Chicken Taco Salad With Quesadilla Croutons Recipes

BEST CHICKEN TACO SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a grill pan (or skilleset over medium heat. While the oil heats, dry the chicken breasts and brush them with the remaining 1-tablespoon oil. Liberally season the breasts with chili seasoning, taco seasoning, salt & black pepper. Place the breasts in the hot skillet and cook until the underside is golden brown and beginning to crisp (5-7 minutes). Flip the breasts over and cook until the internal temperature reaches 162°F on a meat thermometer. Transfer the breast to plate; set aside.
• The salad can be plated as individual servings or as one large serving to be shared.
• Place the chopped lettuce in a bowl (or serving platteand arrange the corn, beans, black olives, onion, avocado and tomatoes on top. Drizzle the avocado with juice from ½ lime. Thinly slice the chicken breasts and carefully place the chicken breasts on top of the salad. Drizzle the entire salad with the remaining ½ lime. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and cilantro. Add the crumbled Cotija cheese and drizzle with Taco Salad Dressing.
• Stir together the salsa and sour cream. Add a bit of canola oil if you'd like to thin a bit.
• Serve with tortilla chips and...
• Enjoy!

CHICKEN TACO SALAD

Steps:

• For the chicken: Generously sprinkle both sides of the breasts with the taco seasoning. Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken on both sides until deep golden brown on the outside and done in the middle (or to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F), about 4 minutes per side. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
• For the dressing: While the chicken is cooking, pour the ranch dressing into a bowl. Add the salsa and cilantro and stir to combine.
• For the salad: Next, place the ears of corn in the skillet you used to cook the chicken and roll them around so that the flavorful oil/butter mixture coats the corn. Grill on a grill pan or cook in a separate skillet until the corn is still crisp but has color on the outside. Slice off the kernels with a sharp knife and set aside. Dice the chicken into cubes.
• On a platter, layer the shredded lettuce, diced chicken, tomatoes, cheese, corn, avocados, green onions, cilantro and crushed chips. Drizzle the dressing all over the top, saving some to serve on the side if you'd like. Serve the salad in individual bowls.

CHICKEN TACO SALAD WITH QUESADILLA "CROUTONS"

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, sugar, 3 tablespoons water and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the mixture boils and the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, heat the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.) Put the jalapeños in a small heatproof bowl. Pour the hot pickling liquid over the jalapeños and allow to cool to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle both sides with the taco seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until the taco seasoning is toasted and almost blackened and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of each chicken breast registers 165 degrees F, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool slightly. Wipe out the saute pan with a paper towel.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the saute pan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add 2 tortillas, top each with 1/2 cup cheese and a second tortilla and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown and the cheese melts, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, allow to cool for 1 to 2 minutes, then cut into 1/2-inch squares.
• Put the greens and any crunchy toppings included in the salad kits in a large bowl. Add the chopped cilantro and pepitas if desired.
• Drain the jalapeños from the pickling liquid and add to the salad. Add the quesadilla croutons and avocado. Drizzle or toss with the dressing included in the salad kits. Slice the chicken into strips. Serve the salad topped with the chicken.

GRILLED CHICKEN TACO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Mix black beans, salsa, 1/2 cup cilantro, and lime juice in a bowl; set aside.
• Stir chili powder, cumin, coriander, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and olive oil in a bowl until smooth; rub mixture over chicken breasts.
• Cook chicken breasts on preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 10 to 12 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). While the chicken is cooking, place tortillas on grill and grill until lightly brown on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and slice into long thin strips. Divide chicken strips over tortillas and top with bean mixture, lettuce, and remaining 1/2 cup cilantro. Serve with avocado, lime wedges, and sour cream.

ROAST CHICKEN SALAD WITH CROUTONS AND SHALLOT DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine shallots and vinegar and set aside 10 to 30 minutes to soften. Add 2 big pinches of salt and a dozen grinds of black pepper. Whisk in the oil and then the parsley. Taste and add more oil, salt and pepper as needed.
• Make the croutons: Gently warm the olive oil in a skillet. When a piece of bread sizzles when dropped into the pan, add all the bread and cook slowly, stirring, until golden brown on all sides. Sprinkle with salt, transfer croutons to a bowl and wipe out the pan.
• In the same pan, add the cooled chicken juices (they may have jelled). Don't worry if your chicken doesn't have juices; the salad will still be excellent. Add a tablespoon of water to pan and heat juices until smooth and runny. Dice or tear the chicken into bite-size pieces.
• In a large bowl, toss the greens well with about 2/3 of the dressing. Taste and add more if needed. Divide greens among 3 or 4 bowls or plates. On top, divide the chicken, then the croutons, then the juices. Using a vegetable peeler, shave 3 or 4 thin, wide slices of cheese on top of each salad. Spoon a little more dressing on top and grind pepper over. Serve immediately.