This honey mustard chicken salad with sweet corn and peaches is a summery, mayo-less light lunch you’ll love.
Any time I make chicken salad I’m reminded of that Newleywed’s episode with Jessica Simpson and the whole Chicken of the Sea debacle.
I’ve never actually used canned chicken to make it (see yesterday’s post for explanation on my canned fish & meat aversion) but just the mention of the dish brings me back to college, watching that show with my roommates (along with every other awesome MTV show of the early 2000s) in complete envy of her, her hot husband and their awesome house.
That’s like the ultimate branding, seeing something and immediately associating it with something else, right?
Companies would kill for that.
Too bad I’m sure that’s not exactly what Chicken of the Sea had in mind for their product.
Fast forward 10 years, she’s divorced, engaged to someone not even remotely as hot (in my opinion) and having to deal with a newborn.
I’m not so envious anymore.
Although, I wouldn’t mind the $1 million contract to get my ass in shape. Somehow, 99% of the population has to pay to lose weight and then the people that can more than afford it get handed million dollar contracts to do so. That makes sense.
Oddly enough, chicken salad made another mental connection for me last night as I ate the leftovers of this on the couch at 9pm…apple seeds are poisonous.
Did you know that?! No? Well then, you should watch the GI Joe cartoon episodes circa 1983 like my husband does every morning and night.
Last night they were fighting a germ blob that was about to take over New York City and kill millions if they didn’t stop it. Of course, the only way to do that was to feed it apples because it would overdoes on the poisonous seeds and blow up. Duh.
Traditional bombs would’ve just caused mitosis (can you believe GI Joe used terminology like that?! I think 80% of that cartoon went over my head as a kid) and the blob would actually multiply.
I started laughing in my “I can’t believe you watch this stupid childhood show, you’re 32.” kind of way when Ulysses got all defensive and pointedly told me to google it because apple seeds really are poisonous.
Of course I did expecting to win this one and maybe get control of the Netflix remote for the remainder of the night and that’s when Wiki answers let me down.
Apple seeds…cyanide…who the hell knew?! And here we are using rhymes and promises of keeping the doctor away to get kids to eat one.
Thankfully, there’s no apples in this chicken salad (for that, check out this honey chicken salad with apples and sage recipe or this honey mustard chicken and Brussels sprouts recipe).
Just peaches, fresh summer corn and chicken that’s been marinated in a soy honey mustard.
Not poisonous and deliciously perfect for summer.
Try these other chicken salad recipes too:
Turmeric Chicken Salad
Southwest Ranch Chicken Salad Cheddar Melt
Garlic Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich with Sun Dried Tomato Spread
Sweet Corn Peach and Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 thin sliced chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey mustard
- salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 peach, chopped
- 2 ears of corn on the cob, kernels sliced off
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Combine chicken breasts, soy sauce, honey mustard and salt & pepper in a bowl.
- Toss to coat and let marinate for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add olive oil and cook chicken breasts for about 3 minutes per side, until fully cooked but still moist.
- Remove from heat, place in stand mixer and shred on a medium speed. Or, shred by hand.
- Set aside.
- Combine peaches, basil and corn in a large bowl.
- Add shredded chicken, season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.
- Eat alone as a salad or rolled in a tortilla with greek yogurt and avocado.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
You pretty much just combined like 3 of my favorite flavors in one dish. I’m so on board.
I’m glad I’m not the only one with a husband who loves weird shows and cartoons. He’s a big child.
Love this!!
ugh, canned meat = gross. i think the only thing i can stomach it in is chili and that’s because all of the flavors are so strong that it masks the canned flavor!
this on the other hand sounds AHMAHZING!
Ha! I so remember that episode. I don’t mind canned tuna though. In fact, we had tuna salad last night. For chicken salad though I love using rotisserie chicken. These flavors sound so amazing Gina!
For some reason, canned tuna irks me but tuna in those packet things doesn’t. It makes no sense, they both smell equally disgusting.
Great combination with the peach to make it really summery!
I am always on the lookout for a new spin on a chicken salad. Never thought of using peaches but have tried it with grapes. Will have to try this recipe. :)
You’ve managed to make a vegetarian salivate at the sight of meat. Well done, Gina ;) Wonder if it’d be good with tofu or something for a herbivore-friendly version? Or crumbled tempeh..?
I bet some pan fried tofu would be great in it!
I like baked or BBQ’d tofu. It has a firm, meaty texture that would be great with the corn and peaches. The BBQ tofu has a slightly smokey flavor, I use it often in place of meat or cheese in a salad because it is so satisfying.
Ooh! Those are both some great ideas. I cook with tofu all the time, and I do love BBQ (it’s probably one of the things I miss most about eating meat). That would work great. Thanks ladies!
Deep inside a peach pit there is something that looks exactly like an almond which I decided to eat one day. Only later did I google it and find out it contained cyanide also, awesome.
I know exactly what you’re talking about…that’s poisonous too?! What the eff?
Lovely combo! Might just have to make a vegan version!
I have to laugh, everytime I see Chicken of the Sea, I think of Jessica Simpson. lol I love the combination you used for your salad, it sounds wonderful, I must try it!! It’s really creative!