Juicy Mango Bliss Chicken Salad Recipe for Sunny Days

Summers call for refreshing meals that burst with tropical flavors, and this mango bliss chicken salad perfectly captures that essence.

Tender chicken mingles with sweet, juicy mangoes in a dance of delightful textures.

Each bite promises a vibrant explosion of taste that will transport you to a sunny paradise.

Crisp greens provide a fresh backdrop for the succulent meat and ripe fruit.

Zesty herbs and a tangy dressing weave through the ingredients, creating a harmonious blend of savory and sweet.

This salad isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary escape that promises to cool you down and satisfy your hunger.

Let’s find out this delectable creation and let your taste buds embark on a tropical adventure.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 7

Ingredient List of Mango Bliss Chicken Salad

• Chicken Breasts: Lean, tender protein that provides a hearty foundation for the salad, best when freshly cooked and sliced thinly for optimal texture and even distribution.

• Romaine Lettuce, Baby Spinach: Crisp, nutrient-packed leafy greens that create a vibrant salad base, offering different textures and rich green colors.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Bursting with sweet-tangy flavor, these small gems add juicy brightness and visual appeal to the salad.
• English Cucumber: Crisp and mild vegetable that brings refreshing coolness and delicate crunch, perfect for adding lightness to the dish.
• Red Onion: Provides sharp, zesty flavor that cuts through the richness, adding a subtle kick and beautiful purple color.
• Mango: Tropical fruit that introduces sweet, luxurious dimension with its smooth texture and golden sunshine flavor.
• Parsley or Cilantro: Fresh herb that delivers vibrant green color and bright, herbaceous notes to elevate the overall taste profile.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Juice: Smooth, fruity base that creates a light, tangy emulsion with bright citrus undertones.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that balances acidity and adds silky richness to the dressing.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds complex, tangy depth and helps emulsify the dressing for perfect consistency.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that introduces robust, pungent flavor and enhances overall dressing complexity.

Tools to Prep for Mango Bliss Chicken Salad

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining salad ingredients and tossing everything together.
• Whisk: Essential for blending dressing ingredients smoothly and creating a uniform mixture.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping chicken, vegetables, and mango with precision.
• Sharp knife: Crucial for slicing ingredients into clean, even pieces.
• Measuring spoons: Helps accurately measure honey, mustard, and seasonings for balanced flavor.
• Measuring cup: Useful for measuring olive oil and lemon juice precisely.

How to Assemble Mango Bliss Chicken Salad

• Salad Foundation

Start with a bed of crisp greens, creating a colorful canvas that combines romaine lettuce and fresh spinach. The leafy base provides a nutritious backdrop for the vibrant ingredients to follow.

• Protein and Fruit Harmony

Layer tender chicken slices across the greens, then scatter juicy mango chunks for a sweet and savory contrast. The combination brings a tropical twist to the classic salad.

• Veggie Burst

Sprinkle diced tomatoes, cool cucumber slices, and delicate onion rings over the top. These fresh vegetables add crunch, color, and layers of flavor that complement the chicken and mango.

• Zesty Dressing Magic

Craft a light, tangy dressing by blending smooth olive oil with bright lemon juice, golden honey, and a touch of mustard. A hint of minced garlic and a pinch of seasoning elevates the entire dish with a burst of flavor.

• Final Touch

Gently drizzle the homemade dressing over the salad, ensuring every ingredient gets a light coating. Serve immediately to enjoy the perfect balance of textures and tastes.

Tips to Keep Mango Chicken Salad Fresh and Flavorful

• Grill chicken with a light sprinkle of chili powder for an extra flavor kick that complements the sweet mango perfectly.
• Replace chicken with grilled tofu or roasted chickpeas for a delightful vegetarian version that keeps the salad's vibrant profile.
• Choose ripe, slightly soft mangoes that yield gently when pressed to ensure maximum sweetness and juiciness in your salad.
• Make the dressing ahead of time and store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to three days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify for an even more delicious experience.

Best Ways to Serve Mango Bliss Chicken Salad

• Tropical Flavor Boost: Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes or chopped macadamia nuts over the salad for an extra crunch and island-inspired taste that complements the sweet mango perfectly.
• Summer Party Platter: Arrange the salad ingredients on a large platter for a stunning presentation that lets guests create their own portions, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings or potluck events.
• Protein Power-Up: Add grilled shrimp or seared salmon alongside the chicken to create a more substantial meal with additional protein and a delightful seafood twist that enhances the fresh salad flavors.
• Refreshing Beverage Pairing: Serve with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a chilled citrus-infused iced tea to balance the salad's bright and tangy elements.

Make-Ahead Ideas for Mango Chicken Salad

• Fridge-Fresh Strategy: Store salad components separately in airtight containers to maintain crispness and prevent sogginess, keeping dressing in a sealed jar for up to 5 days.
• Advance Prep Magic: Chop vegetables and grill chicken earlier in the day, refrigerating each ingredient individually to assemble quickly when hunger strikes.
• Leftover Transformation: Repurpose remaining salad by wrapping in tortillas for a quick lunch or mixing into a grain bowl for a delicious next-day meal.
• Temperature Wisdom: Serve chilled salad ingredients straight from the refrigerator and add room-temperature dressing just before eating to enhance flavor and texture balance.

Zesty Mango Chicken Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Delightful Mango Bliss Chicken Salad delivers tropical flavors with Caribbean-inspired zest. Crisp lettuce, tender chicken, and sweet mango pieces create a refreshing meal perfect for summer lunches.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (454 g) cooked chicken breasts, sliced
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 6 cups romaine lettuce, rinsed, dried, and chopped
• 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 English cucumber, sliced and cut into half moons
• 1 mango, pitted, peeled, and diced
• ⅓ cup diced red onion
• ¼ cup parsley or cilantro, finely chopped
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsps lemon juice
• 1 to 2 tbsps honey (to taste)
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• ½ tsp salt (to taste)
• ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

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Instructions

1. Salad Foundation: Layer a lush base of romaine lettuce and spinach in a generous serving bowl, creating a verdant canvas for the culinary composition.
2. Protein Placement: Distribute grilled chicken strips evenly across the leafy terrain, ensuring a harmonious protein presence in every forkful.
3. Tropical Accent: Intersperse ripe mango chunks and diced tomatoes throughout the salad, introducing bursts of sweet and tangy flavors that dance with the savory chicken.
4. Crisp Elements: Incorporate thinly sliced cucumber rounds and delicate red onion slivers to provide textural contrast and aromatic depth.
5. Dressing Preparation: Whisk extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic into a silky emulsion, seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to elevate the flavor profile.
6. Final Assembly: Drizzle the vibrant dressing over the salad, gently tossing to ensure each ingredient is luxuriously coated, then serve immediately to preserve the crisp, fresh essence of the dish.

Notes

• Marinate for Flavor: Soak chicken in citrus or herb-infused marinade for at least 30 minutes before grilling to enhance tenderness and depth of taste.
• Mango Ripeness Matters: Select mangoes that yield slightly to gentle pressure, indicating peak sweetness and optimal texture for the salad.
• Dressing Emulsion Technique: Whisk dressing ingredients vigorously to create a smooth, well-blended sauce that coats ingredients evenly without separating.
• Serving Temperature Tip: Serve salad immediately after dressing to preserve crisp lettuce texture and prevent wilting from excess moisture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg