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Easy Chipotle Chicken Salad Recipe
Ben Carraoli

Easy Chipotle Chicken Salad Recipe

I recently made this easy chipotle chicken salad, and honestly, it completely changed how I think about chicken salad. Instead of being plain or boring, this version is packed with smoky, spicy, and fresh flavors.
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Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 444
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • ½ cup red onion finely diced
  • ½ cup bell pepper finely diced
  • 2 jalapeños finely minced
  • 20 large black olives diced
  • ½ –1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons of chipotle in adobo sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Start by adding mayonnaise, chipotle adobo sauce, and lemon juice into a large bowl. Stir everything together until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Taste the dressing and adjust with salt and pepper if needed.
  2. Shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces so it mixes evenly with the dressing. Finely dice the red onion, bell pepper, jalapeños, and black olives. Smaller pieces help every bite contain a balanced mix of ingredients.
  3. Add the shredded chicken, diced vegetables, and olives into the bowl with the chipotle dressing. Stir everything together until the chicken and vegetables are fully coated with the creamy sauce.
  4. Taste the salad and check if it needs additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice. Adjusting the seasoning at this stage ensures the flavor is balanced and bold.
  5. You can serve the salad immediately, but letting it chill for a short time allows the flavors to blend even better. Once ready, enjoy it with bread, wraps, or lettuce leaves.

Notes

  • I like using rotisserie chicken because it saves time and keeps the salad juicy and tender.
  • I usually taste the chipotle mayo first before adding chicken so I can adjust the spice level.
  • I prefer finely chopping the vegetables so every bite has balanced flavor.
  • I sometimes add sunflower seeds or pepitas right before serving for extra crunch.
  • I find that chilling the salad for about 30 minutes makes the flavors blend beautifully.