There's something truly satisfying about digging into a crunchy Chicken Tortilla Salad. This salad is sure to delight! With a little bit of prep work, you can have this vibrant, crisp salad featuring juicy grilled chicken and crispy tortilla strips ready to toss together in no time. You'll love how all the flavors come together in this family-friendly dish!
Today, I'm thrilled to bring to your kitchen a recipe that's close to my heart - the Chicken Tortilla Salad! This family favorite is not just a meal; it's a fiesta of flavors dancing on your palate.
Imagine this: tender, juicy chicken pieces, seasoned and grilled to perfection, and nestled atop a bed of crisp lettuce and juicy tomatoes. Then we add in crunchy strips of golden-brown tortillas, providing that satisfying crunch we all love. But that's not all! We also throw in some creamy avocado slices, corn, black beans, red onion and a sprinkle of shredded cheese to elevate this salad to a whole new level of yumminess.
Now, what's a Chicken Tortilla Salad without an amazing dressing, right? Our homemade chipotle dressing is the secret ingredient here. It's tangy and it has just the right amount of spice to make your taste buds tango! It ties all the ingredients together, creating a symphony of flavors that's simply irresistible.
So, grab your apron, summon your inner chef, and join me in creating this delightful Chicken Tortilla Salad. Whether you're a kitchen novice or a seasoned home cook, this recipe is sure to impress. Let's turn a regular mealtime into a memorable fiesta!
Tips & Tricks
- Vegetable Prep: Chop your veggies into bite-sized pieces. Not only does this make the salad easier to eat, but it also ensures you get a bit of everything in each bite.
- Assembly Time: Assemble your salad just before serving to maintain the freshness and crunch of the ingredients.
- Family-Friendly Tips: To make this salad kid-friendly, you can omit any ingredients your little ones aren't fond of. You could also serve the dressing on the side, so they can decide how much to add.
More Salad Recipes to Try
- Spice up your salad game with our Mediterranean Quinoa Salad; it's like a sunny getaway in a bowl, brimming with wholesome quinoa, fresh veggies, and zesty lemon dressing.
- Give a healthy twist to your traditional chicken salad with our Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad; it's packed with lean protein, crunchy celery, sweet grapes, and a creamy Greek yogurt dressing that will have you coming back for seconds.
- Enjoy a refreshing crunch with our Broccoli Apple Salad; it's a delightful mix of fresh broccoli florets, crisp apples, and red onion, all tossed together in a creamy dressing.
- Transport your taste buds to the heart of Italy with our Italian Chopped Salad; it's a hearty combination of chopped veggies, salami, mozzarella, and a homemade Italian vinaigrette that's simply bellissimo!
Grilled Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Salad
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless chicken breast or thighs or tempeh
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Dressing
- ¼ red onion coarsely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce + 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
- ¼ cup red whine vinegar
- ½ avocado peeled, pitted and diced
- ¼ cup olive oil
Tortillas
- 6 corn tortillas
- olive oil spray
Salad
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 red onion sliced thin
- ½ avocado diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 ½ cups black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup organic corn thawed
- 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese optional
Instructions
- If using chia gel in dressing, combine 2 teaspoons chia seeds and ¼ cup water. Stir well and set aside.
- Heat a grill pan to medium high. In a bowl combine cumin, paprika, chili powder and salt. Coat chicken with spices and grill until cooked through. Allow to cool slightly then slice into thin strips.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut tortillas into thin strips and then half lengthwise. Place on a baking sheet and spray with olive oil spray. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake about 10 minutes, turning half way through.
- Make dressing by combining onion, garlic, adobo sauce, vinegar, avocado in a food processor. Add oil in a steady stream.
- Combine lettuce, onion, avocado, tomatoes, black beans, corn and cheese in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss with enough dressing to coat. Serve with additional dressing on the side if desired.
Shannon Graham
You had me at chipotle.