Crunchy Taco Chicken Salad (Printable)

Seasoned taco chicken over crisp romaine with beans, corn, cheese, avocado, and crunchy shell pieces with lime dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Taco Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad Base

06 - 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
09 - 1 cup corn kernels
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 2 green onions, sliced
12 - 1 avocado, diced
13 - 1 cup crushed taco shells

→ Lime Crema Dressing

14 - ½ cup sour cream
15 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
17 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
18 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
19 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub evenly with olive oil, taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper on both sides.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place seasoned chicken breasts in the hot pan and cook for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, and ground cumin until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, drained black beans, corn kernels, sliced green onions, and diced avocado. Toss gently to combine.
05 - Arrange sliced taco chicken evenly over the salad mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese uniformly across the top.
06 - Drizzle lime crema dressing over the salad and toss gently, or serve dressing on the side for individual preference. Top with crushed taco shells immediately before serving to maintain crispness.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Every bite delivers that perfect taco flavor without the mess of eating traditional tacos
  • The crushed shell pieces stay impossibly crisp thanks to a simple timing trick I learned
02 -
  • Never add the crushed taco shells until you're ready to serve or they'll lose their magical crunch completely
  • The chicken needs those 5 minutes of resting time or all the juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying inside the meat
03 -
  • A cast iron skillet creates the most gorgeous crust on the chicken if you have one
  • Warm the crushed taco shells in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding for restaurant style crunch
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