This chicken fajita salad is definitely on par with any big, fresh main-dish restaurant salad you can order. There’s just so much good stuff going on, flavor- and texture-wise, thanks to the crisp greens, tender grilled vegetables, and crispy tortilla chips.
This post was created in partnership with Primal Kitchen.
I’m all for trying new recipes, but there are a few family favorites I find myself making on repeat, and this salad is definitely at the top of the list. In fact, my husband Dean has requested this recipe numerous times and after finishing it he always says, “I’d totally pay $15 for that in a restaurant!”
If that’s not a stamp of approval, I don’t know what is! Pair it with our real food margaritas or our frozen strawberry margaritas and a side of chips, salsa, and guacamole. You’ll definitely feel like you’re treating yourself to a meal out at your local Mexican restaurant.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you need to make this chicken fajita salad recipe today:
For the Dressing & Marinade:
- Oil – we recommend Primal Kitchen organic avocado oil for grilling since it’s a high-quality oil with a high smoke point
- Lime juice and zest
- Cilantro leaves
- Garlic cloves – use 2 garlic cloves and mince them finely
- Honey – may sub maple syrup
- Seasonings – chili powder, cumin, oregano, and fine salt; may sub fajita seasoning
For the Chicken & Salad:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – may sub boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Grilled vegetables – I use a red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, and half of a yellow onion. You can use any color bell peppers you have on hand and you can sub a white or red onion
- Greens – use mixed greens, chopped romaine lettuce, or butter lettuce
- Fresh cilantro
- Toppings – avocados, grated cotija cheese, tri-colored tortilla strips
- Primal Kitchen Avocado-Lime Dipping Sauce – this new dipping sauce from Primal Kitchen makes this salad sing and adds that perfect creamy element. You can also drizzle ranch over top of the salad, if you don’t have this sauce
Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad
You can reduce the prep time needed for this recipe by using leftover chicken from this baked chicken fajita recipe or by preparing the chicken ahead of time.
- Whisk all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Then, pour half the mixture into a shallow bowl, and reserve the rest to use as a dressing on the salad.
- Add the chicken to the marinade, coating all sides, and let it marinate while the grill preheats.
- Toss the peppers and onions with olive oil, and spread them in a single layer on a grill pan. Sprinkle the veggies with salt and pepper.
- Place the marinated chicken directly on a hot grill and the veggies over indirect heat. Cook the chicken on both sides until the center is no longer pink and it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate, and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.
- Continue to cook the peppers and onions until they’re tender and lightly charred. Then, set them aside to cool while you prepare the salad.
- Divide the greens among four bowls. Sprinkle each bowl with cilantro. Then, add the grilled vegetables and sliced cooked chicken, and garnish your salad bowls with your favorite toppings. Drizzle the reserved dressing on top along with LAvocado Lime Dipping Sauce, and enjoy!
For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition information, listing kcals, protein, carbs, cholesterol, fiber, sugar, sodium, total fat, and more per serving.
Make It Dairy Free
Substitute your favorite dairy-free cheese for the cotija. Or, just omit the cheese.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve this salad with a side of margaritas, chips, and guacamole. However, you can bulk up the salad, and transform it into a bowl by serving it over cooked rice (or cauliflower rice, if you want a lower-carbohydrate version).
Then, feel free to add extra toppings. Some of my favorite additions include:
- slice jalapeños
- pico de gallo
- black bean and corn salsa
- sour cream or Greek yogurt
- hot sauce
Video: How to make a chicken fajita salad
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Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad
You’d pay $15 (or more) for a big, fresh salad like this at a restaurant. But we show you how to make it even better at home, from the tender marinated grilled chicken to building the fajita bowls just right!
Ingredients
For the Dressing & Marinade:
- ¼ cup + 2 teaspoons avocado oil, divided
- ¼ cup lime juice (2 medium limes)
- ½ teaspoon lime zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, very finely minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon pure honey
- 1¼ teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
For the Chicken and Salad:
- 1 ¼ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium orange bell pepper, sliced
- ½ medium yellow onion, sliced
- Fine salt and black pepper
- 8 cups mixed greens, chopped romaine, or butter lettuce
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 small avocados, sliced
- ⅓ cup grated cotija cheese (may sub crumbled feta cheese)
- ½ cup tri-colored tortilla strips (we use these)
- For serving: Primal Kitchen Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce (or may use ranch dressing)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing and marinade by combining ¼ cup oil, the lime juice and zest, chopped cilantro, garlic, honey, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk well and pour half of the mixture (⅓ cup) into a shallow bowl reserving the other half (⅓ cup) to dress the salad just before serving.
- Add the chicken to the marinade and turn to coat all sides. Allow the chicken to marinate for up to 30 minutes while the grill preheats.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (450℉).
- In a medium bowl (or on a grill pan) toss the peppers and onions with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Spread the peppers and onions into a single layer on the grill pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- When the grill is hot, place the chicken directly onto the grill grates and the vegetables on the grill pan over indirect heat. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes then flip and cook an additional 5-6 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Total cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken. Remove the chicken to a clean plate and remove. Allow the chicken to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Cook the peppers and onions for 13-15 minutes or until they are tender and lightly charred (these will take longer than the chicken giving your chicken time to rest after cooking). Remove the peppers and onions from the grill and let them cool for a few minutes.
- To assemble the salads, divide the greens among 4 bowls. Sprinkle each bowl of greens with 2 tablespoons of cilantro leaves. Top each bowl with ¼ of the grilled peppers and onions, and sliced chicken.
- Garnish each salad with ½ sliced avocado, 1 ½ tablespoons cotija cheese, and 2 tablespoons tortilla strips. Drizzle each salad with 1 ½ tablespoons of the reserved dressing and some Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce. Serve immediately.
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Notes
We love the Primal Kitchen Organic Avocado Oil and Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce for making this main dish salad flavorful! Save 20% on Primal Kitchen with REALFOOD20 at PrimalKitchen.com
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: Per serving
- Calories: 558
- Fat: 35 g
- (Sat Fat: 8 g)
- Sodium: 355 mg
- Carbohydrate: 28 g
- (Fiber: 11 g
- Sugar: 7 g)
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 121 mg
Dietary
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this salad can be prepped a day or two in advance. Just wait to add the dressing, cheese, avocado, tortilla strips, and dressing until you’re ready to eat. Store the grilled chicken and veggies in separate airtight containers, and reheat them in the microwave or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Or, just enjoy them cold like I do!
Yes, according to the USDA, you can marinate chicken for up to 24 hours.
This salad is a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy unsaturated fats. With one serving offering 30 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber, it’s a healthy option in our book! As always, please consult your doctor with any specific questions or concerns.
The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.
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Carrie says
Our WHOLE family enjoyed this recipe. I marinated the chicken earlier in the day, and it turned out great. Eating the leftovers for lunch the next day was an added bonus!
Stacie Hassing says
Great Carrie! Thank you for the 5-star review!
Paula says
We really enjoyed this main dish salad. I don’t have a grill so I baked the chicken/onions/peppers in the oven at 425 for 25 minutes. My husband said “you can make this again!”
Stacie Hassing says
Awesome Paula!