Santa Fe Salad | The Recipe Critic

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The Santa Fe Salad is full of bold Southwestern flavor and has the most amazing texture. Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, tortilla strips, avocado and cheese come together for the most amazing combination. And the creamy Southwest dressing is the perfect finishing touch.

Salads, like this one, are my favorite with plenty of hearty, flavorful ingredients! Try my other delicious salad recipes like Avocado, Chicken and Bacon, Thai Cashew and this Autumn Salad.

Santa Fe Salad Recipe

This Santa Fe salad recipe is vibrant, fresh, and full of the Southwestern flavors you love. It comes together quickly with very little effort in just 20 minutes, perfect for when I’m short on time but need big flavor. The ingredients are nutrient-dense with plenty of protein and healthy fats, making this salad a satisfying main dish. However, it’s a crowd pleaser to bring to potlucks and other gatherings where there’s a spread of different dishes.

Lettuce, tomatoes, and all the veggies keep this salad light, yet filling. Taco seasoned chicken, black beans and corn give it a Mexican flair. And black olives and avocado add flavor and texture. Add tortilla strips for a contrasting crunch and saltiness. Finally, top everything with the most delicious dressing you’ll want to put on it!

Ingredients required

The ingredients for this Santa Fe Salad recipe are fresh and delicious! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements of ingredients.

Romaine Lettuce: For the perfect satisfying crisp freshness!
Grilled Chicken Breast: Use leftover chicken or make this grilled chicken recipe.
Taco Masala: For coating the chicken. Use store-bought or for maximum flavor, try my homemade taco seasoning.
Yellow bell pepper: Adds texture and color! Orange or red bell peppers work great too!
Cherry tomatoes: For juicy bursts of sweetness.
Black Beans: Rinse and drain for extra fiber, flavor and texture.
Corn: Canned corn is convenient and adds a hint of sweetness to every bite.
Avocado: Halved, seeded, peeled and sliced for excellent creaminess.
Black Olive: Buy canned sliced olives or slice them yourself.
Queso Fresco: Love this Mexican-style crumbled cheese!
Coriander: Adds freshness! If you don’t like cilantro, leave it out.
Seasonings of Salt: To bring out all the delicious flavors!

Dressing

Sour Cream: Adds a lovely tangy flavor to the dressing.
Mayonnaise: Sour cream balances the tang while adding creaminess.
Milk: The dressing gives the perfect consistency.
Coriander: For a fresh herby taste. If you don’t like cilantro, use parsley.
Lemon juice: A bit of acid is needed in the dressing and the flavor of the lime complements the ingredients in the salad.
Southwest Spice: You can buy it or make your own!
Seasonings of Salt: To taste!

Let’s make a salad!

This Santa Fe salad comes together with very little effort and has the best flavors! You will love it!

Preparation: Wash and chop the lettuce and place in a large bowl. Place the chicken breast in a separate bowl with the taco seasoning and toss to coat the chicken evenly. Add the seasoned chicken to the bowl of lettuce.
Mix all the ingredients: Add bell pepper, tomatoes, black beans, corn, avocado, olives, queso fresco and cilantro. Season the salad with salt and pepper.
Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, cilantro, lemon juice, southwest seasoning, and salt and pepper.
Toss and serve: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine all ingredients evenly before serving. Enjoy fresh!

Tips and Variations

A combination of all my favorite Tex-Mex ingredients and a flavorful creamy salad dressing, this might be my new favorite salad recipe! Here are some helpful tips and ways to make it your own!

Choosing an Avocado: Look for firm, dark green avocados that give a little pressure. They should be free of dents and bruises.
Lettuce: I like to use romaine lettuce because it has both crunchy and leafy parts that give the salad a delicious texture. You can use iceberg or a mixture of both. Also, try mixing in some spinach for an extra boost of iron.
Meat: Try different protein options like grilled shrimp, steak, or crispy chicken in this salad.
Cheese: If you don’t have queso fresco, feta cheese is a good substitute. You can also sprinkle in some grated cheddar cheese.
Dressing: This salad pairs perfectly with Southwestern dressing, but you can also serve it with blue cheese dressing or homemade ranch dressing.

Storing leftovers

As with most salad recipes, this Santa Fe salad is best served fresh and right after it’s made!

Once the salad and dressing are mixed, it won’t keep for long. The salad will be soggy. Dress only what you plan to eat and store salad and dressing separately for longer storage. Both will keep in the fridge for 3 days.

Avocado also turns brown quickly, so if you think you might have leftover salad, add avocado only to things that will be enjoyed immediately.

More delicious salad recipes

Salads make such a good side dish and depending on the ingredients they can also be a satisfying main! I have so many good ones you’ll want to try! Here are some of my go-to salad recipes that I make all the time. I know you will love them as much as I do!

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Santa Fe Salad | The Recipe Critic

Santa Fe Salad Recipe