Mexican Street Corn Grilled Chicken Salad is a fiesta in a bowl! A base of lime massaged kale salad packed with black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion and avocado. This Kale Chicken Salad is topped with Zesty Lime Grilled Chicken and drool-worthy Mexican Street Corn!
Kale Chicken Salad with Mexican Street Corn
Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad is an amazing Summer Recipe you’ll make again and again! Warmer weather is moving in which means it’s time to fire up the grill again.
When it’s hot out you don’t want to turn on your oven because it heats up your house, making you feel hot and uncomfortable.
Grilling is the best option for hot days because it not only tastes great, but it allows you to be outside while you are cooking enjoying the beautiful weather.
What is Mexican Street Corn?
As the name suggests Mexican Street Corn is a popular street food offering in Mexico. Made with grilled or boiled corn on the cob and smothered in a zesty cream sauce and Mexican cheese. It can be served still on the cob or sliced off into a cup to eat with a fork.
For this salad we are slicing the cooked corn from the cob and tossing it with sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, queso fresco and spices.
We have a serious Street Corn addiction! Some of our other favorite Mexican Street Corn recipes include:
Tips for Making Kale Chicken Salad
You might be unsure about if you’re a lover or hater of kale. It’s a healthy, hearty green that is sure to please, if prepared correctly!
Massaging the kale helps make it softer and also more flavorful, especially when massaged in citrus juice!
Why do we massage the kale?
The base of the salad is made by hand massaging kale with lime and olive oil. Massaging kale helps to break it down making it much softer in texture and less bitter in flavor. It is easy to do, add the kale to a large salad bowl, add some fresh lime juice and olive oil.
Using clean hands, work the kale with your fingers for about a minute until it is softer and has reduced in size by about half. This small step is so important to enjoying delicious Kale Salad!
How to make Zesty Lime Grilled Chicken
Start off by slicing the chicken breasts into 1 inch wide strips. Toss the chicken with lime zest, lime juice, olive oil, garlic salt and a little bit of coriander. Let that sit and marinate for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours.
Heat your grill to medium heat, carefully add the chicken strips, grill until cooked through about 6-8 minutes, flipping as necessary so it does not burn. Remove from grill and let the chicken cool before adding it to the salad.
Putting this Kale Salad all together!
This salad Mexican Street Corn Grill Chicken Salad is packed full of toppings. Not only is it topped with the Zesty Lime Grilled Chicken and creamy Mexican Street Corn, it’s also has black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion and avocado.
You can toss everything together in 1 big salad bowl or you can serve each salad individually.
Looking for me? We have all the Mexican chicken recipes you need!
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole Skillet
- Chicken Enchiladas
- BBQ Chicken Nachos
- Southwest Chicken Bake
- Chicken Flautas
- Chipotle Chicken Burritos
- Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
- Baked Salsa Chicken
Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the Zesty Lime Grilled Chicken
- 1.5 pound chicken breast
- 1 lime
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- ¼ tsp coriander
For the Massaged Kale Salad
- 6 cups of chopped kale
- 1 lime
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 cup black beans
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup red onion chopped
- 1 avocado sliced
For the Mexican Street Corn
- 4 ears of sweet corn
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- Juice of 1 lime
- 4 oz queso fresco
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- dash of black pepper
Instructions
For the Zesty Lime Grilled Chicken
- Pat chicken breasts dry
- Cut into 1inch wide stripes
- Add chicken to a large bowl
- Zest the lime into the bowl over the chicken
- Slice the lime in half and squeeze the lime juice over the chicken
- Add the olive oil, garlic salt and coriander
- Mix until chicken is evenly coated
- Set aside for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours
- Heat grill to medium-high heat
- Carefully lay the chicken stripes on to the grill
- Grill for 3-4 minutes on each side, be careful not to burn
- Once the chicken is cooked through, remove from grill and set aside
For the Mexican Street Corn
- Heat the grill to medium*
- Remove the silk from the corn husks
- Submerge the corn in cold water for about 5 minutes
- Shake off any excess water and make sure the husks are closed back up over the corn
- Place the corn husks on the grill and cook with the lid closed for 15-20 minutes until the corn is tender
- Remove the corn from the grill, allow to cool
- Remove the husks and slice the corn off the cob into a medium sized bowl
- Add the sour cream and mayonnaise to the corn, mix
- Slice the lime in half and squeeze the lime juice over the corn, mix
- Add the cheese, mix
- Season with chili powder, garlic salt and black pepper, mix
For the Lime Massaged Kale Salad
- In a large salad bowl add the kale
- Slice the lime in half and squeeze the lime juice over the kale
- Add the olive oil
- Using clean hands, gently massage the kale for about 1 minute, the kale will begin to break down and soften
- Sprinkle with garlic salt
- Chop the cilantro and add it to the salad bowl, toss
- Add the black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion and avocado, gently toss**
- Top with the Zesty Lime Grilled Chicken and Mexican Street Corn
Notes
Suzy says
Craving this for lunch tomorrow!
Becky Hardin says
I hope you love it!
Toni says
I love it! Really flavorful and easy to make!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks so much Toni!
Cailyn Medley says
YUM! I love love love elote! It’s a summertime favorite for me but really I could eat it once a week. Such a unique twist!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks Cailyn!
Ashley F says
This is the best summer salad! Loaded with flavor!
Becky Hardin says
Agree. Thanks Ashley!
Steph says
Such a delicious salad! I love all of the hearty toppings that go on this one!
Becky Hardin says
ME TOO!
Liz says
I love Mexican street corn and turning it into a entree salad was genius. So tasty!!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks Liz!
Sommer says
Love everything in this salad! It’s calling my name!
Becky Hardin says
It’s so good!
Sam says
I am a huge fan of Mexican Street Corn, but never even thought of making it with chicken. I made it today.
It was such a great recipe that my whole family loved. Thanks for sharing.
Becky Hardin says
That seriously makes me SO happy!
Toni says
This is such an amazing salad! Love how flavorful it is!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks Toni 🙂