Description

The Street Corn Creamy Cucumber Chicken Salad is a fresh and vibrant dish combining smoky turkey bacon with crisp cucumbers and creamy plant-based cream cheese, inspired by the flavors of street corn. This wholesome, colorful salad offers a satisfying blend of textures and tastes, perfect for light dinners or warm-weather lunches.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

1 grilled chicken breast, seasoned and cooked
4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled

Vegetables and Herbs

1 cup fresh cucumber, thinly sliced
1 cup cooked corn kernels (fresh or pre-cooked)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Dressing

1/3 cup plant-based cream cheese (plant-based)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
Pinch of salt

Seasonings

Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breast with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Grill or pan-sear over medium heat until cooked through and golden brown. Let it rest for a few minutes before cutting into bite-size pieces.
Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In a skillet, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crisp. Remove and place on paper towels to drain excess fat. Once cooled, crumble into small pieces.
Prep the Vegetables: Thinly slice the cucumbers and chop fresh cilantro. If using fresh corn on the cob, briefly grill and cut the kernels off; otherwise, use pre-cooked corn kernels.
Make the Creamy Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together plant-based cream cheese, fresh lime juice, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Combine Everything: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the grilled chicken pieces, crumbled turkey bacon, cucumber slices, corn kernels, chopped cilantro, and creamy dressing until everything is evenly coated.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Use freshly grilled chicken and fresh vegetables for optimum brightness and texture.
Lightly toast corn kernels to enhance their natural sweetness.
Gently toss the ingredients to maintain cucumber crunch and crispy bacon bits.
Add more plant-based cream cheese if you prefer a richer, creamier salad.
Chill the salad before serving to blend flavors and improve taste.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 280
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 16g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 70mg

Keywords: Street corn salad, creamy cucumber salad, chicken salad, smoky turkey bacon salad, fresh summer salad, plant-based dressing