• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pinch Me Good

  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Quick and Easy Salads
    • Healthy Side Dishes
    • Healthy Snacks and Appetizers
    • Dressings And Sauces
    • Healthy Desserts
  • Meal Prep
  • How To’s
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Breakfast
  • Main Dishes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Gluten-Free
  • Healthy Desserts
  • How To’s
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    • Simple Avocado Cream Sauce – 5 Minutes
    • Cooked egg and bacon pizzas on a lined baking sheet.
      Healthy Breakfast Pizza – With 2 Ingredient Dough
    • Cooked meatloaf with salad on a with plate with a fork.
      Easy Healthy Ground Chicken Meatloaf
    • Bowl filled with cooked rice and unbranded air fryer chicken bites with parsley on them, with another bowl of it behind it.
      Easy Air Fryer Chicken Bites – 4 Ingredients
    • Slice of cottage cheese egg bake with veggies in it on a plate with a fork on the plate with it.
      Easy High-Protein Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
    • Layered bark bars with strawberries on a white plate with brown specks with more behind it.
      Viral Chocolate Strawberry Bark – 4 Ingredients
    • Plate filled with rice and green beans topped with air fryer salmon with more behind it.
      Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Salmon – 6 Ingredients
    • Mixed chicken salad in a white bowl with wooden serving spoons in the bowl.
      15-Minute Rotisserie Chicken Salad – Easy Recipe
    • Cut scores bars on top of parchment paper with a knife in front of them.
      Easy Frozen Protein S’mores Bars – 5 Ingredients
    • Cheesy cottage cheese Mac and cheese in a white pan with a wood spoon in it and a blue and white towel in front of it.
      Easy Protein Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
    • Delicious bbq covered cooked chicken over rice with green beans on a plate with more behind it.
      BBQ Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs – Easy Recipe
    • Kale pomegranate salad in a white salad bowl with wood serving spoon in the bowl and a cut pomegranate behind it.
      Easy Winter Kale Pomegranate Salad – 10 minutes
    Pinch Me Good! » Quick and Easy Salads » Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad

    Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad

    April 18, 2021 by Amy Estes Leave a Comment

    18355 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Please note that some of the links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This crazy delicious Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad is bursting with flavor! Juicy, taco-seasoned ground chicken piled on top of crisp, fresh romaine lettuce and layered in with bright and sweet cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, and tender avocado. All drizzled with a creamy herby cilantro lime dressing that is so good! This is a salad you must try!

    Round bowl filled with lettuce topped with cherry tomato, cooked chicken, corn, red onion with a green dressing on top with a jar of the green dressing behind it.

    We love tacos and this super Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad is my go-to on Taco Tuesday or any day we are having taco night in our house. I am obsessed with big salads and this one is my new favorite. I have made it three weeks in a row and the flavors surprise me every time I make it!

    It combines juicy ground chicken seasoned with taco seasoning and cooked until crispy brown. Piled on top of crisp romaine lettuce along with vibrant sweet cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, and diced avocado. The best part of all is the insane creamy cilantro lime dressing that is everything in this recipe!

    Close up of chicken taco salad drizzled with cilantro green dressing with a jar of the dressing behind it.

    Why you’ll love this taco salad recipe

    • It is everything you want in a taco but in a big healthy salad!
    • You can make it in less than 20 minutes!
    • It stores great and is a wonderful meal prep recipe.
    • It is already gluten-free!
    • The cilantro lime dressing is literally the best summer dressing, like ever!

    Ingredients you will need

    How to Make a chicken taco salad

    You can make this recipe in less than 20 minutes any day of the week!

    1. Cook the chicken. Heat up a skillet to medium heat, add some olive oil and the ground chicken. Break up the chicken and toss and cook it for a few minutes until most of the pink is gone. Sprinkle on the taco seasoning, toss, and cook until the chicken is nice and golden brown. This takes about 5-6 minutes.
    2. Make the cilantro lime dressing. Add all dressing ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and pulse on high until a creamy, smooth dressing forms. It is so good!
    3. Make the salad. Add the sliced romaine lettuce to a large bowl, and top with the cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, corn, red onion, cooked ground chicken, and shredded cheese.
    4. Top and serve. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Yum!
    Cooked ground chicken in a round gray skillet
    Cook the chicken
    Cilantro, sliced avocado, mustard and olive oil in the bowl of a food processor
    Add dressing ingredients to food processor
    Blended creamy cilantro dressing in a food processor
    Blend until creamy
    Diced avocado, sliced red tomatoes, cooked chicken, shredded cheese, corn, sliced red onion all piled on top of green lettuce in a round bowl
    Assemble salad
    Spoon of green creamy dressing being drizzled over a chicken taco salad
    Drizzle on dressing
    Bow of salad topped with a few drizzles of creamy green cilantro dressing with tomatoes, avocados and corn and chicken in the salad
    Serve

