Tequila-Lime marinated grilled chicken served on top of fresh salad with tequila-lime vinaigrette. A light yet filling summertime meal!

Walking Dead, you guys. Let’s have words.

{{No spoilers, I promise.}}

It has basically taken over my every thought.

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Salad with Tequila-Lime Vinaigrette

As of last week, I’m all caught up through Season 6. Where are you at? I started watching the show on Netflix a few months ago, and ever since, I’ve been asking my mind fibers critical questions. For instance:

  1. Who would I want to be in my zombie-fighting survival possi (besides the obvious: Mickey Rourke, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Rudd <- don’t ask)?
  2. If I had to choose one post apocalyptic outfit, what would it be? Would it be age-appropriate? Would it hold up to apocalyptic fashion standards? Would my jeans rip in the crotch mid-zombie brain stabbing? These are serious ponderings, people.
  3. Would I have to eat Wonder Bread and Skittles? If the only food I could find in days were a tub of mayo, would.I.even.dare?
  4. Which character am I? Michone, Carol, or Maggie? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
  5. Would I regularly risk my life to find ground coffee in order to feed my addiction? (Hint: yes. Every dayum day)
  6. What would Norman Reedus do?

Abraham and Eugene’s HILL-arious dialogueisms is one of my favorite parts about the show. Some of my favorite examples:

“I’ve been chewing the cud on this for a few days now..”

“We are neck-deep up shit creek with our mouths wide open.”

“You about ready to spill the pintos on what the hell it is we’re doing here?”

“I sure as hell can’t take a dead one down with sharp buttons and hella confidence.”

“I’m a weapons novice, and there are people in my immediate proximity with open-toed shoes.”

“Bitch nuts.”

“I don’t give two short and curlies what it looks like.”

“I’ve been to 8 county fairs and a goat rodeo but I’ve never seen anything like that.”

See? Insert LMAO emoji here.

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Salad with Tequila-Lime Vinaigrette

The parallels between Walking Dead and real life? So on point. It’s a zombie world out there, people.

That thing that happens in the middle of season 4 that made you lose sleep and wonder why your pillow felt so flat? Real tears.

Walking Dead is life.

Spoiler alert: My favorite character’s name rhymes with, “barrel.” I’m so transparent.

You guys, food during the apocalypse. Let’s rock the grilled chicken. You’re looking at zombie apocalypse-friendly food right here, my friends.

Togezzah, we shall all survive.

Fact of the matter is, this recipe is super simple to prepare. You marinate a couple chicken breasts in a tequila-lime marinade, fire up the grill, and serve it up on a bed of fresh salad. With more tequila-lime action in the dressing, because in the event of the zombie apocalypse, you’ll need all the tequila you can lay mouth on.

And if you’re a normal person who thinks about the zombie apocalypse never, you’ll still enjoy this meal. I do solemnly swear.
Zombies not included.

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Salad with Tequila-Lime Vinaigrette

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Salad with Tequila-Lime Vinaigrette

4.67 from 3 votes
Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Salad with Tequila-Lime Vinaigrette is a filling entrée salad recipe.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 3 Servings

Ingredients

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken

  • 1 pounds to 1.5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons tequila
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Tequila-Lime Vinaigrette:

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons tequila
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons honey or agave
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro or basil packed

For the Salad:

  • 5 ounces mixed greens I used a mixture of baby kale, arugula, and cabbage
  • 1 large ripe avocado diced
  • 1 small heirloom tomato diced
  • ¼ red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 cup grated carrot
  • 1 fresno chili chopped

Instructions

Prepare the Grilled Chicken:

  • Add all of the ingredients for the tequila-lime chicken marinade to a small blender and blend until completely smooth. Place chicken breasts in a zip-lock bag along with the marinade. Marinate at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours.
  • Brush of your grill with a wire brush and preheat it to medium-high (about 350 to 400 degrees F). Place chicken breasts on the grate directly over the burners and sear for 2 to 4 minutes per side, or until grill marks appear. Continue cooking and flipping every 1 to 2 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees F. Remove chicken from the grill and allow it to rest on a cutting board - the chicken will continue to cook as it rests and the internal temperature should rise to 165 degrees F.

Prepare the Salad:

  • While the chicken is resting, prepare the salad. Whisk (or blend) together the ingredients for the tequila-lime vinaigrette, and set aside until ready to use.
  • Divide the ingredients for the salad among 2 to 4 bowls and drizzle in desired amount of tequila-lime vinaigrette. Toss until everything is coated. Serve salad with chopped grilled chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1grams
Author: Julia
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dairy free, easy healthy recipes, gluten free, gluten free recipes, healthy meals, healthy recipes, paleo recipes
Did You Make This Recipe?I want to see it! Tag @the.roasted.root on social media!
Julia Mueller
Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and founder of The Roasted Root. She has authored three bestselling cookbooks, – Paleo Power Powers, Delicious Probiotic Drinks, and The Quintessential Kale Cookbook. Her recipes have been featured in several national publications such as BuzzFeed, Self, Tasty, Country Living, Brit.co, etc.

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Questions and Reviews

  1. That chicken is perfection Julia! 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying the summer so far!

  2. Paul Rudd? lol! I guess having a sense of humor in tough times always helps. 😉

    Even though I’ve never seen a single episode of the Walking Dead I still found this post to be very entertaining. The quotes are hilarious! I seriously need to get Netflix but I’m afraid if I do that I’ll be glued to my couch for weeks.

    But I digress, the idea to put tequila in salad dressing is BRILLIANT. All I want to do is sit out on the porch whilst watching the sunset and get salad wasted. 🙂

    1. My thoughts exactly…jury’s out as to how long PR would actually last during the apocalypse but by golly, he’d be a mood brightener in the meantime.

      I’d say you should get Netflix STAT to catch up on Walking Dead, Grace and Grankie, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Bloodline, but hell…it really is a vicious time suck. In fact, we should probably cancel our account and have actual conversations at night versus watching TV, ha! Anyhoo, Cheers to getting salad wasted…tequila + lime forever!

  3. Wow this loose so fresh and crisp! Love the idea of the dressing with the tequila

  4. haha we love walking dead at our house! My husband watched it for years alone and I was convinced it sounded stupid. And then I watched one random episode with him and proceeded to binge watch the first four seasons on netflix. lol Definitely ate my words!

    This salad sounds fantastic! I love the tequila – makes it so fun!

    1. Isn’t it just THE BEST?!! I thought the same thing before I started watching it, but I got so addicted to the characters, I just HAD to keep checking up on them. I miss Daryl…seriously cannot wait for Season 7 to start. The End.

  5. That dressing!!! Is it weird that I just want to make a batch and drink it straight up?

  6. Omg you crack me up! I think I need Netflix now and to watch walking dead. But first… This chicken. It’s Alive and well and mayo free and dayum good looking

  7. I think this salad is starting to take over my every thought! Seriously, I’m a little obsessed. That chicken and that vinaigrette!? Perfection.

    1. Yeeeeesah! I’m so happy to hear it, Karly! It’s seriously one of my favorite dinners these days. So simple, fresh, and full of flavor!