Cherry Chipotle Salad Recipe (Sweet & Spicy)
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This Cherry Chipotle Salad is a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors. The deep richness of the cherries pairs beautifully with the warm heat of chipotle, while the nutty bulgur wheat brings everything together. Every bite is a mix of bold, unexpected flavors that will keep you coming back for more!
Our chipotle salad recipe is an easy cherry salad that is perfect for a summer BBQ or Taco Tuesday. The sweet heat and smoky vinaigrette make a delicious side dish or add some grilled chicken and you’ve got a delicious meal. So grab your salad bowl and let’s get started.
Ingredients For the Best Cherry Salad Recipe (and Substitutions)
All of the ingredients are listed on the recipe, but I wanted to share a few important notes here.
Bulgur wheat is slightly chewy and adds a nutty flavor to our sweet juicy cherries. It is high in fiber, protein, and vitamins, making this salad more balanced and nutrient-dense. It’s a great choice for vegetarians and anyone looking for a wholesome meal. Substitutions would be brown rice, quinoa, or couscous.
We added protein-packed black beans from the can and frozen sweet corn. Celery and scallions added a delicious crunch. Adding bell pepper, chopped zucchini, or your favorite veggies is a great way to add veggies to your diet.
Dried cherries add a sweet contrast to the smoky salad dressing. You could also consider raisins, dates, figs, or even dried pineapple, depending on the flavors you enjoy.
Chipotle peppers in Adobo come in a can and are used to make our spicy salad dressing. They are readily available in most grocery stores or online.
How to Make the Perfect Smoky Chipotle Salad
We found it easiest to make this salad in two parts. We started by cooking our bulgur wheat. It only takes 15 minutes and can cool slightly while we make the chipotle salad dressing.
Combine Chipotle peppers with spices, onion, and cilantro together in a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. It will be thick.
Combine the salad ingredients with the vinaigrette ingredients, and chill until serving.
Additional Variations
- Cheese such as cotija or queso blanco for a salty addition.
- Try toasted pecans, almonds, or sunflower seeds for a nutty crunch.
- If chipotle is too bold for some, a honey balsamic or citrus vinaigrette would work beautifully.
Hostess Tips
We prefer to serve our salad chilled. You can mix it together even if the bulgur is still warm and then refrigerate it.
The can of Chipotle in Adobe sauce contains about 12 chipotle peppers. This chipotle salad recipe uses only 3 to 4 chilis so we triple the recipe and freeze what we don’t use so it doesn’t go to waste. It also speeds up the time it takes to make this salad the next time.
FAQ’s
What is the best way to store this chipotle cherry salad? This salad is dairy-free so it can sit out while being served. That makes it great for potlucks. However, leftovers should be refrigerated and eaten within 3 to 4 days.
Can this salad be made ahead of time? Yes, it’s actually better the next day once all of the flavors have been absorbed into and with the bulgur.
How to Serve?
We serve our chipotle salad as a side dish to Chicken Tacos, Enchiladas, Empanadas, and Fajitas. For a heartier meal, turn it into a grilled chicken cherry salad—just add sliced, juicy grilled chicken on top.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Sweet and Spicy Cherry Chipotle Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad ingredients
- 1 cup bulgur wheat I used coarse #3
- 14.5 oz black beans canned, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups corn I used frozen roasted corn
- ½ cup celery thinly sliced
- ½ cup scallions white and green parts sliced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
- ¾ cup dried whole cherries 4.2 oz pkg
- ¼ cup chipotle paste*
- ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
Chipotle Vinaigrette Ingredients
- 2 Chipotle Chilies in Adobo 3 for extra spice
- 3 tbsp olive oil vegetable or canola is fine too
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp diced onion
- Fresh cilantro I use the stems for the and the leaves for salad
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Mexican oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- Zest of 1 lime optional
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups of water and 1 cup of bulgur to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain if necessary. Set aside and allow to cool.
- Combine chipotle vinaigrette ingredients and process in a blender or food processor until thick.
- Mix cooked bulgur, oil, lime juice, and chipotle vinaigrette together. Stir until combined.
- Add all remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Garnish with additional cilantro if desired.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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This Cherry Chipotle Salad recipe was first released on July 7, 2025, and has been updated to improve our readers’ experience. No changes were made to the actual recipe.
Can I use parsley as cilantro tastes like soap for us, thanks. I would love to try this salad.
You sure can, Linda!
It’s cherry season … what about substituting fresh cherries for dried?
Absolutely Peg! That would be delicious in this salad.
This salad looks phenomenal! Totally perfect for summer entertaining!! #want
Thank you Lisa! It is a yummy salad and great for summer entertaining.
Hi Julie
This salad looks absolutely stunning! I almost drooled when reading the ingredients! A must try! Lucky guests 🙂
Thank you Petra!
hi Julie
I did the salad. I didn’t have the same ingredients so I changed it slightly but it was just as delicious as I thought it would be when I read your recipe, https://bit.ly/29IPU1l! Thank you for sharing!
I hope your week is good 🙂
Thank you so much for letting me know Petra! I noticed you use bulgur too. I love it! Enjoy your weekend!
The chipotle paste sounds very interesting to make. I love the flavor of chipotles when it’s combined with the right ingredients. Sounds delicious Julie… I’m the one who buys the 10 pound box of dried cherries and freezes them, waiting for the perfect recipe.
I tried to comment a few times earlier and have trouble navigating through your site – not sure why. Probably my computer!
Thank you Judi! I really like cherries too and make more paste than I needed and froze it in small containers. That really helps when I need it. I’ve never seen a 10lb box of dried cherries! I would probably buy them too. I love putting them in granola too. If you have any trouble getting through my site in the future please let me know.
What a different and delicious sounding salad…love your sweet and spicy combination of flavors.
Thank you so much Karen!
This looks wonderful, Julie! I really love chipotle, but hadn’t ever thought to put those flavors in a salad. That is such a great idea. The chipotle paste must be so flavorful with all of those tasty ingredients in it. Can’t wait to try this!
Thank you Shari! I made enough paste to use the whole can and then just froze it in small containers so nothing would go to waste. We really enjoyed this one.
This looks like a perfect summer salad! I love bulgur wheat, but don’t use it as much as I should. This looks like a great reason to use it!
Thank you Jenny! I’m a bulgur wheat lover too!
What a fiery, flavorful & fabulous salad! Love it! I love your new logo too! Have a great weekend!
Thank you Su! I hope you have a fabulous weekend too!
Love the flavors in this salad yummm
Thank you so much Lynz!
Love it all!!! All that fabulous flavour!!
Thank you Elaine! Happy FF!
What a brilliant combination. Yum!
Thank you Jenni! So glad you stopped by!
I just followed your salad! =)
This salad looks very refreshing and delicious Julie 🙂
Thank you Jess! We really enjoyed it too.
Sounds like a great dish to take to a potluck Julie! Out of the ordinary with a ‘kick’ sounds like a winning combo!
It’s a really great sounding salad and love how it gets better when it sits overnight. I love cherries, fresh or dried or chocolate covered. Just give me that bowl and a spoon and I will be happy.
Thank you Suzanne. I love them too. I’ve been munching on Rainier cherries all week too.
I love the way this combination sounds. Love me some cherries!
Thank you Debbie! And they’re for us too.
This must have a big kick of spice Julie but it sounds great!
Thank you Johanne! It really is delish!