Chipotle Chicken Salad is a smoky, spicy mix of chicken, vegetables, mayonnaise, and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. This flavor-packed salad is a delicious twist on the classic chicken salad, offering all the smoky goodness of chipotle with a refreshing crunch and a creamy, satisfying dressing.
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Why this Chipotle Chicken Salad Recipe is a Keeper
This chipotle chicken salad is packed with flavor, and it’s so easy to make. It’s an easy lunch option that includes diced red onion, crunchy veggies, chipotle peppers, and flavorful chicken breasts. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this chicken salad:
- 20 Minute Meal: Mix this easy salad together in just 20 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients can found in your kitchen or local grocery store. It is great for meal prep and such a pleasant change from tuna salad.
- Makes Great Leftovers Throughout the Week: This salad looks amazing, and the salad ingredients come together to make a great option for an easy dinner. Use leftover chicken salad as a topping for romaine lettuce wraps, sub sandwiches, and salads. It’s also delicious with crackers or tortilla chips. Yum!
If you’re looking for more lunch recipes, try these: Orzo Chicken Salad, Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad, and Chicken Picadillo Taco Salad.
Is this Creamy Chipotle Chicken Hot?
Thanks to the chipotle peppers in adobe sauce, this chipotle chicken salad is bursting with flavor. The peppers give this recipe a spicy kick, but compared to other hot peppers, it’s on the lower end of the Scoville scale, which is used to measure the heat level of peppers. Because chipotle peppers are just smoked jalapenos, they’re spicier than ancho peppers, another smoked pepper variety, but far less spicy than habaneros or ghost peppers.
Crispy Chipotle Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Chicken: This is a great recipe for leftover chicken. It calls for 4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts, so rotisserie chicken will work fine. You can also cook the chicken in the crockpot.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: These peppers will give this chipotle chicken salad a distinct kick. You can buy chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the international aisle at your local grocery store, or at Hispanic markets.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
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Variations and Substitutions to Make Chipotle Chicken Salad
- Veggies: To add more texture and flavor to this delicious lunch recipe, try black beans, sliced avocado, and corn. I will definitely be making it with different veggies.
Fun Fact
There are two varieties of chipotle peppers: the meco and morita peppers. Morita peppers are typically found in the United States, while meco peppers are more common in southern Mexico.
How to Make this Recipe for Adobo Chipotle Chicken
These are the basic steps for making chipotle chicken recipe. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions. If you haven’t made this yet, you have to give this recipe a try. We love reader interactions so leave us a review and snap a photo.
1. Prepare Shredded Chicken
Cook chicken breasts, then shred using two forks and set aside in a medium sized bowl.
2. Blend Chipotle Mixture
In a blender or food processor, mix mayo, sour cream, and half to a whole can of the chipotle peppers, depending on your personal taste and how spicy you want it to be, and blend until smooth.
3. Mix Together
Add the chipotle mixture to the shredded chicken and red onion. Mix until well combined. Then, chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving
Easy Lunch Chipotle Chicken Salad FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Chipotle-Lime Chicken Salad
- Texture: For a crunchy texture, you might like to use crispy tortilla strips or chopped pine nuts.
- Chipotle-Lime Chicken Salad: You can also make this recipe with lemon juice or lime juice, Monterey jack cheese, celery, and red bell peppers.
- Spice Blend: Season the chicken salad with spices such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chipotle powder. You can also give this spicy chipotle chicken salad more flavor with a tablespoon of salt and black pepper, chili powder, and onion powder.
More Chipotle Recipes
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Chipotle Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded
- 1 Small Onion, finely minced
- ½ cup Celery, finely chopped
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Chipotle Chili in Adobo Sauce
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
- Cook chicken breasts then shred using two forks, set aside in a medium sized bowl
- In a blender or food processor mix mayonnaise, sour cream, and 1/2 to a whole can of the chipotle peppers (the amount of peppers depends on your personal taste and how spicy you want it to be) and blend until smooth.
- Add the chipotle mixture to the shredded chicken and onion. Mix until well combined.
- Chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.
Expert Tips
- Texture: For a crunchy texture, you might like to use crispy tortilla strips or chopped pine nuts.
- Chipotle-Lime Chicken Salad: You can also make this recipe with lemon juice or lime juice, Monterey jack cheese, celery, and red bell peppers.
- Spice Blend: Season the chicken salad with spices such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chipotle powder. You can also give this spicy chipotle chicken salad a tablespoon of salt and black pepper, chili powder, and onion powder.