Spicy Sweet Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad with Newman’s Own® Honey Mustard Lite Dressing is a summer dinner salad that will make you feel like you’re on vacation, no matter where you enjoy it!

Must-Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com

Why We Love This Spicy Jerk Chicken Salad

Whether we’re at home or off exploring, I want to feel like I’m on vacation from June through August. I do things all summer long to convince myself I’m on an extended holiday… I listen to reggae music, sip tiki drinks, wear my swimsuit under my clothes all day, and even cook meals that remind me of trips past. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this.

It helps ease the pain of constant adult responsibilities as I watch my kids run free on their break from school. I try not to be jealous.

Cooking meals that remind the whole family of vacations we’ve taken together always creates smiles around the dinner table. I often make dishes that remind us of our trip to Italy last summer or our trip to Mexico last fall.

Yet best of all, I like to make summer dishes that remind us of island life. Fresh, healthy dishes loaded with tropical ingredients and spice.

How to Make Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com

Ingredients You Need

  • Chicken Thighs – or chicken breast
  • Jamaican Jerk Marinade – habanero peppers, fresh thyme, red onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, ground allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper
  • Romaine Lettuce – or your favorite crisp green
  • Red Bell Peppers – cut into rings
  • Avocados – adds creaminess and a bit of fat
  • Cucumber – I prefer English cucumber
  • Pineapple – goes great with the jerk chicken!
  • Dressing – I used a honey mustard!
Simple Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com

Our “Summer of Salads” continues today with an island-inspired dinner salad, Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.

Making Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com

Jerk Chicken Salad

This easy Jerk Chicken Salad is piled high with fresh greens, grilled red bell peppers, tangy sweet pineapple, cucumbers, and avocado. Then it’s topped with grilled jerk chicken marinated in a blend of island spices and smoky habanero peppers. Finally, the salad is drizzled with a zippy Newman’s Own Honey Mustard Lite Dressing that everybody loves!

Best Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com

Newman’s Own has a special contest going on this summer called “Greens for Good” Salad Recipe Contest and you can participate!

Since Paul Newman started his “All Profits To Charity” company Newman’s Own, the Newman’s Own Foundation have given more than $430 million to thousands of charities. Paul Newman believed that “From salad dressing, all blessings flow.”

Newman's Own Greens for Good Contest

Newman’s Own Green For Good Salad Recipe Contest invites you to showcase your favorite salad, using Newman’s Own Dressing, for an opportunity to direct a $35,000 donation to their charity of choice.

The Greens of Good Salad Recipe Contest is a perfect way to get your daily dose of healthy greens and make a huge impact on a charity you feel passionate about! Entries for this year’s Greens for Good Salad Recipe Contest run from June 23, 2015 to August 21, 2015. You can pop over today and submit a recipe!

On October 21, 2015, Newman’s Own will announce the $35,000 grand prize winner and charity, as well as nine runners-up, who will each direct $1,000 donations to their selected nonprofits. The top ten finalists will be posted online at NewmansOwn.com/GreensforGood for public voting to help determine the top nine finalists and the Grand Prize winners.

Want to enter your best salad? Click Here to Submit Your Recipe. Then stay tuned for updates!

Celebrate the season with salad. Start with our Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad and then make your own summer-inspired salad for Newman’s Own Greens for Good Salad Recipe Contest!

Tips & Variations

  • If you prefer no spice in this chicken salad, omit the habanero peppers completely! They are quite spicy, so keep that in mind when adjusting the recipe if you want just a little spice.
  • I love honey mustard with this salad, but you can also use any dressing you prefer! Try your favorite ranch or balsamic instead.
  • When grilling chicken, make sure that you don’t over cook it! Check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer!
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is jerk chicken?

Jerk chicken is a Jamaican-style of seasoning and cooking chicken. While there are many different varieties of jerk chicken, it is generally coated in a seasoning mixture packed with bold spices and chiles, and grilled to charred perfection!

Can I use different veggies?

Definitely! Feel free to mix up the vegetables in your salad to your own liking. Onions, tomatoes and carrots would also be great additions to your jerk chicken salad!

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

If you want to make your jerk chicken salad recipe ahead of time, I recommend simply preparing each of the different components and storing them separately until you are ready to serve! This will keep the veggies crisp. Plus, you can use some of that Jamaican-style chicken in other recipes, too!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad on ASpicyPerspective.com
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Jerk Chicken Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Resting Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 30 minutes
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad – An easy and delicious jerk chicken recipe layered on a tropical salad with roasted red peppers, pineapple, greens, and creamy dressing.
Servings: 4 large servings

Ingredients

For the Jamaican Jerk Chicken:

For the Salad:

  • 2 heads romaine lettuce chopped
  • 2 large red bell peppers seeded and cut into rings
  • 2 ripe avocados peeled and sliced
  • 1 English cucumber sliced
  • 1/2 ripe pineapple cut into chunks
  • 1 bottle Newman's Own Honey Mustard Lite Dressing

Instructions

  • For the Jamaican Jerk Chicken: Place all the ingredients, except the chicken, in the food processor and puree until smooth. (If you are sensitive to spicy heat, use only 1-2 habanero peppers.) Pour the marinade into a large zip bag and add the chicken. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least one hour, but up to 16 hours.
  • When the chicken is ready to grill, preheat the grill to medium heat. Once hot, remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the grill. Grill for 5 minutes per side. Then allow the chicken to rest 5 minutes before cutting.
  • Meanwhile, grill the red pepper rings for 1-2 minutes per side to soften.
  • Once the chicken has rested, cut into strips. Arrange the romaine lettuce on a large platter, topped with grilled peppers, cucumbers, pineapple and avocado slices. Fan the chicken pieces over the top and drizzle with Newman’s Own Honey Mustard Lite Dressing. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 634kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 54g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 216mg, Sodium: 1582mg, Potassium: 2364mg, Fiber: 19g, Sugar: 27g, Vitamin A: 29830IU, Vitamin C: 213.1mg, Calcium: 213mg, Iron: 7.4mg
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American, Jamaican
Author: Sommer Collier
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Newman’s Own All opinions are my own.

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