Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad
Mexican chicken Caesar salad is a tangy Tex Mex salad in a supper bowl. This popular restaurant copycat salad is a bright, colorful addition to any meal, and a fiesta in every bite!
Servings: 4
Calories: 1841kcal
Ingredients
For The Salad Dressing
- 2 Anaheim chiles seeded, roasted and peeled
- ⅓ cup roasted and salted pepitas
- 2 large garlic cloves peeled
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 12 ounces salad oil canola or avocado oil are the ones I've used
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 5 tablespoons crumbled Cotija cheese
- 2 small bunches fresh cilantro
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- ¼ cup water
For The Salad
- 2 heads Romaine lettuce chopped and dried
- 5 oz Cojita cheese crumbled
- 1 cup red bell pepper julienned
- 2 grilled chicken breasts thinly sliced or chopped
- 2 cups freshly fried strips of corn tortillas
- roasted, salted pepitas optional
Instructions
To Make The Salad Dressing
- Add the first 8 ingredients into a blender. Blend until the mixture's smooth and evenly incorporated.
- Add in the cilantro, a bit at a time, blending until the dressing is again completely smooth. Repeat until all of the cilantro has been incorporated.
- Slowly add in the mayo and water, blending until they're both incorporated and the mixture's smooth and creamy.
- Refrigerate the dressing until ready to use.
To Assemble The Salad
- To a large serving bowl, add the lettuce, cheese, peppers, chicken, and dressing. Toss until everything's evenly combined and well coated with dressing.
- Serve the salad in the bowl, or in individual serving bowls. Top with the crispy tortilla strips and the pepitas just before serving.
Notes
- For a little more southwestern zing, you could substitute lime juice for the red wine vinegar.
- Use your favorite grilled chicken recipe in this. Anything with a Tex Mex flair will work!
- You could dress the salad up more with some fresh chopped cilantro and red onion.
Nutrition
Calories: 1841kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 175g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 65g | Monounsaturated Fat: 74g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 1833mg | Potassium: 1228mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 28894IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 475mg | Iron: 6mg