Tex Mex Chicken Salad
Tex Mex Chicken Salad is a fiesta for your taste buds! Kick your chicken salad up a notch with this tasty south-of-the-border version loaded with flavor, but so easy to make.
Serve this chicken salad with Sandwich Bread or even on Simple and Quick Dinner Rolls for a delightful meal.
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I love easy meals in the summer like a good Chicken Salad Recipe or Light Chicken Salad Sandwich. In the colder months, I enjoy baking and taking my time to prepare a meal. But when the sun is shining and the beach is calling, I rely on quick meals for us to eat like Easy Pasta Salad.
This creamy Tex Mex chicken salad fits the bill perfectly. It’s so simple yet bursting with flavors. Best of all, it packs up well in a cooler so I can bring it to the beach for lunch on the go! I also like to pack a container of Dill Dip and lots of raw veggies for dipping. For another amazing fresh mix recipe try this cucumber salad.
Why Make Tex Mex Chicken Salad?
Classic chicken salad gets a sassy makeover with traditional Mexican flavors – cumin (which smells just like tacos!) cilantro for that fresh zest, and jalapeno for a little heat. The wonderful thing about salads is that they’re customizable to you and your family’s taste.
Think of this salad as the canvas for your imagination. If you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to eliminate the jalapeno. On the other hand, if you can’t get enough spicy food, try substituting a serrano chile for some serious zing!
This Tex Mex chicken salad would be amazing with the addition of black beans, red bell pepper or corn, not to mention it’s a great way to stretch your protein and sneak in more fiber and veggies. The sky is the limit!
- Flavorful and Delicious: Combines bold Tex Mex flavors with tender cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and zesty dressings. Consider adding chunks of tomatoes and cucumber for more flavor and crunch.
- Quick and Easy: Simple to prepare with minimal cooking and assembly time. It is the perfect recipe for using up leftover Baked Breaded Chicken, just remove the breading.
- Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals from the chicken, and fresh veggies.
- Versatile: Can be served as a main dish, side dish, or even in wraps or tacos.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable to different tastes and dietary needs with various ingredient substitutions.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Great for making ahead and enjoying throughout the week.
- Perfect for Gatherings: A crowd-pleaser at potlucks, picnics, and family gatherings.
- Colorful and Appealing: Visually appealing with a mix of vibrant colors and textures.
- Balanced Meal: Provides a good mix of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
- Minimal Cleanup: Uses minimal kitchen equipment and results in fewer dishes to wash.
I rely on my mother’s easy method to whipping up chicken salad in a jiffy: place the cooked chicken in a blender or food processor and pulse until desired consistency is reached. Some people like a chunky chicken salad, but I prefer my meat finely chopped. You of course, can use whatever method suits you best.
You can serve this salad on a bed of greens, as a sandwich or with crackers. My absolute favorite way to eat it though is with chips. Seriously one of the best lunches I’ve eaten in a long time! I ate the leftovers throughout the week and the flavors only got better with time. Don’t you love when that happens?
Substitutions and Additions
- Chicken: You can use chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, etc. Or simply cook a chicken breast and shred or chunk for this recipe.
- Beans: Add in black beans for more fiber, and continue with the text mex them. I like making these Black Beans From Dry Beans, and using them.
- Corn: Feel free to add corn kernels to this recipe for chicken salad.
- Veggies: Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, all make great additions.
Storage Instructions
If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Airtight Containers: Store the Tex Mex Chicken Salad in airtight containers to keep it fresh and prevent any odors from other foods in the refrigerator from affecting its flavor.
- Portion Control: If possible, divide the salad into individual portions. This makes it easy to grab a serving without exposing the entire batch to air each time.
- Optimal Temperature: Store the salad in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. This temperature slows down the growth of bacteria and keeps the salad fresh.
- Shelf Life: The Tex Mex Chicken Salad should be consumed within 3-4 days. Beyond this, the quality and safety of the salad may decline.
Freezing Considerations
- Not Recommended: Freezing Tex Mex Chicken Salad is generally not recommended, as the texture of fresh vegetables and the creaminess of dressings can be adversely affected.
- If Necessary: If you must freeze, consider freezing the chicken separately and adding fresh vegetables and dressing after thawing.
Other Favorite Recipes:
Tex Mex Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cooked and shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 jalapeño minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients until well combined. Add additional mayonnaise if too dry. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Also be sure to check out my no-bake Oreo Cake for more summer deliciousness!
Robin Masshole Mommy says
That sounds wonderful! I love your twist on chicken salad.
Vera Sweeney says
I love a good chicken salad!! This sounds amazing, I am going to have to try the chips with chicken salad I have never had that before.
Scott says
I haven’t had lunch yet and know what I want now! Just need to get the ingredients!
Brandy says
I love the idea of a tex mex chicken salad, it really sounds like something my middle child would love. He often loves mex type food and this will be a little something different to serve for lunch!
Neely Moldovan says
I love tex mex and chicken salad so this seems like a win! Cant wait to try it!
Liz Mays says
I just love the mexican twist on a classic. I know a few boys who are going to thank me for this big time!
Elizabeth O says
It does look delicious and well seasoned. I particularly love the fact that it is easy to make.
Rachael says
Thank you!
Akhil Sharma says
Salads are very good for health if incorporated with all the nutrients. This is simple yet delicious recipe. Sadly, I am vegan, but don’t worry I will look for a chicken substitute or find some other eazy peazy meal recipe on your blog 🙂