced by creamy textures and smoky flavors.
Ingredients
- 2-4 tablespoons white vinegar (use apple cider vinegar if preferred)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (for pickles)
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (remove seeds for milder heat)
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes)
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 large red onion, minced
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt (for vegetables)
- 1 lb (~4 cups) cooked shredded chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (neutral oil optional)
- Kernel corn (12-15 ears, charred)
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 avocados, diced
- Lettuce or greens (optional base)
Instructions
- Combine vinegar, salt, jalapeño, and 1 tbsp water in a bowl. Soak 10 minutes.
- In another bowl, toss cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, 2 tbsp vinegar (plus 2 tbsp water), and 1 tsp salt. Marinate 10 minutes.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high. Add corn kernels and sauté until golden-brown, 6-8 minutes.
- Whisk cotija, yogurt, honey, garlic, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp red wine vinegar until thickened.
- In a large bowl, layer marinated veggies, sautéed corn, shredded chicken, half the dressing, and half the cilantro. Top with avocado and remaining dressing.
- Garnish with remaining cilantro and extra lettuce if using.
Notes
Swap cotija for feta or queso fresco if unavailable.
Marinated vegetables can be made 1-day ahead.
Store leftover corn in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
For smokier flavor, use chipotle pepper oil (optional).
Marinated vegetables can be made 1-day ahead.
Store leftover corn in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
For smokier flavor, use chipotle pepper oil (optional).
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 14gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 620mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5g
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