When I was a kid, summer vacation always started with an annual trip to McDonalds. The pilgrimage, which coincided with the last day of school, was something that I looked forward to for weeks, and I always got the same thing: a 6 pack of chicken nuggets with honey mustard sauce.
It’s strange to look back now and think about how much I looked forward to the oddly uniform nuggets of spongy mystery meat, but in retrospect I think it may have been the sauce. The sweet, floral honey and tangy, acerbic mustard are contrasts that go together like black and white.
While this grilled chicken with honey mustard dressing shares ease and speed with its distant cousin from the Golden Arches, that’s about where the similarities end. It’s a quick weeknight meal that you make not because it’s quick, but because it’s delicious.
The chicken is seasoned simply with salt and pepper before going on the grill so the flavor of the chicken has a chance to shine. As such, be sure to use the best quality chicken you can find. Together with subtly bitter mustard greens, peppery arugula and the sweet and tangy dressing, this makes for a delicious protein-packed meal that will fill you up without bogging you down.
Finally, if you get bored with the honey mustard dressing, you could make my ginger miso dressing , or creamy sesame dressing for this as alternatives to mix things up. And if you’re using your grill to cook this already, my Grilled Endive Salad would make a great side dish.
More Chicken Salads
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Hiyashi Chuka
📖 Recipe
Equipment
Units
Ingredients1x2x3x
- 250 grams boneless skin-on chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 80 grams baby greens
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon hot mustard (optional)
Instructions
- As far in advance as you can, sprinkle both sides of the 250 grams boneless skin-on chicken thighs with the ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper . Ideally you’ll let it sit for 30 minutes so the salt can penetrate the meat, but if you’re short on time, you can move ahead right away.
- Wash the salad greens and dry in a salad spinner.
- Heat a grill or grill pan until hot.
- Drizzle 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil onto the chicken and rub all over both sides.
- Place the chicken skin-side down on the grill until it has good grill marks, and then flip and grill until the chicken is cooked through (registered 160 degrees F on a thermometer). Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil , 1 tablespoon honey , 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard , ½ tablespoon lemon juice and ½ teaspoon hot mustard together in a bowl.
- Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Drizzle a few spoonfuls of dressing onto the greens and toss to coat. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Arrange the chicken on top of the salad and drizzle with the remaining dressing.
Nutrition Facts
Grilled Chicken with Honey Mustard Dressing
Equipment
- 1 breading tray
- 1 Cast Iron Grill Pan
- 1 Tongs
- 1 Medium Glass Bowl
- 1 Large Glass Bowl
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- 250 grams boneless skin-on chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 80 grams baby greens
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon hot mustard (optional)
Instructions
- As far in advance as you can, sprinkle both sides of the 250 grams boneless skin-on chicken thighs with the ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper . Ideally you’ll let it sit for 30 minutes so the salt can penetrate the meat, but if you’re short on time, you can move ahead right away. 250 grams boneless skin-on chicken thighs, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Wash the salad greens and dry in a salad spinner. 80 grams baby greens
- Heat a grill or grill pan until hot.
- Drizzle 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil onto the chicken and rub all over both sides. 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- Place the chicken skin-side down on the grill until it has good grill marks, and then flip and grill until the chicken is cooked through (registered 160 degrees F on a thermometer). Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil , 1 tablespoon honey , 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard , ½ tablespoon lemon juice and ½ teaspoon hot mustard together in a bowl. 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon hot mustard
- Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Drizzle a few spoonfuls of dressing onto the greens and toss to coat. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Arrange the chicken on top of the salad and drizzle with the remaining dressing.
