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    Home » Salad » Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad

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    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious and flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad. With tender and juicy, well-seasoned chicken, an assortment of Mexican flavors and ingredients including crunchy homemade tortilla strips, all tossed in a Mexican-style Caesar salad, this salad is one you won't regret making!

    Sometimes we just get sick of the same old classic recipes. So why not make things more interesting by combining different flavors and cuisines together to create something completely new? We love serving this Chicken Caesar Salad on taco night, Cinco de Mayo, or anytime we are craving salad and Mexican food.

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    Why You'll Love Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad

    • A twist on a classic Caesar salad. A Caesar salad is one of the simplest salads to make with one of the most distinct dressings. But sometimes in life, you need a little fiesta! So, we decided to take it to another level by adding in some traditional Mexican ingredients including black beans, corn, and avocado. And why use croutons when we have tortilla strips? This added the much-needed crunch. A salad so tasty and refreshing, you won’t even miss the Parmesan!
    • The most flavorful chicken. This might be most flavorful chicken ever. It's well-seasoned and marinated in Mexican flavors including cumin, chili powder, and paprika. Plus, you can cook the chicken on the stovetop, in the oven, or in the air fryer — whatever method works best for you!
    • The Mexican-style Caesar dressing. We also added Mexican flavours of lime and cilantro to our homemade classic Caesar salad dressing. But you can totally use store-bought dressing too. And if you want to add in some heat to this salad, throw in a pinch a of chili flakes (entirely optional!).

    Move over Caesar, there is a new salad in town! O’le!

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    Ingredient Notes

    To make this delicious Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

    • chicken breasts - I like to use boneless and skinless chicken breast in salads. You could also use boneless and skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
    • chicken marinade - made in just minutes with a combination of olive oil, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, dried oregano, salt, ground black pepper. You could also opt for a simple seasoning of ground cumin, salt, and pepper (see tips in recipe card).
    • romaine lettuce
    • corn - I cooked frozen corn. You could also use freshly cooked kernels from Grilled Corn on the Cob or Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob.
    • black beans - you can use black beans cooked from dried beans, or use canned beans.
    • avocado
    • tortilla strips - I like having a batch of tortilla strips for recipes like this. They are super easy to make at home with just a couple of minutes of prep time. You can of course also use store-bought or crumble up some tortilla chips.
    • lime wedges - optional, for serving.
    • Mexican caesar dressing - made with Caesar salad dressing, lime juice, cilantro, and cumin. You can also add some dried chilli flakes for extra spice. You can also just use plain Caesar salad dressing if that is easier.

    This recipe is also completely customizable. Feel free to add in your favorite veggies such as tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and/or red onions.

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Make the Best Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad

    Cook the chicken

    1. Marinate the chicken. In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken breasts with ½ tablespoon oil, lime juice, garlic, and all seasoning including chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight in the fridge. You can also combine everything into a large Ziploc bag and press the seasoning around the chicken to coat.
    2. Cook the chicken. When ready to cook, heat the remaining ½ tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles, about 1 minute. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden brown, about 6-8 minutes per side. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
      • Air fryer instructions: You can also cook the chicken breasts in the air fryer at 350F for 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
      • Oven instructions: You can bake in a preheated 375F oven for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
    3. Slice. Remove from heat and transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board. Slice each breast into small strips of cubes.
    • Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com
    • Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    Assemble the salad

    In a large serving bowl, add romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, avocado, tortilla strips, and sliced chicken.

    In a small mixing bowl, combine Caesar salad dressing, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, and dried chili flakes (if using). Stir well until combined. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed, and serve with lime wedges on the side.

