My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad 

Indulge in the vibrant medley of flavors with My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad. This delightful dish features a hearty mix of nutritious black beans, vibrant kale, tender shredded chicken, sweet corn kernels, creamy avocado, savory cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips, all generously seasoned with zesty taco seasoning. It's a wholesome and satisfying salad that's sure to tantalize your taste buds with every bite! Make Ahead, Gluten-free + Meatless Option.

Salads don't have to be dull, folks, and My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad is proof of that. Featuring juicy, tender chicken and your fave toppings, it's delightfully crispy, crunchy, and brimming with a variety of textures and it honestly tastes SO DANG GOOD. Plus, I whipped up my homemade taco seasoning, which has been adding zing to everything lately—from traditional tacos to hearty taco soup, and now, salads! Haha.

If you're a taco lover with a soft spot for Mexican flavors, you've got to check out these tasty options: Baked Buffalo Chicken Tacos, Chipotle Sweet Potato Quinoa Tacos, Jerk Salmon Tacos, and Summer Vegan Tacos. And for a little extra excitement, don't miss the finger-licking-good Loaded Vegan Queso Skillet Nachos and the Hearty Vegan Taco Soup.

Alright, let's talk about this salad ---- It's a breeze to put together, perfect for meal prep or speedy lunches, and ideal for catering to a crowd since the ingredients are highly customizable. Not a fan of spice? Just skip the jalapenos. Crave some heat? Drizzle on some Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce. And if you prefer a vegetarian option, simply swap out the chicken for pinto beans! Trust me, once you give this salad a try, it'll become a staple in your weekly lunch or dinner lineup!

What Is Chicken Taco Salad?

Chicken taco salad is essentially a deconstructed taco served in salad form. It features all the familiar flavors and ingredients you love from a classic taco, but with the added freshness and crunch of crisp lettuce and other salad fixings.

How To Make My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad

Before assembling the salad, it's best to prepare the chicken. I opted for shredded chicken using my go-to recipe, seasoned with homemade taco seasoning for that extra kick of flavor. Then, gather all your favorite toppings and some tortilla chips for added crunch. SO delicious!

Ingredients

CHICKEN:

• Shredded chicken. Be sure to follow shredded chicken instructions substituting the seasoning with taco seasoning.
• Taco seasoning. Homemade or store-bought.

SALAD:

• Kale. De-stemmed + roughly chopped. You can use green or red or both.
• Black beans. Drained + rinsed.
• Cherry or grape tomatoes. Halved. You can also use my Herb Roasted Tomatoes for extra flavor. Also, tomato-on-the-vine works too---simply chop them.
• Red onion. Adds a nice hint of sweetness.
• Cooked sweet corn kernels. You can also use canned sweet corn, if desired.
• Cheddar cheese. Grated or shredded.
• Jalapeño pepper. Chopped. You can also sub wit poblano pepper, if desired.
• Avocados. You can also sub with Guacamole if desired.
• Tortilla chips. This adds such a nice crunch!
• Ranch dressing. Store-brought or homemade. I love using my homemade vegan ranch!

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS SALAD!

Here, I’ve curated a list of baking + cooking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad  Everything from my fave loaf pan, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Why You Will Complete LOVE This Chicken Taco Salad 

• It’s super easy to make.
• Bursting with bold flavors + vibrant colors
• All your favorite Mexican flavors in a salad!
• Completely customizable--Top it with your favorite ingredients.
• Hearty & filling--Perfect for family meals or gatherings.
• Makes for a great weeknight meal---Completely gluten-free + meatless options!

3 Tips For The Best Chicken Taco Salad 

Make your own tortilla chips! By popping fresh tortillas in the oven. This lets you decide how crispy they get and how much oil you use. But if you're short on time, crushed tortilla chips or store-bought strips work just fine!

Season the chicken well. Use homemade taco seasoning or your favorite spices to flavor the chicken before cooking.

Make it ahead of time. This recipe is perfect for making ahead, especially for packed lunches or quick dinners. Simply prep the ingredients ahead of time and store them separately. Assemble the salad just before eating and add the ranch and avocado just before serving for maximum freshness and flavor!

