Chicken Taco Salad is what makes eating a salad FUN. Tender pieces of chicken sautéd in chipotle powder, a cilantro lime ranch dressing and corn chips plus toppings galore give this salad the classic taco flavors. A taco salad perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients Needed for Chicken Taco Salad
Whipping up a scrumptious salad at home doesn’t have to be a hassle. In fact, you only have to cook one thing – the chicken! Otherwise, it’s just getting the toppings and dressing ready to rock and roll. Here is what you will need to bring this salad to life:
- Chicken
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Salt
- Pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Romaine hearts
- Ranch dressing
- Cilantro
- Lime juice
Salad Topping Ideas
When it comes to topping this Chicken Taco Salad, the possibilities are endless! You can truly customize the salad this way. If you don’t like certain toppings, leave them off! Or, use what you have on hand. Personally, I love the combination of cheese, avocado, black beans, Fritos and corn on mine. Do whatever makes your tastebuds sing! Salad topping ideas:
Serve this salad up for a scrumptious weeknight meal, a back porch fiesta or for a week of meal prep. Store the salad, toppings and dressing separately so that the lettuce doesn’t get soggy and you have a delicious salad ready to go at any time!
Looking for other salad recipes? Check these out:
Chicken Taco Salad
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Chicken Taco Salad is what makes eating a salad FUN. Tender pieces of chicken sautéd in chipotle powder, a cilantro lime ranch dressing and corn chips plus toppings galore give this salad the classic taco flavors. A taco salad perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or tenders (boneless, skinless), cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the dressing:
- 2 cups ranch dressing
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (fresh preferred)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
For the salad:
- 12 oz romaine hearts, chopped (about 2–3 romaine hearts)
- Topping ideas: shredded cheese, avocado, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, sour cream, guacamole
Instructions
For the chicken:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the chicken, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper and stir to coat completely. Sauté for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked completely through with a temperature of 165 degrees.
For the dressing:
- In a small bowl, combine the ranch, cilantro, lime juice, chili powder and cumin. Stir to combine.
To assemble the salad:
- In a large serving bowl, add in the chopped romaine lettuce. Then, layer on the toppings and chicken! Drizzle with dressing right before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store the chicken, toppings and dressing separately from the lettuce to meal prep or travel with this salad.
- Serve this salad as a chicken salad taco bar! Let guests build their own salads with different topping options.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salads
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 378
- Sugar: 2.3g
- Sodium: 991mg
- Fat: 16.4g
- Carbohydrates: 9.7g
- Fiber: 2.7g
- Protein: 47.1g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: Chicken Taco Salad, Salad, Chicken, Taco
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Hi, I’m KJ!
Here you’ll find simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. I strive to make wholesome meals with easy-to-find ingredients that you feel comfortable making in your own kitchen—but I won’t shy away from a few indulgences! (I see you: butter, bacon, cookies!)
