High Protein Chicken Street Corn (Printable)
Protein-packed grilled chicken with charred corn, fresh veggies, and tangy creamy dressing. Ready in 35 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Salad
08 - 3 cups corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen and thawed)
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - ½ red onion, finely diced
11 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
12 - ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
13 - ½ cup cotija cheese or feta, crumbled
→ Dressing
14 - ⅓ cup Greek yogurt (or light sour cream)
15 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
17 - 1 tablespoon Tajín or chili powder
18 - ½ teaspoon salt
19 - ½ teaspoon honey
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
02 - Coat the chicken breasts evenly with olive oil, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Place on the grill and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Transfer to a plate and rest for 5 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
03 - While the chicken cooks, heat a dry skillet or grill over high heat. Add the corn kernels and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred and golden brown. Remove from heat and let cool.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, Tajín or chili powder, salt, and honey until smooth and well combined.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the charred corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and crumbled cotija cheese. Add the diced chicken and pour the dressing over the top. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra cilantro and additional crumbled cheese if desired. Pair with tortilla chips or serve over a bed of greens for a heartier presentation.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It delivers 36 grams of protein per serving without tasting like a sad meal prep container, which is rarer than it sounds.
- The char on the corn combined with that creamy tangy dressing creates the kind of flavor that makes people ask what restaurant you ordered from.
02 -
- Do not skip the chicken resting step, because cutting too early means losing all those flavorful juices to the cutting board instead of keeping them in the meat.
- If you are meal prepping, store the dressing in a separate container and toss everything together right before eating, or the salad will become soggy and sad by day two.
03 -
- Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels before applying the spice rub, because moisture is the enemy of a good sear and that golden crust makes all the difference.
- Use Tajin instead of regular chili powder in the dressing if you can find it, because the citrus notes in Tajin elevate the entire dish in a way that plain chili powder simply cannot match.