Meatless Options for This Chicken Taco Salad 

While this Chicken Taco Salad  is perfect as is---I definitely wanted to give options for those of you who don't eat meat or just might make this salad more than once and want to switch things up with a meatless option from time to time! Here are a few great ingredients that you can substitute with the chicken in this delicious salad.

Other ingredient ideas include:

• Roasted chickpeas
• Beans (like pinto beans, White beans, Kidney beans, etc.)
• Mushrooms
• Tofu or Tempeh
• Cauliflower
• Roasted veggies (like Broccoli, Asparagus, Cabbage, etc.)
• Vegan meatballs
• Jackfruit
• Other plant-based meat alternatives (store-bought)

More Topping Ideas

Here are some more ideas if you absolutely love piling on the toppings for your taco salad!

• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Herb roasted tomatoes
• Dairy-free Creamy Chipotle Sauce
• Vegan bacon bits or if you aren't vegan try my Candied Bacon!
• Salsa or pico de Gallo
• Queso
• Grilled pineapple
• Roasted red peppers

My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad Q + A's

Love All Things Tacos? Try These Recipes Next

If you are a fan of My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad recipe, you will also love these other drool-worthy tacos + taco-inspired recipes!

• Vegan Jamaican Jerk Walnut Tacos
• Vegan Gochujang Cauliflower Tacos
• Easy Vegan Black Bean Tacos
• Chipotle BBQ Butternut Squash Tacos
• BBQ Cauliflower Tacos
• Gochujang Shrimp Tacos 
• Meatless Birria Tacos with Jackfruit

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram  and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad 

March 31, 2024 •

By Shanika

5 from 2 votes

Indulge in the vibrant medley of flavors with My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad. This delightful dish features a hearty mix of nutritious black beans, vibrant kale, tender shredded chicken, sweet corn kernels, creamy avocado, savory cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips, all generously seasoned with zesty taco seasoning. It's a wholesome and satisfying salad that's sure to tantalize your taste buds with every bite! Make Ahead Option.

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Serves: 6 servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

CHICKEN:

• 2 cups shredded chicken (Be sure to follow chicken instructions substituting the seasoning with taco seasoning.)
• 1-2 Tbsps taco seasoning, homemade or store-bought

SALAD:

• 2 bunches organic kale, de-stemmed + roughly chopped (You can use green or red or both)
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained + rinsed
• 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (You can also use my Herb Roasted Tomatoes for extra flavor; Also, tomato-on-the-vine works too---simply chop them)
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 cups cooked sweet corn kernels (You can also use canned sweet corn, if desired)
• 1 cup grated or shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (You can also sub wit poblano pepper, if desired)
• 2 avocados, sliced (You can also sub with my Homemade Guacamole, if desired)
• Tortilla chips

DRESSING:

• 1 Vegan Ranch Dressing

Instructions

TO MAKE THE CHICKEN:

• To prep + shred your chicken, be sure to follow my Easy Shredded Chicken recipe using my Homemade Taco seasoning instead of the regular seasoning.

TO MAKE THE SALAD DRESSING:

• To make the Vegan Ranch Dressing, see the recipe!

CHOP + MASSAGE KALE:

• Strip the leaves from 2 large bunches kale and discard the stems if you haven't already. Roughly chop the leaves and add them to a large bowl. Drizzle about 1-2 tsps of lemon juice or olive oil atop chopped kale and using clean hands, rub together the kale gently for about 2-3 minutes to soften the leaves and help to infuse the 'flavors' of the kale.

ASSEMBLE THE SALAD:

• In a large serving plate or salad bowl, add the chopped kale followed by the black beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cheddar cheese, shredded chicken, and sliced avocados (or guacamole). You can add the tortilla chips atop everything or on the side.
• To serve, add the salad to your favorite bowl(s), drizzle with vegan ranch dressing, and enjoy!
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
• MAKE AHEAD: The shredded chicken and chopped veggies can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. The dressing can be made and refrigerated in a separate airtight container. The kale can be chopped up to 30 minutes before serving.
• HERB ROASTED TOMATOES: To see the recipe, tap this link.
• GREENS: If preferred, you can always add greens like Romaine lettuce, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Microgreens, Spinach or Collard Greens to this salad for added flavor + texture.
• TOPPING OPTIONS: See post for more add-ons and variation of ingredients for this salad!

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4349IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 1mg

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