Blackened Chicken Salad

Blackened chicken salad with an avocado crema dressing is a flavorful and vibrant dish. The chicken is seasoned with a bold blend of spices like paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and thyme, then seared to a crispy, charred exterior, giving it a smoky and slightly spicy flavor. The chicken is then sliced into strips and placed on top of a bed of fresh kale and various vegetables.
The veggies in the salad can include a variety of colorful ingredients such as cherry tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, cucumber, and maybe some corn or shredded carrots, adding both crunch and sweetness to balance the spiciness of the chicken. The creamy avocado crema dressing is rich and smooth, made by blending ripe avocado with Greek yogurt, lime juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt. This dressing ties the dish together, providing a cooling, velvety texture that complements the blackened chicken and fresh vegetables.
The combination of bold, spicy chicken, crisp veggies, and creamy avocado dressing creates a satisfying and well-rounded meal, perfect for those craving something hearty yet refreshing. If you like this blackened chicken salad recipe, try my Tajín Lime Chicken recipe next.
What is Blackened Chicken?
Blackened chicken is a chicken is coated in a flavorful spice blend and then cooked at high heat, typically in a cast-iron skillet, which results in a crispy, charred exterior and a juicy interior. The seasoning is key to achieving the signature smoky, spicy flavor of blackened chicken.
How to Make The Seasoning Blend:
The seasoning is made from a blend of spices that create a bold, savory, and slightly spicy flavor profile. A basic blend for blackened seasoning is:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon paprika (for color and smokiness)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (for heat)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (adds an earthy, herbal note)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin (optional, for a bit of warmth and earthiness)

Blackened Chicken Salad
Equipment
- Cast Iron Pan
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken breasts butterflied and pounded thin
- 2 tbsp oil
Blackened Seasoning Blend
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground or dried thyme
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
Avocado Crema Dressing
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 jalapeño seeds removed
- juice and zest of one lime
- ⅕ cup cilantro
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
Salad Assembly
- 4 cups kale washed and chopped
- ¼ red onion sliced thinly
- 1 cup roasted corn kernels
- ½ red bell pepper finely diced
- 1 small cucumber small diced
- ¼ cup shredded carrot
- 1 avocado diced
- ¼ cup feta cheese
Instructions
- To a bowl, drizzle your chicken with 1 tbsp. of oil and season with the blackened chicken seasoning blend. Massage well.
- To a cast iron skillet on medium heat, add 2 tbsp. of oil to the pan and sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked. Remove from pan.If using corn in your salad, feel free to roast corn in the same skillet.
- To a food processor or bowl, add in all ingredients for the avocado crema dressing. Mix well.
- Assemble salad and enjoy immediately.