This spicy chicken taco caesar salad is a satisfying deliciously fun twist on a classic that will have you actually wanting to eat salad! Crispy crunchy tortillas and pickled jalapeños with a creamy caesar dressing, this salad is definitely a winner.
Not only is this salad so delicious, but check out those bright colors! After all, you do eat with your eyes first and this salad is begging to be eaten.
One of the things that helps give this salad it’s great color is the blue tortilla chips. Those are a favorite of Phi’s, but any tortilla chips or tortilla strips will work. These are used instead of croutons for this spicy chicken taco Caesar salad.
How do you make Caesar dressing for this salad?
The dressing is one of the best parts about this salad! Jalapeños are quick pickled in lime juice which is then added to creamy Caesar dressing making for a jalapeño-lime Caesar which coats the lettuce.
- First, you’ll combine sliced jalapeño with lime juice, sugar and a bit of salt.
- Next, combine that with Caesar dressing and stir!
How to you make spicy taco chicken?
- You simple quick sear the chicken in a pan with a packet of taco seasoning. It takes all of 10 minutes to cook the chicken – from start to finish!
In about 20 minutes, you can have this spicy chicken taco Caesar salad on the table and ready to go! Enjoy this bed of lettuce, with a jalapeño-lime Caesar dressing, diced tomato, spiced chicken and a bit of crunch; the perfect balanced bite!If you’re looking for a few other hearty salad options, give these a try:
- Baked BBQ chicken and avocado salad
- Grilled chicken Green Goddess Cobb salad
- 5 ingredient flank steak charred corn salad
Spicy Chicken Taco Caesar Salad
This spicy chicken taco caesar salad is a fun twist on a classic Caesar salad. A little spicy, a little refreshing - the perfect bite!
Print RateServings: 2 large salads
Ingredients
- 1 jalapeño sliced
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/4 lbs. chicken breast cut into small cubes
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 4 cups spring lettuce mix or greens/salad of choice
- 1 Roma tomato large, finely diced
- 1 1/2 cups tortilla chips you could use up to 2 cups, lightly smashed/crushed
- 1/4 cup Caesar salad dressing
Instructions
- Slice jalapeño and place in a bowl with juice of 1 lime, 1 tsp sugar and a few pinches of salt. Stir and set aside. You'll use the liquid from this with the Caesar dressing later.
- In a skillet over high heat, cook chicken with taco seasoning according to packet (usually I add a drizzle of avocado oil, cook the chicken for a few minutes, then add in the taco seasoning and a little bit of water).
- When the chicken is done cooking assemble the salads - divide the lettuce, diced tomato and tortilla chips among bowls. Place chicken on top. Using a fork take the jalapenos from the liquid and place on the salads. Then pour the remaining liquid into the caesar dressing and stir, it will become a more drizzle-able dressing. Drizzle over the salad and enjoy!
Video
Notes
The nutrition information presented on this site should be considered an estimate as the calculations will change based on the exact products you use in your own kitchen. Your comments and feedback are helpful and appreciated!! If you’ve tried this recipe or any other recipe on SweetPhi.com, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! If you took some photos, we'd love to see them - you can share on Instagram or email them to phi@sweetphi.com and we'll add it to our reader recreations!
Alison says
One of my favorite salad toppings is sunflower seeds.
Sweetphi says
Oh yum! you know, sunflower seeds are so underrated, I love them so much but always seem to forget about them!
Susan L Craig says
A client gave me a box of fancy organic figs as a gift. They are wonderful as salad toppings.
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, what a neat gift and perfect for salads!
Roseann S says
I love to add some crunch to salads with sunflower kernels, or Trader Joe’s has golden toasted flax seeds that are so good. Something about how they roast the flax seeds makes them so crunchy and delicious! Great on top of salads, or really anything (oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese etc)
Sweetphi says
I need to go hunt those seeds down from Trader Joes, thank you for sharing!!
Amy Cooley says
My favorite salad toppings are banana peppers, edamame and candies pecans.
Sweetphi says
Now that sounds like an amazing salad, totally going to get some banana peppers!
KristyB says
My favorite salad topping is dried cranberries!
Sweetphi says
Yum! Me too, I love a good dried fruit on salads
Amy Sandy says
My favorite salad toppings are crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries and peppered candied pecans.
Sweetphi says
Yum! This sounds like a salad I would absolutely love!!