Qdoba Mango Chicken Salad Recipe
Joe Williams
Make the Qdoba mango chicken salad recipe at home with juicy mango, tender chicken, and fresh veggies for a vibrant, flavorful meal!
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 5 Servings
Calories 573 kcal
Mango Chicken Bowl
- 1½ lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 15 oz can black beans thoroughly drained and rinsed
- 5 cups grated sweet potatoes
- 1½ cups cooked quinoa ½ cup uncooked
- 2 cups cooked brown rice ⅔ cup uncooked
- 1 bunch kale finely shredded
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil split
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt divided
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper divided
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Pineapple Mango Salsa
- 2 cups ripe mango peeled and diced
- 1½ cups fresh pineapple chopped
- ½ red onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro minced
- Juice of 1 lime
Spicy Pineapple Mango Dressing
- 1 cup ripe mango diced
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chopped
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons filtered water
- 1-2 teaspoons sambal oelek
- Juice of ½ lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon honey
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Start by seasoning your boneless, skinless chicken breasts. In a bowl, mix half of the sea salt, black pepper, ground cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika with a tablespoon of avocado oil. Coat the chicken evenly with the seasoning.
Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Let the chicken rest for five minutes before slicing it into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Cook the Quinoa and Brown Rice
While the chicken is grilling, rinse your quinoa under cold water. Add it to a saucepan with 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil.
Once boiling, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
For the brown rice, follow the package instructions. Typically, it requires about 2 cups of water for ⅔ cup of uncooked brown rice. Cook it until tender.
Step 3: Prepare the Sweet Potatoes
Using a grater or food processor, grate 5 cups of sweet potatoes. Heat the remaining tablespoon of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the grated sweet potatoes, season with the remaining sea salt and black pepper, and sauté until they become tender, about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Make the Pineapple Mango Salsa
Combine the diced mango, chopped pineapple, finely chopped red onion, minced cilantro, and lime juice in a medium bowl. Mix well.
This salsa can be adjusted to your taste by adding more mango or pineapple if you like it sweeter.
Step 5: Create the Spicy Dressing
In a blender or food processor, combine the diced mango, chopped pineapple, rice vinegar, filtered water, sambal oelek, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Step 6: Assemble the Salad
In a large bowl, combine the sliced chicken, quinoa, brown rice, sautéed sweet potatoes, and kale. Pour the spicy dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well mixed.
Creating a salad this flavorful can be overwhelming at first. Here are five tips to make your cooking experience easier:
- Prep Ahead: Grilling the chicken and chopping the vegetables a day in advance will save you tons of time.
- Customize: Feel free to swap around the veggies based on your preference. Bell peppers or corn would also work wonderfully.
- Adjust Sweetness: If it’s a warm day and you are craving sweetness, don’t hesitate to add a sprinkle of coconut sugar to your dressing or salsa.
- Use Leftovers Wisely: Leftover grilled chicken from the weekend? Perfect! It’ll save you time and add extra flavor to the salad.
- Dress When Ready: To keep the salad fresh, add the dressing just before serving. That way, nothing gets soggy.
Serving: 648gCalories: 573kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 22gFat: 11.1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 1101mgFiber: 11gSugar: 45g
Keyword Qdoba Mango Chicken Salad Recipe