Santa Fe Salad With Cilantro Avocado Dressing
Who says salads have to be boring? Take one bite of this Santa Fe Salad with creamy avocado lime dressing and you'll forget all about taco night. This hearty salad is loaded with juicy chicken, fresh vegetables and crunchy tortilla strips. Make this for dinner or it's a great option for meal prep!
Servings: 3
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 4-6 ounce chicken breast
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 teaspoon for the skillet
- juice of 1 lime
Cilantro Avocado Dressing
- ½ ripe avocado
- handful cilantro, stems removed
- 2 limes juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1-2 slices jalapeno (optional, omit if you do not like heat)
- 1-2 tablespoons water if needed to thin
Salad
- 12 ounces romaine, chopped
- ½ cup corn (fresh, canned or frozen)
- ½ cup black beans, rinsed
- ½ cup grape tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup tortilla strips
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- ½ avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Add the chicken to a bowl with spices, olive oil and lime juice. Rub the chicken to coat with the mixture. Let set while preparing the salad ingredients.
- To prepare salad wash and chop vegetables, drain the corn and rinse the beans.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and sauté the chicken breast on each side for 6-7 minutes or until the chicken cooks through and is 165 degrees Fahrenheit when checked with a meat thermometer. Rest chicken for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Meanwhile, blend the dressing ingredients in a food processor. If the dressing is too thick add a couple tablespoons of water to help thin out dressing.
- Build the salad bowls by portioning the Romaine, beans, corn, tomatoes, cheese, tortilla strips, onions, jalapenos, and chicken. Finish with a drizzle of cilantro avocado dressing.
- Serve immediately. See meal prep tips in notes.
Notes
Store leftovers in and airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days for the freshest results.
Meal Prep- assemble the salads with all ingredients except dressing and tortilla strips. Package those separately so the salad does not get soggy and the chips keep their crunch.