Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time by preparing your ingredients and dressing and storing them separately in airtight containers. Mix everything together just before serving. Wait to slice your avocado until ready to serve because otherwise it will brown.

Can I use a different kind of chicken?

Yes, you can swap out the chicken in this recipe for grilled chicken, fajita chicken, or even rotisserie chicken. You could also use chicken thighs, but they will not need as long to cook.

What is a 'Santa Fe' Salad?

Santa Fe is a city in New Mexico, and this salad is inspired by the flavors of the Southwest. It's also a popular item on menus at Chili's and Cheesecake Factory! This particular recipe is a copycat of the Chili's version.

Santa Fe Salad Recipe with Chicken

Description

This Santa Fe Salad is made with a mix of Southwest-inspired ingredients and drizzled in a creamy Santa Fe Sauce dressing. It's bold, flavorful, and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 avocado, diced
1 cup canned corn, drained
1 cup diced roma tomatoes
⅓ cup chopped cilantro
Tortilla strips

Santa Fe Dressing:

½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon water, or more if needed
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon onion powder
Salt & pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 thin chicken cutlets.
In a small bowl, stir together 2 teaspoons chili powder and 2 teaspoons cumin. Sprinkle the mixture over both sides of the chicken breasts.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook, covered, 5 - 6 minutes on each side. The chicken should be cooked through to 165°F and no longer pink in the middle. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes and then slice into strips.
While the chicken cooks, in a small bowl or jar, stir together the dressing ingredients. Add additional water, if needed, to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
Add all of the salad ingredients (except for the tortilla strips) to a large bowl. Drizzle as much of the dressing over the top as preferred and toss to mix.
Top with tortilla strips. Optionally, sprinkle with additional fresh lime juice and freshly-ground black pepper before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad

Nutrition

Serving Size: ¼th of recipe
Calories: 510
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 319mg
Fat: 36.7g
Saturated Fat: 5.6g
Carbohydrates: 29.8g
Fiber: 4.3g
Protein: 17.4g
Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: santa fe, chicken, southwest, salad, easy, healthy, dinner, lunch, copycat, chilis, dressing, sauce, spicy, mexican, tex-mex, green, romaine