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5 from 1 vote

Southwest Chicken Taco Salad

This is the best ever Chicken Taco Salad. Fresh romaine lettuce, tossed with perfectly grilled chicken breast, cool slices of avocado, and creamy queso fresco cheese. There’s a savory crunch in every bite from the crispy tortilla strips and pumpkin seeds. And the cilantro salad dressing is beyond delicious!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Chicken Taco Salad, Creamy Cilantro Dressing
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 605kcal
Author: Karrie

Ingredients

SALAD

  • Romaine lettuce, washed + cut/torn into bite-sized pieces.
  • 1-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked + cut into bite sized cubes or thin slices
  • 1 bag tortilla strips
  • 1/2 -1 cup green pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup queso fresco cheese, crumbled
  • 1-2 avocados, cubed

DRESSING

  • 1 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 1 pkg ranch dressing mix
  • 4 tbsp salsa verde or green chilies
  • 2 cloves garlic

Instructions

THE SALAD

  • Toss all salad ingredients and already-made dressing together in a large bowl just before serving.

THE DRESSING:

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until blended.
  • Chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

When using avocados in a salad, look for an avocado that’s ripe but still firm. This allows you to make nice slices or cubes that don’t turn into mush.
Look for green pumpkin seeds, NOT WHITE.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 729mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1066IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 268mg | Iron: 1mg