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Home - Lunch

Published: Aug 3, 2017 · Modified: Oct 5, 2021 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

Cajun Chicken Salad

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A light Cajun chicken salad that will become your new summer jam. Served with creamy guacamole and peppery arugula for an amazing salad experience. 

pure and simple cookbook review

I need to check in with you. How has summer been treating you? I've been woefully neglectful of this space while I enjoy the summer with my daughter. She's been busy with three different camps and trips to the beach and play dates. And I've also been kept quite busy myself for one important reason. I was planning on sharing this in a way that was a bit more formal, but I can't keep it to myself any longer and I need to share it with you now.

Friends, I've met someone.

Cajun chicken salad with snap peas and arugula. The perfect summer salad

It's crazy right? I mean I've mentioned my woes of dating as a single parent in the past and I've all but given up on it. I became comfortable and happy with  my life as a business owner and mother. But this has been a really amazing unexpected change. It's not been easy adding someone new into my life and maybe I've been a little distracted. But I haven't been in a relationship for years that I am allowing myself this momentary lack of focus.

An irresistible grilled Cajun chicken salad served with guacamole and peppery arugula

One of the things me and my new guy - I will need to come up with a nice nickname for him soon - are doing is concentrating on our health and eating well. So I've been experimenting with different recipes. I've loved the Pure and Simple cookbook for delicious recipes that are wholesome and delicious, but still really easy to prepare. In short, the book really lives up to its name and I love it for that. Most recipes only call for a short list of ingredients and the recipe is usually to the point. My favorite is the grilled Cajun chicken salad.

A grilled Cajun chicken salad that everyone will fall head over heels in love with.

The first time I made the Cajun chicken salad, it was basically perfect. A great blend of flavors and texture with just the right amount of crunch from the snap peas. My only problem was that I wanted a bit more spice in my chicken, but that is an easy fix with just another pinch or two of the cayenne pepper. This is the perfect salad for meal prepping. I make a bigger batch of chicken and keep everything separate until I am ready to have lunch.

Recipe Card

pure and simple cookbook review

Cajun Chicken Salad

Amanda Powell
A refreshing, light cajun chicken salad packed with flavor
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4 salads
Calories 339 kcal
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Ingredients
  

Cajun Spice

  • 4 teaspoons paprika
  • 3 tablespoons dried thyme
  • 2 garlic cloves finely minced
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Cajun Chicken Salad

  • 20 oz chicken breasts
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 7 oz sugar snap peas
  • 4 to matoes
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 lime
  • arugula
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Mix together the ingredients for the Cajun spice in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Slice the chicken into strips. Place the chicken, 2 tablespoons oil, and spices into a container or gallon-sized plastic bag and mix well. Set aside to marinade.
  • Heat a pot of water to a boil. Add the snap peas and cook until al dente, approximately 2 minutes. Drain and cool. Set aside
  • Cut the tomatoes into thin strips, reserving any dripping liquids in a small bowl. Remove the pulp and place in the small bowl. Add a tablespoon of oil into the bowl with the tomato pulp. Add salt and pepper into the small bowl and stir well to create a vinaigrette.
  • Heat a skillet over medium high and add the remaining oil. Add the marinated chicken and cook about 10 - 15 or until the chicken is cooked through.
  • While the chicken is cooking, halve and remove the pit of the avocado. Place the avocado in a bowl and mash with the lime. Add salt and pepper.
  • Place arugula, tomatoes, snap peas, chicken, and guacamole on plates. Serve with the tomato juice vinaigrette,

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 339kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 33gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 320mgPotassium: 969mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1909IUVitamin C: 61mgCalcium: 104mgIron: 6mg
Keyword 3 ingredients, cajun, chicken, salad
Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

 

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About Amanda Powell

Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Borchardt says

    August 07, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Soooo happy for you! This salad looks amazing and delicious!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      August 09, 2017 at 11:48 pm

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  2. Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says

    August 07, 2017 at 8:15 am

    Love the spicy salad! I could eat it every day...and glad you are having a spicy summer too!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      August 07, 2017 at 1:08 pm

      Haha thank you! Let's hope the spice lasts for many more summers to come!

      Reply
  3. Teri Giese says

    August 07, 2017 at 4:08 am

    That's so fantastic that you have a man in your life!I was a single mom of 3 girls,all under 4;when I met my husband of 25 years!And HE was a total and unequivocal ,glorified bachelor!!LOL!The way to a man IS through his stomachs;I can vouch for that!At least for the long haul,anyway!Have fun and enjoy yourself!!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      August 07, 2017 at 1:11 pm

      It's tough being a single parent, but I've loved it. I can't imagine with three little ones though, you are seriously a Super Mom! I'm so happy you found the one in the end haha I'm lucky my guy enjoys food and cooking as much as I do! Thank you so much!!

      Reply
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Hey, I'm Amanda!

I am the baker and photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. I'm a cookbook author, food science nerd, world traveler (sometimes) with a major weakness for cookies and cheese.

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