Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

This Honey Mustard Chicken Salad is a flavorful yet healthy meal made with juicy honey-mustard marinated chicken on a bed of fresh greens with beans, avocado, bacon, cheese, and the absolute best tangy-sweet homemade honey mustard dressing. Made with fresh ingredients, it's easy to make and perfect for meal prepping, lunch or dinner.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

Do you ever find yourself in a salad rut, struggling to find a new and exciting way to enjoy leafy greens? Well, say goodbye to boring salads and hello to a flavor explosion! Introducing Honey Mustard Chicken Salad - a delicious and balanced meal that will leave your taste buds begging for more.

Chicken is marinated in a homemade honey mustard marinade, then cooked to juicy perfection. Then the salad is loaded high with all of your favorite greens, veggies, bacon, cheese, avocado, and other favorite toppings, and drizzled in the absolute best tangy-sweet homemade honey mustard dressing.

This versatile dish combines the sweetness of honey, the tanginess of mustard, and the heartiness of chicken, to create a mouthwatering and satisfying salad.

Can I Use Store Bought Honey Mustard Dressing?

Yes, but why would you?! This homemade version is exponentially more tasty, healthy, AND it's super easy to make!

Can I Grill the Chicken?

Yes, please! You can cook the chicken however you like, including grilling or baking.

• When ready to cook, preheat grill.
• Place chicken breasts on grill and cook, covered on high for 3 minutes. Flip breasts and continue cooking on high for an additional 3 minutes.
• Reduce grill heat to low and flip chicken again. Cover and continue cooking, 3 minutes more. Flip chicken again and cook 3 more minutes on low, or until a meat thermometer reads 160° when inserted into the thickest part of the meat.

No matter the cooking method, I highly recommend cooking the chicken breast whole, and then slicing later. This will keep it juicier, no matter the cooking method.

How to Make Raw Red Onion Less Potent

If you're like me and LOVE onion but hate the after taste it leaves later or that sometimes it's just too strong, try this trick!

Slice your onion (thinly for this salad. No one wants a mouth full of onion!). Loosely separate the rings into a small bowl. Fill the bowl with cold water, and let it sit while you assemble the rest of the salad.

When you're ready for the onion, dump out the water, give the onion a quick rinse, and then pat dry. Add to your honey mustard chicken salad, and be amazed!

The rinsing will literally rinse away the harsh, sulfur flavor and leave you with a more gentle flavor without the burn. I do this before adding onion to all salads or anywhere that the onion will be raw and I don't want it overpowering softer flavors.

How to Meal Prep Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

This is a great salad to meal prep. Separate dressing into separate small containers. Place the beans on bottom of meal prep containers so that they do not make the greens soggy. Place everything else, including the cooked chicken, into containers, and save for up to 4 to 5 days, covered in the refrigerator.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Variations and Add-ins

• Mustard - I prefer to use plain ol' yellow mustard. But you can also use Dijon or a grainy mustard.
• Mayo - A good mayo will make the dressing. The only two kinds of mayo I use anymore are Duke's, which is hands down the best in flavor, especially for sauces, or Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Mayo, which I've only been able to find at Costco. Just know that your mayo will make a difference in flavor, so use a good one, or at least your favorite one.
• Seeds or Nuts - Add or substitute any seeds or nuts. My favorites for salads are chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, sliced or slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, or hemp seeds.
• Beans - Beans add extra fiber and bulk to the meal, leaving you feeling more satisfied. You can use any type of bean, including chickpeas or garbanzo, kidney, black, or pinto beans.
• Cheese - Goat cheese isn't for everybody, and if it's not for you, just use your favorite! An excellent comparable substitute for goat cheese is feta. But you can use your favorite cheese, too! Try cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, or even blue cheese if you're feeling adventurous.
• Greens - I like using romaine in salads, especially meal prep because I feel it holds up best, but you can also use or add other greens such as kale, spinach, or arugula. If using kale, massage it with a little olive oil to soften it first.
• Veggies - Add in any and all of your favorite veggies, if you'd like including shredded cabbage, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, chopped asparagus, or whatever your heart or stomach desires.
• Berries - Add a little extra sweetness to the salad with fresh or dried berries such as blueberries or strawberries.
• Hard Boiled Egg - Hard boiled eggs can add a protein boost. For more hard-boiled egg tips, you can visit my full post on perfect hard-boiled eggs for how to make them and the easiest tips.
• Pre-cooked Chicken - Pre-cooked chicken, including grilled strips or rotisserie chicken can be a huge time-saver. Simply skip the marinating and cooking steps, and just assemble the salad.
• Croutons - Add a little savory crunch with a handful of croutons on top of your honey mustard chicken salad.

More Healthy Salad & Lunch Recipes You'll Love

• Buffalo Chicken Salad - Zesty spicy chicken tossed with healthy greens and vegetables and topped with creamy ranch. Everything you love about buffalo chicken in one big satisfying salad!
• Spicy Tuna Roll Bowl - An easy and cheap way to get your sushi fix at home! All of your favorite parts about a spicy tuna roll in one filling bowl, topped with all of the spicy mayo you could want.
• Classic Egg Salad - a quick and simple lunch that's great on bread as a sandwich, in a wrap, or in a salad as a topping.
• Pizza Pasta Salad - This pasta salad is as great for a meal as it is for potlucks. I love to use chickpea or lentil pasta and add a handful of greens when I'm serving it as a meal.
• Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad - When barbecue and ranch unite, it's basically heaven. This chicken salad is no exception! A salad so good, it feels like a treat.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Video