If you are looking for a delicious lunch or light dinner, try this Sweet and Spicy Chicken Peach Salad! It is filled with juicy roasted chicken with spicy chili seasoning, sweet caramelized peaches, and roasted jalapeños. Tossed with fresh greens, avocado, corn, and a zesty lime-honey dressing, this salad is easy to make, healthy, and packed with bold flavors! I think it is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavors, just like my popular Jalapeño Peach Chicken made with tender chicken thighs.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken: Although I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs would also work. Be sure to cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces for even cooking. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Oil & Spice Mixture: The oil and spice mixture that coats the chicken is a tasty mix of garlic chili oil (make your own!), olive oil, and spices like chili powder and paprika. It gives the chicken a nice spicy, smoky flavor.
- Garlic Chili Oil: Garlic chili oil adds a spicy kick and rich, garlicky flavor to this recipe. It’s used to season the chicken for roasting and also whisked into the dressing for extra heat and depth. Just a little goes a long way!
- Peaches: The peaches roast alongside the chicken, turning sweet, juicy, and lightly caramelized for the perfect contrast to the spicy flavors. I love the flavor combination so much, I also have Jalapeño Peach Chicken Skewers, Jalapeño Peach Pork Bites, and more! It just works!
- Jalapeño Pepper: I used one jalapeño pepper for this recipe. If you want more of a kick, leave the seeds intact. Or, remove the seeds for less heat.
- Fresh Salad Ingredients: I added canned corn (but corn on the cob would be delicious, too), avocado, red onion, and cherry tomatoes to the salad. They add vibrant color, texture, and delicious flavor to the salad.
- Cilantro: Cilantro adds a bright, fresh, and slightly citrusy flavor that really lifts the salad. So, I encourage you to try it! But if you’re not a fan or don’t have it on hand, you can definitely leave it out or substitute it with fresh parsley for a milder taste.
- Dressing: The dressing is a simple mix of lime juice, honey, and garlic chili oil. It is fresh, tangy, a little sweet, and just the right amount of spicy to tie everything together. It is so tasty, I love it on other lettuce salads, too!
Can I Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can make parts of this salad ahead of time! Roast the chicken, peaches, and jalapeños, and prepare the salad ingredients and dressing separately. Keep them refrigerated and assemble them just before serving to keep everything fresh and vibrant.
How Spicy Is the Sweet and Spicy Chicken Peach Salad? Can I Adjust the Heat?
This salad has a moderate spicy kick (well, I think so, at least) from the garlic chili oil and roasted jalapeños. But, it is balanced by the sweetness of peaches and honey. If you prefer less heat, simply remove the jalapeño seeds or reduce the amount used. For more spice, add extra chili oil or include some fresh chili flakes. This way, you can easily customize the heat level to suit your taste.
Can I Add Other Vegetables or Nuts to This Chicken Peach Salad?
Absolutely! This salad is very flexible and customizable! Feel free to add crunchy vegetables like cucumber, bell peppers, or shredded carrots for extra freshness. Nuts like toasted almonds, pecans, or walnuts also make great additions, adding crunch and flavor. If you are adding other ingredients to the salad, I recommend keeping the balance of sweet, spicy, and fresh.
Can I Grill the Chicken, Jalapeños, and Peaches Instead of Roasting?
Yep! Just grill the chicken cubes first until cooked and a little charred, then throw on the peaches and jalapeños to get soft and smoky. Grilling adds a great smoky flavor that’s perfect with the sweet and spicy salad.
How To Store Sweet and Spicy Chicken Peach Salad
If possible, store the salad components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Keep the roasted chicken, peaches, and jalapeños in one container, the fresh salad ingredients in another, and the dressing in a small jar or container. When ready to eat, toss everything together for the best flavor and texture.
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Peach Salad
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, (about 1–1 ½ lbs), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons garlic chili oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Roasted Peaches & Jalapeños
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced
- 1 large jalapeño, chopped (seeds removed for less heat)
Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1 can (15.25) corn kernels, drained
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- 1 cup (149 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, about 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon garlic chili oil
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic chili oil, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the cubed chicken in the oil and spice mixture until evenly coated.
- Spread the chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Roast the chicken for 10 minutes.
- While the chicken starts roasting, toss the peach slices and chopped jalapeño with the remaining olive oil.
- After 10 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and nestle the peaches and jalapeños around the chicken. Return to the oven and roast for another 10–12 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F and the peaches are soft and caramelized.
Assembly
- In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, corn, red onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, garlic chili oil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over the salad and gently toss.
- Top with the roasted chicken, peaches, and jalapeños.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra chili oil if desired.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This salad is so fresh and flavorful! I love the sweet peaches with the spicy chicken.
Elizabeth
This is a fantastic salad! I love everything about it!
Stephanie
This could be the perfect summer salad. But, I could enjoy it any time of the year, really! It is so good!
Bella
I love the kick from garlic chili oil and jalapeno peppers. Next time, I might add a few red pepper flakes for even more heat!
I can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Thank you Amanda!! 😋😋😋
We do not have fresh peaches or jalapeños in Vietnam. Can I use canned peaches and rinse the syrup off and pickled jalapeños and wash the Pickling off?