Chicken Taco Salad

This chicken taco salad is the perfect solution if you’ve been craving the bold flavors of tacos but want something lighter. This recipe offers a delicious blend of textures and Mexican flavors by combining tender, seasoned chicken with fresh romaine and topping it with your favorite taco fixings.

Plus, it’s a breeze to make—the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting when it comes to the chicken, making it ideal for busy weeknights or meal prep. The best part? You can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste or dietary needs.

Chicken Taco Salad Ingredients

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• Chicken breasts: As the star protein, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are slow-cooked to tender perfection and infused with quintessential taco seasonings.
• Taco seasoning blend: A mix of chili powder, cumin, seasoned salt, pepper, white pepper, chipotle pepper, paprika, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes that gives the chicken its signature taco flavor.
• Chicken broth: A cup of chicken broth keeps the chicken moist and flavorful while it cooks in the slow-cooker.
• Romaine: Romaine lettuce provides a crisp, fresh base for the chicken taco salad. You can substitute with iceberg lettuce or a spring mix.
• Optional toppings: Customize your salad with sliced avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped tomato or halved cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions and your favorite salad dressing.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the seasoning

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In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, seasoned salt, pepper, white pepper, chipotle pepper, paprika, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes to create your taco seasoning blend.

Step 2: Season the chicken

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Rub the prepared seasoning mixture all over the chicken breasts, ensuring they’re evenly coated.

Editor’s Tip: For even more flavor, let the seasoned chicken breasts sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour before cooking.

Step 3: Slow-cook the chicken

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Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a 3-quart slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth. Cover and cook on low until the chicken is tender, about three to four hours.

Step 4: Shred the chicken

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Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and let it cool slightly. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Step 5: Assemble the salad

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Tear the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and divide among serving plates. Top with the shredded chicken and your choice of toppings such as avocado, cheese, tomatoes and green onions. Drizzle with your preferred salad dressing.

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Chicken Taco Salad Variations

• Make it vegetarian-friendly: Substitute the chicken with seasoned tofu or black beans for a vegetarian version of this chicken taco salad.
• Switch up the proteins: Try using ground beef, ground turkey or shredded pork instead of chicken for a twist on this taco salad recipe.
• Add some crunch: Top the salad with crushed tortilla chips or strips before serving to add some texture to this chicken taco salad.
• Add grains: Turn this chicken taco salad recipe into a taco bowl by serving over cilantro-lime rice or quinoa.
• Incorporate more vegetables: Adding vegetables like bell peppers, corn or sliced cucumbers can enhance the salads overall flavor and nutritional value.

How to Store Chicken Taco Salad

For the best results, store the cooked chicken and salad components separately to keep them from getting soggy. The chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and the rest of the salad ingredients should be kept in separate containers and assembled just before serving.

Can you freeze chicken taco salad?

While you can’t freeze the entire salad, you can freeze the cooked and shredded chicken. Allow the chicken to cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. Store in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and using in your salad.

Chicken Taco Salad Tips

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What is the best type of lettuce for chicken taco salad?

Romaine lettuce is ideal for this salad due to its crisp texture. You can also use a mix of greens like iceberg, arugula or spinach for added variety. Switch to a baby kale salad blend for more fiber, vitamin C, calcium and iron.

What’s the best dressing for chicken taco salad?

A creamy avocado dressing or cilantro-lime vinaigrette pairs wonderfully with this chicken taco salad. For a classic taco flavor, you can also use your favorite store-bought salsa or a mixture of sour cream and salsa.

How do I ensure the chicken stays moist?

Cooking the chicken in chicken broth and using a slow cooker helps keep the chicken in this taco salad recipe tender and moist. Be sure to let it soak in the juices after shredding for extra flavor.

Can I use rotisserie chicken instead of slow-cooked chicken?

Absolutely! For a quicker version of this chicken taco salad, shred a rotisserie chicken and toss it with the taco seasoning mix. Warm it slightly before adding to your salad for a similar effect to the slow-cooked version.