Description
Smoky chipotle chicken salad delivers a spicy southwestern kick that dances across taste buds with bold flavors. Fresh ingredients and zesty seasonings create a perfect balance you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 1/4 cup chopped bacon
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1/3 cup chipotle mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the shredded chicken and crisp bacon pieces in a large mixing bowl, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Add diced tomatoes, red onion, and chopped cilantro to the protein base, creating a vibrant and colorful mixture.
- Incorporate chopped romaine lettuce, gently tossing to maintain the lettuce’s crisp texture.
- Whisk chipotle mayonnaise with lime juice, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a separate small bowl to create a zesty dressing.
- Pour the spiced dressing over the salad, carefully folding the ingredients to ensure even coating without crushing the delicate lettuce.
- Allow the salad to rest for 5 minutes at room temperature, enabling the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Give a final gentle toss just before serving to redistribute the dressing and refresh the salad’s appearance.
- Serve immediately for optimal freshness and crunch, presenting the salad in a chilled bowl to maintain its vibrant character.
Notes
- Swap out regular mayo for Greek yogurt to reduce calories and add protein, creating a lighter yet equally creamy dressing.
- Toast the bacon separately until extra crispy for maximum crunch and a deeper smoky flavor that elevates the entire salad’s texture.
- Replace chicken with grilled tofu or black beans for a vegetarian version that maintains the recipe’s zesty southwest-inspired profile.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and store separately to prevent lettuce from wilting, allowing you to assemble the salad quickly right before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg