Crunchy Taco Chicken Salad (Printable)

Seasoned taco chicken atop crisp greens with beans, cheese, avocado, and crunchy shell pieces. A satisfying Tex-Mex main dish.

# 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 Base

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

→ Creamy 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

# Preparation steps:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub evenly with olive oil, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper on all surfaces.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place chicken breasts in the pan and cook 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, and cumin until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, drained black beans, corn kernels, sliced green onions, and diced avocado. Toss gently to combine.
05 - Arrange sliced taco chicken over the salad mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the entire salad.
06 - Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat, or serve dressing on the side. Top with crushed taco shells immediately before serving to maintain crunchiness.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • You get all the satisfaction of taco night without the mess of crumbling shells or fillings falling everywhere
  • The dressing comes together in seconds and makes everything taste like you spent way more time cooking than you actually did
02 -
  • If you add the crushed taco shells too early, they'll get soggy, so wait until the very last second or serve them on the side
  • The chicken needs those five minutes of resting time or all the juices will run out onto the cutting board instead of staying where they belong
03 -
  • Warm the tortilla shells in the oven for a few minutes before crushing them, and they'll taste freshly made
  • A squeeze of fresh lime over the whole salad right before serving brightens every single ingredient
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