Chili Lime Watermelon Chicken (Printable version)

Grilled chicken paired with juicy watermelon and zesty chili-lime dressing creates a fresh, colorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
08 - Zest of 1 lime

→ Salad

09 - 4 cups seedless watermelon, diced
10 - 1 English cucumber, diced
11 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
12 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
13 - 1 avocado, diced
14 - 4 cups mixed greens (arugula, spinach, or baby kale)
15 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

→ Chili-Lime Dressing

16 - Juice of 2 limes
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
18 - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
19 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to taste)
20 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
02 - In a bowl, thoroughly coat chicken breasts with olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and lime zest.
03 - Grill chicken 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and charred. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey (or agave), chili flakes, and sea salt in a small bowl until emulsified.
05 - In a large bowl, combine diced watermelon, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, avocado, and mixed greens.
06 - Place the sliced grilled chicken atop the salad mixture.
07 - Drizzle chili-lime dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
08 - Sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds on top just before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Unlikely as it sounds, the sweet watermelon and zesty chili-lime dressing create a flavor explosion that’ll have people begging for your secret.
  • It's a weekday lifesaver when you want something bright, filling, and healthy without heating up the whole kitchen.
02 -
  • If you rush slicing the chicken before it rests, you’ll lose those precious juices that make it tender.
  • Letting onions soak in icy water for a few minutes tames the bite and preserves their pretty color.
03 -
  • Always zest limes before juicing or you’ll be wrestling slippery citrus.
  • A little resting time for the chicken really does create restaurant-worthy texture, so resist the urge to rush it.
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