Crunchy Taco Chicken Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Tex-Mex salad featuring seasoned taco chicken, fresh vegetables, beans, cheese, and crushed taco shells with zesty lime dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Taco Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

06 - 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
09 - 1 cup corn kernels
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 2 green onions, sliced
12 - 1 avocado, diced
13 - 1 cup crushed taco shells

→ Dressing

14 - ½ cup sour cream
15 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
17 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
18 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry and rub evenly with olive oil, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper.
02 - Heat skillet over medium heat and cook chicken 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
03 - In small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, and cumin until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - In large salad bowl, combine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, green onions, and avocado. Toss gently to combine.
05 - Arrange sliced taco chicken over salad and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheddar cheese.
06 - Drizzle dressing over salad and toss lightly, or serve dressing on the side. Top with crushed taco shells immediately before serving to maintain crispness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You get all the flavors of a loaded taco without the heavy carbs of a full shell dinner
  • The warm spiced chicken against cool crisp vegetables creates that perfect temperature contrast restaurant dishes always nail
02 -
  • The crushed shells will get soggy if you add them too early, so always keep them separate until the last moment
  • Letting the chicken rest before slicing is what keeps it moist instead of drying out
03 -
  • Warm the leftover taco shells in the oven for two minutes before crushing them for extra toasty flavor
  • If making ahead, dress individual portions right before serving instead of the whole bowl
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