Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad

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This Chicken Taco Salad will be the only chicken salad you ever want to make!

This Chicken Taco Salad is bursting with tender, juicy chicken, all your favorite fiestalicious salad fixings including lettuce, tomatoes, beans, bell peppers, cheese, avocados, crunchy, salty tortilla chips all topped with Creamy Baja Catalina Dressing. This Chicken Taco Salad ingredients can be prepped in advance and the dressing can be made days ahead of time for a quick and easy lunch or dinner any day of the week – which is great thing because you won’t be able to stop craving this Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad!

CHICKEN TACO SALAD RECIPE VIDEO

Chicken Taco Salad

Who loves taco salad? The crunchy lettuce and tortilla chips, the creamy avocados and cheese, the fresh corn and bell peppers – it is a texture lovers paradise. Once you swap your beef for chicken and you have true paradise because its practically guilt free plus hearty, satisfying and fresh!

One of the most popular taco salad recipes is the combination of ground beef with Catalina Dressing. But seeing as this has been done again and again, I thought I’d bring you a different version – an elevated Chicken Taco Salad that is drop-your-jaw deeeeelicious. As in your jaw will drop in shock at just how good this salad is and it will drop to continuously shovel as much salad into your mouth as humanly possible.

The Best Chicken for Chicken Taco Salad

A CHICKEN Taco Salad is only as good as the chicken so I’ve created a spin off my favorite Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos to create this star Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe.

This Cilantro Lime Chicken is wonderfully juicy, tangy and garlicky but not over-the-top flavorful, so it’s ready to get doused in our homemade intoxicatingly delicious Creamy Baja Catalina Dressing.

I use chicken breasts because they emerge wonderfully juicy once marinated but you are welcome to use chicken thighs as well. You can even turn this into a shrimp or salmon taco salad and use the same tantalizing marinade.

side view of best chicken taco salad in a wood bowl with black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocados, cheese and tortilla strips

How do I cook Chicken for Chicken Taco Salad?

You can grill or pan fry this Cilantro Lime Chicken, which means you can devour this Chicken Taco Salad year round. And you are going to want to devour it year round.

To Grill:

Grease and preheat the grill to medium heat, 375-450°F.
Drain chicken from marinade, pat off excess and add to grill. Grill chicken undisturbed for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. (An inserted thermometer should read 165 degrees F.
Remove chicken to cutting board and baste with reserved 2 tablespoons marinade. Garnish with additional lime juice to taste if desired. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

To Cook on the Stove Top:

Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Once very hot, drain chicken from marinade, pat off excess and add to skillet.
Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes, or until nicely browned on one side. Turn chicken over, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 4-6 more minutes (depending on thickness of chicken), or until chicken is cooked through.
Remove chicken to cutting board and baste with reserved 2 tablespoons marinade. Garnish with additional lime juice to taste if desired. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

What’s the Best Dressing for Chicken Taco Salad?

Chicken Taco Salad is often served with Catalina Dressing, but this isn’t just any Catalina Dressing, it is BAJA Catalina Dressing! What makes this zesty Catalina Dressing “Baja” style is the addition of one tablespoon of our reserved Catalina marinade which boasts cilantro, lime, garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, etc. By reserving one tablespoon for our dressing, we are doubling the flavor without doubling the work.

Do I have to Add Mayonnaise?

The creamy aspect of the Catalina Dressing comes from whisking in both mayonnaise and sour cream to our Catalina Dressing. I love this creamilicoius twist but if you prefer more of a vinaigrette then feel free to replace the mayo/sour cream with canola oil.

The dressing is super quick to whip up and the sweetness is a wonderful complement to the lime punch of the chicken, but just be aware that people seem to have a wide range of opinions as to how sweet Catalina Dressing should be, so you probably want to start with less sugar and add more to taste.

I couldn't stop eating this Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad! Its bursting with tender, juicy chicken and the sweet & tangy Creamy Baja Catalina Dressing is out of this world delicious! This combo is pure heaven!

What Goes in Chicken Salad?

In addition to our juicy Cilantro Lime Chicken and Baja Catalina Dressing, this epic chicken salad is supported by an encore cast of:

crunchy lettuce
juicy tomatoes
sweet fresh corn
creamy avocado
hearty black beans
cheese crunchy, salty tortilla chips

Once you toss all of these ingredients together you have tons of flavor and texture in every bite. That being said, these ingredients are just a guideline. You can use more or less of each ingredient, add other vegetables or omit some completely. The ingredient list is up to you to make it YOUR favorite Chicken Taco Salad!

How Do I serve Chicken Taco Salad?

There are three ways to serve Chicken Taco Salad:

If you don’t expect or want leftovers: add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss with desired amount of dressing.
If you expect leftovers: add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl except the avocados and tortilla strips. Let leftovers top individual servings with dressing, avocados and tortilla strips.
Create a Taco Salad Bar by lining up all of the ingredients in separate serving bowls and let guests assemble their own Chicken Taco Salad.

Can I Make Chicken Taco Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes! Both the Cilantro Lime Chicken and the Catalina Dressing can be made and refrigerated ahead of time. All the fixings except the avocados can be chopped and stored in separate airtight containers so this Chicken Taco Salad can come together in a flash when you are ready to chow down.

All that’s left to do is give them a toss to create the perfect compliment of textures and flavors in every Chicken Taco Salad bite! And then let your jaw drop…

Looking for more Chicken Salad Recipes?

showing how to make chicken taco salad by tossing the chicken, black beans, corn, bell peppers, avocados, tomatoes, cheese, tortilla chips and dressing together in a wooden bowl

Want to try this Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad Recipe?

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Total Time: 25

Prep Time: 25

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Ingredients

Salad

1 Recipe Cilantro Lime Chicken
1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (or 2 roma tomatoes, chopped)
1 cup black beans drained and rinsed
corn from 2 ears sweet corn (raw)
1/2 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese or more to taste
2 avocados, chopped
Tortilla Chips, slightly crushed or tortilla strips to taste (the more the better!)

Creamy Baja Catalina Dressing

1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar more or less to taste (start with less)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream (may sub yogurt)
1 tablespoons reserved Cilantro Lime Marinade (in directions)

Instructions

Prepare Cilantro Lime Chicken according to directions, reserving 1 tablespoon marinade for dressing. Slice or chop cooked chicken.
Meanwhile, whisk together all of the Dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, including the 1 tablespoon reserved Cilantro Lime Marinade. Store in the refrigerator. Best if chilled at least 30 minutes. May keep in an airtight container up to 7 days.
To assemble, add the Salad Ingredients to a large bowl and toss to combine. Drizzle individual servings with desired amount of dressing. Season with additional salt, pepper, hot sauce and/or lime juice to taste.

Video

Notes

*For more of a vinaigrette, you may sub the mayo and sour cream for canola oil

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