    How delicious does that look? Omg! You will love this salad and probably want to make it every week for sure!

    You can make your own taco seasoning or use store-bought.

    Large bowl of chicken taco salad topped with green creamy dressing with tortilla chips broken up next to it and a striped towel behind it

    How to store this chicken taco salad

    This salad stores great and is perfect for meal prepping. The best method for storing this salad and any salad is to store the chicken, veggies, and dressing separately, then assemble them when ready to eat.

    • Let the chicken cool completely and place it into an airtight container.
    • Place all of the veggies in airtight containers as well.
    • The dressing can be stored best in a mason jar fitted with a tight lid but you can also store it in an airtight container as well.
    • Place everything into the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Yay!

    Make ahead tips

    Making this chicken taco salad ahead of time is so super easy for you to do on Sunday and enjoy it all week long. This is also a great salad to pack for a healthy lunch.

    To make this salad ahead simply follow the instructions for storing this salad above. Easy peasy.

    Side angle of tacos salad with a few cherry tomatoes and broken up tortilla chips behind it.

    Serving Suggestions

    This recipe is great as a complete meal all on its own but you can also serve it alongside some other healthy side dishes. Here are some of my faves.

    • Seasoned Crispy Chickpeas are a wonderful addition to this meal.
    • Easy 15 Minute Air Fryer Carrot Fries that make a great side dish to this recipe and pack on even more veggies.
    • Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mini Peppers are kind of like healthy nachos.

    More Mexican-Inspired Healthy Recipes

    • Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
    • Quick and Easy Taco Stuffed Peppers
    • Simple Instant Pot Healthy Turkey Chili
    • Easy Vegetarian Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
    • Easy Salmon Tacos
    • Beef Taco Skillet

    Recipe tips and variations

    • You can use ground chicken or ground turkey in this recipe. You can even make it meat free and use crumbled tofu or beans in place of the meat.
    • Switch up the greens and use spinach or sliced kale in place of the romaine lettuce.
    • Make this recipe dairy free by using dairy-free shredded cheese or just leave the cheese out. It will still be crazy good!
    • Add even more veggies by including some diced bell peppers or roasted sweet potatoes.
    • To make your own taco seasoning – Combine the following ingredients together in a small bowl- 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
    • Use air fryer boneless chicken breast instead of ground chicken. So easy and only takes 20 minutes to make it!
    • Add some salsa or sour cream for even more toppings.
    • To store this salad: Place all ingredients separately into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Assemble when ready to eat!

    Did you try this recipe? If you did then please leave a comment and rating below. I would love to hear from you!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Bow of salad topped with a few drizzles of creamy green cilantro dressing with tomatoes, avocados and corn and chicken in the salad

    Easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    No reviews

    • Author: Amy Estes
    • Total Time: 16 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This crazy delicious Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad is bursting with flavor! Juicy, taco seasoned ground chicken piled on top of crisp, fresh romaine lettuce and layered in with bright and sweet cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion and tender avocado. All drizzled with a creamy herby cilantro lime dressing that is so good! This is a salad you must try!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the salad

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pound ground chicken
    • 2–4 tablespoons store-bought taco seasoning – see recipe notes for how to make your own
    • 2 bunches of romaine lettuce (about 4–5 cups) sliced thin
    • ½ large red onion – sliced thin (about ½ cup)
    • 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
    • 1 large ripe avocado – peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
    • 1 cup corn – I used corn on the cobb that I sliced off of the cobb 
    • ½ cup shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese

    For the Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

    • 2 cups packed fresh cilantro
    • ½ a ripe avocado – peeled and sliced in half
    • ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice plus the zest of 1 lime
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoons dijon mustard
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Other

