Creamy Tex-Mex Chicken Chopped Salad

🥗 Creamy Tex-Mex Chicken Chopped Salad

Description

This vibrant, satisfying, and crunchy chopped salad is loaded with fresh flavors and textures. It combines tender shredded chicken, creamy avocado, sweet corn, black beans, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crisp greens, all tossed in a zesty, creamy southwest-style dressing and topped with crushed tortilla chips for the ultimate crunch. It works wonderfully as a hearty lunch or a crowd-pleasing side dish for gatherings.

Ingredients

• For the Salad Base:

  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, finely chopped

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained

  • 1 cup sweet corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed)

  • 2 ripe avocados, diced

  • 1/2 red onion, finely diced

  • 1 cup crushed tortilla chips (or corn strips)

• For the Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise

  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice

  • 1 tsp chili powder

  • 1/2 tsp cumin

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • Salt and black pepper to taste

  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Whisk the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Stir well until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

2. Prep the Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce, shredded chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, diced avocado, and red onion.

3. Toss to Combine: Pour the creamy dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together until all the components are evenly coated.

4. Add the Crunch: Right before serving, top the salad with the crushed tortilla chips to maintain their crispy texture.

5. Serve: Scoop into bowls and enjoy immediately!