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Delicious Honey Crispy Chicken Salad with fresh vegetables and honey mustard dressing.

Crispy Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

A fresh and crunchy salad topped with crispy chicken and a sweet honey mustard dressing, perfect for those craving comfort food.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the crispy chicken
  • 2 large chicken breasts Or 3 to 4 thin cutlets
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk Or milk + a squeeze of lemon for soaking
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch Helps with crispiness
  • to taste salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika For seasoning
  • 1 large egg Optional, helps coating stick for extra crunch
  • 1 to 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • as needed tbsp oil For pan frying or cooking spray if air frying
For the salad
  • 4 cups greens Romaine, mixed greens, or shredded cabbage
  • 1 cup cucumber Sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes Halved
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup red onion Thinly sliced
  • optional avocado, shredded cheddar, toasted nuts, cooked bacon For additional toppings
For the honey mustard dressing
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons mayo or Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • to taste salt and pepper

Method
 

Make the Honey Mustard Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, mix honey, Dijon mustard, mayo (or Greek yogurt), lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Adjust sweetness/tanginess to taste and refrigerate.
Prep the Chicken
  1. Slice chicken breasts into cutlets if thick. Soak in buttermilk for 10-20 minutes.
  2. Set up a dredge station with flour, cornstarch, and seasonings in one bowl; beaten egg in another; panko breadcrumbs in a third.
Cook the Chicken
  1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Coat chicken in flour mix, dip in egg, then press into panko.
  2. Pan fry for 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Rest on a paper towel-lined plate.
  3. For air fryer, spray the basket, spray chicken, and air fry at 390°F for about 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway.
Build the Salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and onion.
  2. Add extras like avocado or cheese and top with sliced warm chicken.
  3. Drizzle with dressing right before serving.

Notes

Keep dressing separate until serving to maintain chicken's crispiness. Use seasonal ingredients for variation.