    • Tortilla chips
    • Salsa
    • Sour cream

    Instructions

    1. Cook the chicken. Heat up a skillet to medium heat, add some olive oil and the ground chicken. Break up the chicken and toss and cook it for a few minutes until most of the pink is gone. Sprinkle on the taco seasoning, toss, and cook until the chicken is nice and golden brown. This takes about 5-6 minutes. Set aside. 
    2. Make the cilantro lime dressing. Add all dressing ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and pulse on high until a creamy, smooth dressing forms. It is so good!
    3. Make the salad. Add the sliced romaine lettuce to a large bowl, and top with the cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, corn, red onion, cooked ground chicken, and shredded cheese.
    4. Top and serve. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Yum!

      Equipment

      Image of food processor

      food processor

      Buy Now →
      Image of knife

      knife

      Buy Now →

      salad bowl

      Buy Now →

      Notes

      • You can use ground chicken or ground turkey in this recipe. You can even make it meat free and use crumbled tofu or beans in place of the meat.
      • Switch up the greens and use spinach or sliced kale in place of the romaine lettuce.
      • Make this recipe dairy free by using dairy-free shredded cheese or just leave the cheese out. It will still be crazy good!
      • Add even more veggies by including some diced bell peppers or roasted sweet potatoes.
      • To make your own taco seasoning – Combine the following ingredients together in a small bowl- 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
      • Add some salsa or sour cream for even more toppings.
      • Use air fryer boneless chicken breast instead of ground chicken. So easy and only takes 20 minutes to make it!
      • To store this salad: Place all ingredients separately into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Assemble when ready to eat!
        • Prep Time: 10
        • Cook Time: 6
        • Category: Quick and easy salads
        • Method: Assembled
        • Cuisine: Mexican

        Did you make this recipe?

        Tag @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram and hashtag it #pinchmegoodfood

        « How To Store Kale To Make It Last
        Best Fresh Tomato Salsa Recipe »

        Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Favorite Summer Recipes, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Meal Prep, Quick and Easy Salads

        Reader Interactions

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

        Primary Sidebar

        Hi there,
        I'm Amy and I'm so excited to share my best healthy recipes and tips with you. I hope I can inspire you to eat better, feel better, and get back in the kitchen. Read More…

        Amy Estes: View My Blog Posts

        Search recipes:

        Most Popular

        Mixe kale salad in a white salad bowl with wooden serving spoons in the bowl.

        Easy Kale Salad With Lemon Dressing

        Best Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl – with black beans

        Eggplant Meatballs with mushrooms and garlic

        The Best Healthy Turkey Meatloaf – Gluten Free

        Best Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins – Healthy

        two grey plates filled with arugula salad topped with crispy breaded chicken breast

        Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast – 15 Minutes

        Round, white salad bowl filled with roasted butternut squash salad with beets, nuts and cheese with wood salad serving spoons in the bowl and a green linen in front of it.

        BEST Butternut Squash Salad – With Roasted Beets

        Best Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

        Healthy Fall Favorites

        Stuffed pork tenderloin medallions on a bed of greens on a white plate.

        Stuffed Pork Tenderloin – Healthy and Easy

        Platter of two boneless turkey breast sliced on top of lemon slices with some rosemary with mashed potatoes on a plate in front of it and a bowl of green beans and glasses of white wine behind it.

        Simple Oven Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast

        Susage and broccoli stuffed spaghetti squash boats topped with melted cheese on a baking sheet.

        Simple Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash – Low Carb

        Healthy Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes (easy recipe)

        Round 3 ingredient pumpkin cookies on a cooling rack.

        Easy 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

        Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp – Simple and Healthy

        white bowl filled with blended butternut squash soup with greens herbs and pumpkin seeds on top with a another bowl of soup and more pumpkin seeds behind it.

        Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup – Vegan

        Round white plate with two min egg broccoli filled muffins with cheddar cheese sprinkled around it.

        Easy Mini Crustless Quiche – Broccoli and Cheddar

        Search more Recipes

        Search more recipes!

        Footer

        As Seen On

        As Seen On

        CONTACT | PRIVACY POLICY

        Spoon of green creamy dressing being drizzled over a chicken taco salad
        Diced avocado, sliced red tomatoes, cooked chicken, shredded cheese, corn, sliced red onion all piled on top of green lettuce in a round bowl