Chicken Salad served on ceramic tableware in the warm Tex-Mex restaurant setting

Chicken Salad

This refreshing Tex-Mex chopped chicken salad is a perfect no-cook meal for hot summer days, featuring crisp romaine hearts, juicy rotisserie chicken, and an array of colourful, crunchy vegetables. Tossed in a homemade, zesty ranch-taco dressing and finished with a satisfying crunch of tortilla strips, this vibrant salad offers a delightful blend of textures and bold flavours that is as easy to assemble as it is to enjoy.

Cooking Instructions

Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking: 0 minutes
Servings: 6 to 7

Notes:

To prepare the romaine hearts, use a large knife to cut a plus sign lengthwise, stopping just before the core, then rotate and slice again for consistent, bite-sized pieces that are easy to eat.

This recipe is incredibly versatile; feel free to substitute the romaine with iceberg lettuce or a spring mix, or use whatever colourful bell peppers you have on hand, such as yellow or orange varieties.

Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a major time-saver for this no-cook meal, but you can also use canned chicken or any leftover cooked chicken you have in your pantry.

The homemade dressing is the star of the show; by mixing a packet of ranch seasoning with mayonnaise, milk, and taco seasoning, you create a rich, punchy flavour that beats any bottled alternative.

Adding the crunchy tortilla strips just before serving is essential; this prevents them from absorbing the dressing too quickly, ensuring they maintain their satisfying, crisp texture until the very last bite.

Chop Salad Base
Wash the romaine hearts, cut them into small, bite-sized pieces, and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Add Vegetables and Chicken
Dice the tomatoes, slice the green onions, dice the bell pepper, and add them to the bowl along with the chopped coriander, drained black olives, southwestern-style corn, shredded cheese, and diced rotisserie chicken.

Mix Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together the ranch seasoning packet, milk, taco seasoning, and mayonnaise until smooth, then taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.

Combine Salad
Pour the dressing over the salad base and toss gently with tongs until all ingredients are evenly coated.

Finish and Serve
Just before serving, crush a handful of tortilla strips over the salad for a final touch of crunch, toss briefly, and serve immediately to keep the textures fresh.

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Ingredients

Salad Base
Romaine Hearts 2
Vine-Ripened Tomatoes 3
Green Onions 4
Bell Pepper ½
Coriander To taste
Black Olives 60 g
Southwestern-Style Corn 150 g
Monterey Jack Cheese 115 g
Rotisserie Chicken 400 g
Tortilla Strips 100 g
Dressing
Ranch Seasoning Mix 28 g
Milk 240 ml
Taco Seasoning 2 tbsp
Mayonnaise 225 g

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