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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Santa Fe Chicken Salad

    Published: Jun 9, 2023 by Shannon · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This delicious Santa Fe Chicken Salad comes together easily using a rotisserie chicken and a quick 2-ingredient dressing Creamy Salsa Dressing for a hearty yet healthy meal that can be prepared in just 10 minutes.

    A Santa Fe Chicken Salad in a wooden bowl with a dish of Creamy Salsa Dressing. this recipe

    Chili's and The Cheesecake Factory are known for their popular Santa Fe Salads which are similar to the Southwest Salad at Chick Fil A. In this simple Santa Fe Salad recipe, I've taken the key ingredients from these other salads as inspiration but made the preparation super easy by either using leftover cooked chicken or a rotisserie chicken, enabling this meal to be prepared in just a few minutes for busy days. I've paired the salad with an easy, 2-ingredient, Creamy Salsa Salad Dressing to create a fresh and hearty salad that works well for lunch or dinner.

    Serve this salad with chips and Spicy Guacamole or Jalapeno Salsa, Grilled Shishito Peppers and a Skinny Spicy Margarita for a balanced meal with Tex-Mex flavors.

    Jump to:
    • Reasons you'll love this salad
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • Recipe
    • Food safety
    • Comments

    Reasons you'll love this salad

    • quick and easy preparation using a rotisserie chicken
    • it's gluten-free and grain-free
    • it's great for meal prep
    • it's fresh and filling

    Ingredients

    Here's what you need to make a Santa Fe Salad:

    Sliced romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, chopped cooked chicken, salsa, sour cream, sliced avocado, halved grape tomatoes and sliced red onion.
    • chopped romaine lettuce
    • canned black beans, rinsed and drained
    • diced cooked chicken
    • canned corn, drained
    • salsa
    • sour cream
    • sliced red onion
    • sliced avocado
    • halved grape tomatoes

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Here's how to make a Santa Fe Salad:

    A bowl with salsa, sour cream and a whisk.

    For the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the salsa and sour cream.

    A Santa Fe Chicken Salad in a wooden bowl with a dish of Creamy Salsa Dressing.

    Arrange the lettuce in a serving bowl or platter, then top it with the remaining ingredients, drizzle the dressing over top and enjoy.

    Hint: I like to use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to keep this meal super simple but you can use any neutral-ish leftover cooked chicken or make a batch of Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken from boneless skinless chicken breasts. For extra flavor, use grilled chicken seasoned with olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika (or pre-mixed taco seasoning) to make a grilled chicken salad.

    Substitutions

    Want to substitute an ingredient in Santa Fe Chicken Salad? Here's how:

    • Romaine lettuce - use a different salad base in place of the romaine such as iceberg lettuce, kale, arugula or even bagged cole slaw mix.
    • Cooked chicken - use leftover cooked steak, ground beef, shrimp or another protein in place of the cooked chicken.

    Variations

    Try one of these variations of a Santa Fe Salad:

    • Spicy - add several tablespoons of hot sauce or ½ teaspoon of cayenne to the Creamy Salsa Dressing to add some spice to your salad.
    • Deluxe - add shredded cheddar cheese, crispy tortilla stirps, chopped cilantro, sliced black olives and/or sliced jalapenos to the salad and the 4 tablespoons of lime juice to the dressing.
    • Low-carb/ keto - omit the black beans and corn and add shredded cheddar cheese to the salad.

    Equipment

    This equipment comes in handy when making a Santa Fe Chicken Salad:

    • knife
    • cutting board
    • mini whisk

    Storage

    Store the prepared ingredients in separate aritight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I like to place a paper towel in the container with the lettuce to absorb any moisture.

    Top tip

    To meal prep this salad, mix the salad ingredients together and divide it into individual containers. Then, mix the dressing together, pouring it into individual cups to store with the salad. Store this in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Toss the dressing with the salad just before serving.

    FAQ

    What is Santa Fe Salad made of?

    Santa Fe Salad is made of sliced romaine lettuce, chopped chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado and red onion, all tossed in a Creamy Salsa Dressing.

    Related

    Looking for other hearty salad recipes like this? Try these:

    • A bowl of Curried Tofu Salad.
      Curried Tofu Salad
    • A bowl of Tomato and Bocconcini Salad drizzled with balsamic glaze.
      Bocconcini Tomato Salad
    • A bowl of Watermelon Basil Salad.
      Watermelon Basil Salad
    • A House Salad with a jar of Red Wine Vinaigrette.
      House Salad

    Pairing

    Serve this Santa Fe Chicken Salad with one of these appetizers for a fun yet filling meal:

    • A bowl of Cottage Cheese Ranch surrounded by veggies.
      Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip
    • A bowl of cottage cheese queso surrounded by tortilla chips.
      Cottage Cheese Queso Dip
    • A dish of cooked Cottage Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip with chips and veggies for dipping.
      Cottage Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • A bowl of Pineapple Pico de Gallo on a plate full of tortilla chips.
      Pineapple Pico de Gallo

    Recipe

    A Santa Fe Chicken Salad in a wooden bowl with a dish of Creamy Salsa Dressing.

    Santa Fe Chicken Salad

    Shannon
    This delicious Santa Fe Chicken Salad comes together easily using a rotisserie chicken and a quick 2-ingredient Creamy Salsa Dressing for a hearty yet healthy meal that can be prepared in just 10 minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 280 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 knife
    • 1 cutting board
    • 1 mini whisk

    Ingredients
      

    Creamy Salsa Salad Dressing

    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ½ cup salsa

    Santa Fe Salad

    • 2 heads romaine lettuce, sliced
    • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
    • 8 oz grape tomatoes, halved
    • 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
    • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
    • 1 avocado, diced
    • ½ red onion, sliced

    Instructions
     

    Creamy Salsa Salad Dressing

    • For the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the salsa and sour cream.

    Santa Fe Salad

    • Arrange the lettuce in a serving bowl or platter, then top with the remaining ingredients, drizzle the dressing over top and enjoy.

    Notes

    I like to use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to keep this meal super simple but you can use any neutral-ish leftover cooked chicken or make a batch of Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken from boneless skinless chicken breasts. For extra flavor, use grilled chicken seasoned with olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika (or pre-mixed taco seasoning) to make a grilled chicken salad.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 20gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 282mgPotassium: 680mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 910IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword santa fe chicken salad, santa fe salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Food safety

    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Shannon

      June 09, 2023 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      So heart, fresh and delicious!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Shannon! I’m a work-at-home wife and mom to 3 active boys. Our family recently relocated to Columbus, Ohio and are making our home in the Midwest. Since a young age, I’ve had a deep love for food, with many of my favorite memories revolving around sharing a meal with special people.

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    A Santa Fe Chicken Salad in a wooden bowl with a dish of Creamy Salsa Dressing.