Chicken Taco Chopped Salad (Printable)

Crunchy Tex-Mex salad with seasoned chicken, fresh vegetables, tortilla chips, and creamy salsa ranch dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

06 - 6 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
09 - 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
10 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
12 - 1 avocado, diced
13 - 1 cup crushed tortilla chips

→ Salsa Ranch Dressing

14 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
15 - 1/3 cup tomato salsa
16 - 1/2 lime, juiced

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts evenly with olive oil, taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
02 - Cook chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, tomato salsa, and lime juice until smooth. Set aside.
04 - In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, rinsed black beans, drained corn kernels, diced red onion, shredded cheese, and diced avocado.
05 - Add chopped chicken to the salad and drizzle with salsa ranch dressing. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Sprinkle crushed tortilla chips over the top immediately before serving to preserve crunchiness. Serve promptly.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Hot seasoned chicken against cool crisp lettuce creates that perfect temperature contrast we all secretly love
  • The crushed tortilla chips on top turn an ordinary salad into something you actually get excited about eating
02 -
  • The chicken needs those full 5 minutes of resting time or it will lose all its juices when you cut it
  • Wait until the very last second to add the crushed chips or they will get soggy and sad
03 -
  • Make your own taco seasoning by mixing chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper
  • Use certified gluten-free chips and seasoning to keep this salad friendly for everyone at your table
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