Lily's Flavor Journal

For this recipe, I will be making spicy chicken salad. Just like any other recipe, anything can be added or taken away for your own preferences but I will be sharing the recipe that I always go back to.

This recipe is one that I most commonly put together during the hotter months of the year because it is eaten cold. I also enjoy that I can just take it out of the fridge after it has been prepared and it is already ready to go, perfect for busy work days.

Ingredients you will need for this recipe:

2 chicken breasts

Light mayo

Light ranch

Sriracha 

Pickled jalapenos

Cheddar cheese

Begin by boiling your chicken breasts in water or chicken stock for 35-45 minutes, or until tender. You will know that it is done if it can easily shred. Shred both breasts completely.

Take shredded cheddar cheese and jalapenos and finely dice. This step is not mandatory but I like how it more evenly disperses within the salad when they are in smaller pieces than they come originally.

All of these ingredients can be tweaked but I used about 3 tablespoons of jalapenos and 4 tablespoons of cheese.

I also like my chicken salad spicier than most people prefer, so if you are in the same boat, these portions make the salad extra spicy.

I then add about 2 tablespoons of light ranch, half a cup of light mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of sriracha sauce.

Stir all together and add more mayonnaise if you have not yet achieved the consistency which you are looking for. 

Chill in the fridge and serve with crackers, lettuce, pickles or other vegetables to dip in the salad. 

I like to make this recipe with light ingredients so that I am not adding unnecessary calories and fat. I have not noticed a difference when using these ingredients as opposed to original ingredients.

This recipe also offers a lot of protein with the base of the salad being chicken and I like that I can include or serve with several different vegetables.

This recipe is an easy one with minimal effort and lasts me typically 2-3 days if I am eating it on my own. 

I will make this recipe when I know I have my next few days stacked with events and this is one of my favorite picnic meals to make. Every once in a while, I will change it up and add various diced vegetables to this spicy salad like celery and pickles.