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    How to Serve

    Serve Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad with your favorite Mexican dishes. Some of my favorites to serve this with are:

    • Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
    • Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
    • Vegetarian Quesadillas
    • Creamy Mexican Corn Soup
    • Sheet Pan Nachos
    • Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
    • Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Storing Instructions

    • Make ahead instructions: To make ahead, store the salad, chicken, and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The chicken will last up to 3 days, and the salad and dressing will last up to 1 week. Then, toss and combine just before serving or packing for lunch. This will keep your salad looking and tasting fresh.
    • How to store: If you have any leftovers, store this Mexican chicken salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store it in an airtight container or in a bowl wrapped tightly with plastic cling wrap.
    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    More Salad Recipes

    • 40 Best Salad Recipes
    • Mexican Street Corn Salad
    • Shrimp Taco Salad
    • Beef Taco Salad
    • Chicken Garden Salad
    • Greek Chicken Salad

    Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Sam | Ahead of Thyme
    • Total Time: 45 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Mexican chicken Caesar salad is a classic recipe with a twist! Combine your favourite Mexican ingredients to create a salad so tasty and refreshing!


    Ingredients

    For the chicken*:

    • 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
    • ½ tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic, minced
    • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

    For the salad:

    • 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
    • 1 cup corn, cooked and drained
    • 1 cup black beans, cooked and drained
    • 1 medium avocado, sliced or cubed
    • 1-2 cups tortilla strips (or crumbled tortilla chips)
    • lime wedges (optional, for serving)

    For the dressing:

    • ½ cup Caesar salad dressing
    • juice of 1 lime
    • 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
    • pinch of cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon dried chilli flakes (optional)

    Instructions

    Cook the chicken:

    1. In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken breasts with ½ tablespoon oil, lime juice, garlic, and all seasoning including chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight in the fridge. You can also combine everything into a large Ziploc bag and press the seasoning around the chicken to coat.
    2. When ready to cook, heat the remaining ½ tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles, about 1 minute. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden brown, about 6-8 minutes per side. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
      • Air fryer instructions: You can also cook the chicken breasts in the air fryer at 350F for 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
      • Oven instructions: You can bake in a preheated 375F oven for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
    3. Remove from heat and transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board. Slice each breast into small strips of cubes.

    Make the salad:

    1. In a large serving bowl, add romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, avocado, tortilla strips, and sliced chicken.
    2. In a small mixing bowl, combine Caesar salad dressing, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, and dried chili flakes (if using). Stir well until combined.
    3. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed, and serve with lime wedges on the side.

    Notes

    *Recipe updates: This recipe was originally published in 2017. It has been completely updated with tweaks to the recipe and new photographs. The chicken was originally marinated with: ½ teaspoon ground cumin, salt, and pepper.

    Make ahead instructions: To make ahead, store the salad, chicken, and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The chicken will last up to 3 days, and the salad and dressing will last up to 1 week. Then, toss and combine just before serving or packing for lunch. This will keep your salad looking and tasting fresh.

    How to store: If you have any leftovers, store this Mexican chicken salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store it in an airtight container or in a bowl wrapped tightly with plastic cling wrap.

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Marinate Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Salad
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Did you make this recipe?

    I'd love to see! Tag me @aheadofthyme on Instagram.

    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing. | aheadofthyme.com
    Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elizabeth says

      July 01, 2017 at 7:40 am

      I could seriously go a great big bowl full of this just now! It looks SO good! All my favourite flavours!

      Reply
    2. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

      June 30, 2017 at 3:45 pm

      I am one to get stuck in a "always make the same thing because we like it rut". I love to branch out though. Especially when it is someone's idea. This salad is a perfect example. Looks delicious!

      Reply
    3. Kathleen says

      June 29, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      Yum this looks fantastic!! I love trying new salad recipes! Pinning for later!

      Reply
    4. Jessica Suárez says

      June 29, 2017 at 10:09 am

      This recipe got me. I was looking for a brand new way to make salad and I'm definetly going to give it a try. Looks delicious!

      Reply
    5. Shannon says

      June 29, 2017 at 9:23 am

      This looks delicious and all the "extras" that give it the great mexican flavours make it healthier too!

      Reply
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