Published 3/29/2024 • Updated 7/10/2024 Serve it over romaine lettuce and fresh veggies before topping it off with our delicious creamy feta cheese dressing for a salad experience like no other! I will confess: I’ve been obsessed with this salad to the point of having it every day for lunch for an entire week at the Fit Foodie studio. It’s that good! The combination of flavors and textures is ELITE. And honestly, what’s not to love about crispy chicken coated in sweet and spicy hot honey sauce? To make it, just prepare your salad base and make the easy dressing and hot honey sauce. Then cut and coat your chicken before air frying to perfection. All that’s left to do from here is toss your chicken in hot honey, assemble, and serve!
What’s In Hot Honey Chicken Salad
Romaine lettuce mix: We used a big pile of fresh romaine lettuce as the base for this honey hot chicken salad. Fresh veggies: We used a ton of fresh chopped veggies like carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and avocado to add some color and flavor to the salad. Feta cheese: The perfect tangy, salty cheese to balance out the sweetness of the hot honey. 2% Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is used as the base of the dressing, providing a creamy and tangy element to the salad. Apple cider vinegar: A good salad dressing always has an element of acidity to it! Honey: Make sure you don’t use raw honey, as it has a lower moisture content. This can cause it to brown more quickly. Red pepper flakes: The “hot” in hot honey! Feel free to adjust the amount based on your spice preference. Boneless skinless chicken breast: We used chicken breast for a lean protein option. Corn flakes: The secret to the crispy coating on the chicken. It’s sweet and crunchy, making it the perfect match for the hot honey sauce.
Easy Ingredient Swaps
We are huge advocates for allowing space for creativity and using what we have on hand when it comes to cooking. Here are a few variations you can try with this recipe: Air Fryer Swap the chicken breast for thighs: If you prefer dark meat or have some on hand, swap out the chicken breasts for thighs! Just make sure to adjust the cooking time in the air fryer accordingly. Use different veggies: Feel free to use any veggies you have on hand or prefer. Bell peppers, red onion, zucchini, and corn would all be great additions to this salad. Change up the heat: Swap the red pepper flakes for 6 Thai chiles minced with seeds for a spicier hot honey sauce. Go gluten-free: You’re welcome to use gluten-free flour in place of the all-purpose flour and gluten-free corn flakes instead of regular. Tasty additions: Try adding some additional toppings to the salad, like diced bacon, tortilla strips, or dried cranberries, for some extra crunch and flavor.
Storage + Make Ahead Directions
This hot honey chicken salad is best enjoyed immediately after assembling. However, if you need to store it for later, make sure to store the components separately. The hot honey sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings Air Fryer Coconut Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Honey Sesame Chicken
The chicken and dressing can also be stored in separate containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to eat, reheat the chicken in the air fryer for a few minutes and assemble your salad with fresh veggies and dressing as desired. If you are making this salad ahead of time or making it for meal prep, we recommend keeping the salad, dressing, and chicken all separate until right before serving.
What to Serve with Hot Honey Chicken Salad
This hot honey chicken salad was made to be a complete meal on its own, but if you’re looking to minimize the portion size and serve something on the side, we’ve got plenty of options for you:
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