Description
This Healthy Chicken Taco Salad is a fresh and flavorful dish featuring shredded cooked chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, little tomatoes, avocado, and a zesty chipotle cilantro lime ranch dressing. Perfect for a quick, nutritious lunch or dinner, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and bold flavors with minimal prep time and no cooking required.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken (e.g., rotisserie), shredded
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 (19 fluid ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (10.5 ounce) container little tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 2 tablespoons red onion, chopped (or to taste)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup broken-up tortilla (corn) chips
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Lime wedges for serving
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing
- Ingredients for dressing not specified; assumed to include chipotle peppers, cilantro, lime juice, ranch dressing or base ingredients.
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: Make your chipotle cilantro lime ranch dressing ahead of time if desired. This can be done a day or two in advance to let the flavors meld.
- Assemble the salad: Prepare all other ingredients by chopping or draining as needed, then add them to a large salad bowl incrementally, ensuring everything is evenly mixed.
- Add dressing and season: Pour as much of the salad dressing over the salad as needed and toss thoroughly. Add an extra squeeze of lime juice and season with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Serve immediately: Garnish with lime wedges and serve the salad fresh to maintain its crispness and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- You can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Dressing can be made in advance to deepen flavors.
- Adjust red onion quantity based on your heat preference.
- For a dairy-free version, omit cheddar cheese or substitute with a plant-based alternative.
- Serve with extra tortilla chips on the side for added crunch.
