Creamy Mexican-Inspired Chicken Salad (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Salad Base
01 -
2 cups cooked and shredded chicken (about 1 pound - rotisserie chicken works great here)
02 -
1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen and thawed, or canned - drained)
03 -
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
04 -
1/2 cup diced tomatoes (I like Roma or cherry tomatoes)
05 -
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
06 -
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (skip if you're not a fan)
→ Creamy Southwest Dressing
07 -
1 cup mayonnaise
08 -
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
09 -
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
10 -
Salt and pepper to taste
# Instructions:
01 -
Grab a big mixing bowl and throw in your shredded chicken, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, chopped onion, and cilantro. Give it all a good mix so everything gets evenly distributed.
02 -
In a smaller bowl, mix the mayo, taco seasoning, and lime juice until it's all smooth and well-blended. Give it a quick taste - this is where the magic happens! Add more lime juice if you want it tangier or more taco seasoning for an extra kick.
03 -
Pour that creamy dressing over your chicken mixture and fold everything together until all those colorful ingredients are coated in that zesty sauce. Make sure to get down to the bottom of the bowl so nothing misses out on the flavor party!
04 -
Give your masterpiece a taste and sprinkle in some salt and pepper as needed. Everyone's taste buds are different, so make it perfect for you! You can serve it right away or pop it in the fridge to chill - it actually gets even better after the flavors have some time to mingle.
# Notes:
01 -
This salad keeps really well in the fridge for about 3 days, making it perfect for meal prep or make-ahead lunches.
02 -
To make it healthier, you can swap half (or all) of the mayo for Greek yogurt - it'll add a nice tangy kick too!
03 -
This is super versatile - serve it over lettuce, stuffed in avocado halves, wrapped in a tortilla, or even as a dip with tortilla chips.
04 -
Feel free to throw in diced avocado, sliced jalapeños, or bell peppers for even more color and flavor.