Description
A vibrant and flavorful Taco Chicken Salad featuring tender shredded chicken, fresh vegetables, black beans, and a zesty homemade taco ranch dressing, topped with crunchy tortilla strips and a squeeze of lime for a perfect Tex-Mex-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breasts – shredded or cubed
- 10 cups romaine lettuce – chopped into strips (about 2 heads)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes – sliced in half
- 1 cup corn – canned or thawed frozen
- ¼ cup sliced red onion
- 4 green onions – chopped small (about 1 cup)
- 1 ½ cups canned black beans – rinsed and drained
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro – optional
- ½ freshly squeezed lime
- 1 cup tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
Salad Dressing
- 1 cup ranch dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Make The Taco Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup of ranch dressing with 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring the seasoning is evenly distributed.
- Prepare and Assemble The Salad Ingredients: Wash and chop all salad ingredients accordingly: chop romaine lettuce into strips; slice cherry tomatoes in half; drain and rinse black beans; slice red onion; chop green onions; and optionally chop cilantro. Combine cooked shredded chicken, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, green onions, black beans, shredded cheddar cheese, and cilantro into a large salad bowl.
- Dress and Toss the Salad: Pour the prepared taco ranch dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss everything gently but thoroughly until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Add Crunch and Citrus: Sprinkle the tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips over the top of the salad for added texture. Finally, drizzle freshly squeezed lime juice over the salad to add brightness and tang.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy the fresh, crisp textures and vibrant flavors before the tortilla strips soften.
Notes
- You can make your own taco seasoning by combining chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- For a lighter version, use a low-fat or Greek yogurt-based ranch dressing.
- For extra protein, add avocado or black olives.
- To make it Gluten Free, ensure the tortilla strips are made from corn tortillas without gluten-containing additives.
- Salad can be prepared in advance but add tortilla strips just before serving to maintain crunchiness.
