Crunchy Taco Chicken Salad (Printable)

Vibrant Tex-Mex salad with seasoned chicken, crisp vegetables, beans, cheese, and crunchy taco shell pieces in creamy lime dressing.

# What You Need:

→ For the Taco Chicken

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→ For the Salad

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→ For the Dressing

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# Directions:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry and rub evenly with olive oil, taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, green onions, and diced avocado. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
05 - Arrange sliced taco chicken over the salad. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the top.
06 - Drizzle with prepared dressing and toss lightly to coat, or serve dressing on the side. Top with crushed taco shells immediately before serving to maintain crunch.

# Expert Advice:

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  • Every bite delivers that crave worthy taco flavor without the mess of handheld shells falling apart
  • The crushed taco shells on top stay impossibly crisp while the warm chicken makes everything else feel cozy
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  • The chicken needs those five minutes of resting time or all those delicious juices will end up on your cutting board instead of in the salad
  • Crushed taco shells lose their soul if they sit on dressed salad for more than a few minutes, so add them as the very last step
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  • Buy slightly more taco shells than you think you need because testing the shells for quality control is mandatory
  • The dressing tastes better after it hangs out in the fridge for an hour, so make it first and let it meld
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