Santa Fe Salad with Chicken

Santa Fe Salad with Chicken 

Cook's Notes: This delicious Santa Fe Salad features crisp Romaine lettuce, juicy chicken, black beans, and a medley of colorful vegetables, all dressed with a creamy lime-infused dressing. With its bold flavors and fresh ingredients, this healthy salad will transport your taste buds to the Southwest. Make it in 30 minutes! It's a salad perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Pair the meal with a slice of your favorite cornbread. The recipe called for crushed tortilla chips on top of the salad, but I found these taco bowls at Walmart while grocery shopping, so I substituted them for the crushed chips. Oh, the possibilities using these edible taco bowls for other recipes! The recipe serves four. 

Cooking tips: Use a rotisserie chicken, or marinate chicken in buttermilk for 1 hour before baking or grilling with your favorite spices.  

• 2 large chicken breasts (8 oz each) baked or grilled or 2-3 cups diced chicken pieces 
• 4 cups romaine lettuce
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 3/4 cup mini-diced red and yellow peppers
• 1 avocado sliced
• 1 cup fire-roasted frozen corn, thawed 
• ½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons diced red onion 
• ¼ cup cotija cheese or queso blanco can substute shredded Mexican blend or Monterey jack
• 1 cup tortilla strips for garnish 

Salad Dressing Ingredients:

• ½ cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon each chili powder and cumin
• Dash of garlic powder 
• ½ teaspoon honey or agave
• 1-2 tablespoons water

Salad and Dressing Directions: 

• Cook chicken and dice meat, or use a rotisserie chicken. Set aside. 
• Make the dressing ahead in a small bowl and whisk the ingredients. Refrigerate until serving time. 
• Arrange the lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, corn, black beans, onion, and cheese in a large serving bowl. Mix in the chicken with the rest of the salad ingredients. 
• Add enough dressing only to moisten the salad. 
• Garnish with tortilla strips, if desired.
  
  Another option is to serve the salad mixture in a bowl. This photo shows the salad ingredients before the dressing was added.

BONUS TIME

Some healthy seasonal treats

Pumpkin made with diced oranges, apples and dried cranberries

Your favorite dip served with carrot sticks and almonds 

Fruit kebabs with grapes, strawberries, and edible eyes.