Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch
User Reviews
5
Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Description
The salad begins by marinating chicken breasts in a mixture of olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, and salt for up to an hour, infusing the meat with bright and earthy southwestern flavors. The chicken is cooked either on an outdoor grill or in a skillet until nicely browned and fully cooked, then rested before slicing to retain juiciness. The corn can also be grilled for added smoky sweetness.
The chopped salad base consists of romaine lettuce chopped into bite-sized pieces, ripe avocado sliced with a sprinkle of lime to prevent browning, shredded pepper jack cheese for mild heat and creaminess, fresh corn kernels, grape tomatoes or sliced large tomato, and orange bell pepper for crunch and color. These ingredients combine for a variety of textures and mildly spicy, fresh flavors.
The dressing is prepared in a food processor by blending mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch seasoning mix, cilantro, lime juice, and deseeded jalapeño, resulting in a creamy, tangy ranch with herbal brightness and a hint of jalepeño spice. This dressing complements the grilled chicken and fresh salad components, tying the flavors together. The salad assembles by layering lettuce and toppings, then adding sliced chicken and finishing with the dressing.
Ingredients
Chili Lime Chicken:
- 1 lb. chicken breast
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
Salad:
- 1 romaine lettuce or 2 Romaine Hearts, chopped into bite size pieces, head
- 1 avocado or 2 small avocados, sliced, large
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese shredded
- 2 fresh corn ears or 1 cup white corn
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved (or 1 large tomatoes, sliced)
- 1 orange bell pepper sliced (mini peppers
Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 Ranch dressing mix packet or 3 tablespoons
- 1 cup cilantro
- 2 lime juiced
- 1 jalapeño deseeded
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin and salt together and pour evenly all over chicken breasts. Allow chicken to marinate for 30 minutes - 1 hour before cooking.
Outdoor Grill Instructions:
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.Place chicken on grill and cook for for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. Add corn to grill to roast, if desired. Remove chicken from grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Skillet Instructions:
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and cooked through. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
To make dressing:
- In food processor, pulse mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch dressing mix, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeno. Taste and add salt, if desired.
To assemble salad:
- Place chopped romaine lettuce in large bowl. Top with grilled chicken, sliced avocado (sprinkle with fresh lime juice and salt to prevent browning and bring out flavor), pepper jack cheese, roasted corn, grape tomatoes, and orange pepper.
- Pour cilantro lime ranch over salad and toss to serve.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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