Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad

5 from 6 votes

Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad

This Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad is a bright and refreshing vegetable salad with traditional Jamaican jerk flavor, avocado, greens, cucumber, and more crunchy and colorful produce.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Main Course, Salad

Keyword: baked, chicken, classic, dinner, easy, food, healthy, homemade, indulge, Jamaican, recipe, salad, spicy, spring, summer, traditional, weeknight meals

Servings: servings

Calories: 801kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

JERK CHICKEN:

2 lbs. organic chicken breasts (It's best to marinate overnight; You can season with dry rub or jerk marinade; See post for info!)
1-2 Tbsps Homemade Jerk Dry Rub Seasoning

SALAD:

2 bunches organic kale, de-stemmed + roughly chopped (You can use green or red or both)
1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
1 organic cucumber, peeled + chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped (You can also roast it, if preferred; See my Herb Roasted Tomatoes recipe for inspo)
1 Haas avocado, peeled, pitted, + chopped in chunks (optional)
1 poblano pepper, chopped (You can also roast it, if preferred; See my Herb Roasted Tomatoes recipe for inspo)

DAIRY-FREE BBQ RANCH DRESSING:

1 cup vegan mayonnaise
½ cup Almond milk (You can use your fave plant-based milk!)
½ cup BBQ sauce, premium
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
½ teaspoon dried dill weed
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of sea salt + black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

BAKE THE JERK CHICKEN:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
If you marinate your chicken overnight in the refrigerator, remove and let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before adding to prepared baking sheet and baking it for for 30-35 minutes or until fully cooked through. NOTE: When done, the chicken should look "dark" in color from the jerk seasoning and crusted, but juicy + clear on the inside. Remove from oven and slice into "strip-like' chicken or chunks, if preferred.

TO MAKE THE BBQ RANCH DRESSING:

Add all ingredients into a high-powdered blender and blend until sauce becomes creamy. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

CHOP + MASSAGE KALE:

Strip the leaves from 2 large bunches kale and discard the stems if you haven't already. Roughly chop the leaves and add them to a large bowl. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil atop chopped kale and using clean hands, rub together the kale gently for about 2-3 minutes to soften the leaves and help to infuse the 'flavors' of the kale.

ASSEMBLE THE SALAD:

To the bowl with the kale, add the sliced cooked jerk chicken, chopped cucumber, bell peppers, poblano peppers, onion, avocado chunks (if using), and ½ of the BBQ Ranch dressing, tossing everything together. NOTE: You can add the dressing to the salad when tossing OR set aside until serving.
To serve, add the salad to your bowl(s) and add your favorite toppings like grated parmesan, croutons, etc. if desired.
Bon Appetit!

Notes

STORAGE: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
MAKE AHEAD: The jerk chicken can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. The dressing can be made and refrigerated in a separate airtight container. The salad can be chopped up to 30 minutes before serving.
HERB ROASTED TOMATOES: To see the recipe, tap this link.
GREENS: If preferred, you can always add greens like Romaine lettuce, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Microgreens, Spinach or Collard Greens to this salad for added flavor + texture.
JERK SEASONING (STORAGE): You can keep leftovers in a small tightly sealed jar and at room temperature for up to 6 months like your other herbs + spices.
EQUIPMENT: Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad. Everything from my fave high-powered blender, baking sheets, wooden spoons, salad chopper, mixing bowls, and more.

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