Description
Mexican-inspired Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad delivers fresh, zesty flavors perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Crisp greens, juicy seasoned chicken, and tangy dressing combine for a light yet satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (1 pound) ground chicken
- 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup corn, fresh from the cob
- 2 bunches romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
- ½ large red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- ½ cup shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
- 2 cups packed fresh cilantro
- ½ ripe avocado, peeled and sliced in half
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2–4 tbsps taco seasoning
- ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- Zest of 1 lime
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsps apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Tortilla chips
- Salsa
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Sauté Chicken: Heat skillet over medium flame, coat with olive oil. Crumble ground chicken into pan, breaking into small fragments while cooking until golden-brown. Integrate taco seasoning, allowing spices to penetrate and amplify flavor profile.
- Craft Cilantro Lime Dressing: Combine cilantro, avocado, lime juice and zest, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper in food processor. Blend until achieving silky, creamy consistency with vibrant citrus notes.
- Compose Salad Base: Layer romaine lettuce in expansive mixing bowl. Artfully distribute cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, corn kernels, and thinly sliced red onion across verdant greens.
- Assemble and Finish: Incorporate seasoned chicken throughout salad, ensuring uniform ingredient distribution. Sprinkle shredded cheese for luxurious depth. Lavishly drizzle cilantro lime dressing, coating each component.
- Serve with Accompaniments: Present salad alongside crisp tortilla chips, zesty salsa, and a dollop of cool sour cream to elevate the culinary experience.
Notes
- Meat Preparation Tip: Crumble ground chicken into small, uniform pieces for even cooking and better seasoning absorption.
- Seasoning Secret: Allow taco seasoning to fully coat the chicken, enhancing flavor depth and creating a golden-brown exterior.
- Dressing Technique: Blend dressing ingredients until smooth to ensure a consistent, creamy texture that coats salad components evenly.
- Serving Suggestion: Add tortilla chips and sour cream to complement the salad’s fresh flavors and provide contrasting textures.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg