I Tried TikTok’s Air Fryer Salad and It’s Better than I Imagined It Would Be
When it comes to salads, I must admit that I keep them pretty plain. A bit of lettuce, some diced tomatoes, a variety of cheese, a few cucumbers, and a choice of protein with delicious dressing is really enough to keep me happy. Although a simple salad is usually my go-to for a quick and delicious lunch or light dinner, lately I’ve been looking for ways to spruce things up. And thanks to a must-try salad gaining popularity on TikTok, I may have found exactly what I’m looking for.
The Air Fryer Salad is a unique spin on the always cold salad that I’ve been eating for years, and I must say that it’s captured my taste buds in a new way. The main reason? It uses Brussels sprouts as the base instead of your typical choice of lettuce. From the crispy texture of the sprouts to the flavorful and juicy chicken thighs topping it, this is one that you won’t be able to resist. This dish is quick and easy to make, but most importantly it slaps!
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Salad
How to Make Air Fryer Salad
I was sold on this recipe once I noticed my air fryer was all I needed to get it this recipe off the ground and in my belly. Of course, there are a few other ingredients you’ll need, too: Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, chicken thighs, feta cheese, green onion, avocado, golden raisins, pecans, and the dressing of your choice.
To get things rolling, grab about a pound of fresh Brussels sprouts and after cleaning, slice them in half, and drizzle a bit of olive oil over the top. Then, season with salt and pepper to taste and toss them in your air fryer for 4 to 5 minutes at 400°F.
While those are cooking, grab three boneless, skinless chicken thighs and season with salt and pepper to taste. After your sprouts are done, pop your thighs into the air fryer for 12 minutes at 400°F. Once done, let your chicken thighs cool down and slice thinly into bite-size pieces.
After everything is prepped, add your Brussels Sprouts to a bowl, followed by your tomatoes, feta cheese, green onions, avocado, golden raisins, and pecans. Top with your sliced chicken thighs and dressing before digging in!
My Honest Review of Air Fryer Salad
I really enjoyed recreating this recipe, and I really enjoyed eating it. The simplicity in making this dish, along with the different flavors, textures, and presentation of it all, sets a new standard of creativity for making salads in the future. There are, however, some slight adjustments I would make to this dish to make it my own.
To start, I would definitely add more flavor to both my Brussels sprouts and chicken thighs, but that’s just the preference of my palate. And while the video uses a creamy Parmesan Caesar dressing topping, I opted to use a ranch and vinaigrette instead and will probably switch between the two in the future.
3 Tips for Making Air Fryer Salad
- Don’t be afraid to add more seasoning to your chicken thighs. Adding creole seasoning to your chicken before popping it in the air fryer will spice up your salad and give it amazing flavor.
- Your sprouts could use more love, too. Add a little bit of onion powder and garlic salt to your Brussels sprouts before air frying to amp up the taste.
- Your salad, your choice of salad dressing. The first salad I made, I used ranch dressing, but for the second one I ate the next day, I used Panera Bread Fuji Apple Vinaigrette Dressing. The latter really set this salad apart from the rest!