This fabulous recipe for Mexican Chicken Salad is one I serve often, especially in the summer. Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. The recipe really goes together quickly. This really isn't an authentic Mexican recipe; it's more Tex Mex.
And you can make the chicken mixture and prepare the veggies ahead of time. Cover and store them in the fridge until dinner time. When you want to eat, just assemble, toss the salad, and dig in!
The combination of textures and flavors in this recipe is really superb. For a really nice presentation, serve the salad in tostada bowls you can buy at the supermarket.
I like to serve this salad buffet style, and let each diner assemble her own masterpiece. Serve with lots of cold pop and beer for a fabulous meal.
Ingredients
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1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
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3 tablespoons honey
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2 teaspoons cumin
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1 tablespoon chili powder
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 (16-ounce) package frozen corn
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1/2 cup chopped red onion
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2 cups grape tomatoes
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1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
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2 red bell peppers, chopped
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1 (10-ounce) package mixed lettuce leaves
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2 avocados, peeled and chopped
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2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
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4 cups blue corn tortilla chips
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1 cup sour cream
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1 (10-ounce) jar salsa, thick and chunky
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Crisp tostada bowls, to taste, optional
Steps to Make It
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For the dressing, in a small bowl combine the apple cider vinegar, honey, cumin, chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cayenne pepper, and mix well with a wire whisk; set aside.
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If you are making the salad components ahead of time, refrigerate this dressing.
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Heat the olive oil in a 12" skillet. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then saute it in the skillet with the minced garlic, stirring frequently, until it is cooked through to 165 F, about 5 to 7 minutes.
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Combine the cooked chicken, corn, red onion, tomatoes, black beans, and red bell peppers in a large bowl.
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Stir in the apple cider vinegar dressing.
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Cover and chill this mixture for at least 1 hour. (we usually prepare the chicken and vegetable mixture up to this point and chill it until the next day.)
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When you are ready to eat, combine the chicken mixture with the lettuce in a pretty salad bowl.
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Serve the salad along with the avocados, cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, and salsa. Each diner garnishes his own salad as desired.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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669 | Calories |
36g | Fat |
57g | Carbs |
37g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 to 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 669 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 36g | 46% |
Saturated Fat 12g | 60% |
Cholesterol 95mg | 32% |
Sodium 998mg | 43% |
Total Carbohydrate 57g | 21% |
Dietary Fiber 14g | 50% |
Total Sugars 15g | |
Protein 37g | |
Vitamin C 51mg | 255% |
Calcium 362mg | 28% |
Iron 4mg | 24% |
Potassium 1324mg | 28% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |