Chicken Taco Salad

By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 4/27/25Updated: 4/28/25

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This chicken taco salad is the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal. Prep all your ingredients ahead of time and then just assemble and toss when ready to eat. All the amazing flavors of a traditional taco salad but this one is made with chicken!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe!

Easy Dinner Idea: When you need a quick and easy dinner idea this Chicken Taco Salad is it. You can make it with ground chicken, leftover grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken or cook up some chicken for it.

Delicious Dressing: For this salad I use a yummy homemade dressing that is made with a taco seasoning mix so the salad tastes just like a traditional taco salad but instead of hamburger this one has chicken.

Ingredients Needed

Ground Chicken
Lettuce, a combination of romaine lettuce and spring mix lettuce.
Black Beans, drained and rinsed.
Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in half
Avocados. diced
Red Onion, sliced thinly
Green Onions, diced
Corn. You can used frozen corn, canned corn or cut corn kernels off of corn on the cob.
Shredded Cheese. I use cheddar cheese but you can use a Mexican blend if you prefer.
Tortilla Strips, cilantro, pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional)
Taco seasoning. You can use store bought or homemade taco seasoning.
Taco Salad Dressing (see below for other options and recipe)

How to Make Chicken Taco Salad

Brown ground chicken in a large skillet until almost cooked through.

Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water and cook until water is absorbed.

Allow meat to cool.

Add all salad ingredients to a large salad bowl or platter.
Add in cooked chicken
Dress and toss with dressing.

adding salad dressing to chicken taco salad

Garnish with tortilla strips, cilantro or pumpkin seeds if desired.

Tips from leigh Anne

If you prefer, instead of ground chicken you could use ground beef or ground turkey. You could also use sliced or diced grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken.
To give the salad even more flavor, roast your corn on the cob on the grill before cutting the kernels off the cob. I rub the corn with a bit of oil or butter and then set on the grill until the kernels start to char. Rotate the cob every few minutes.
You can dress this salad with store bought Ranch or Catalina dressing, or us my homemade Taco Salad Dressing or Cilantro Ranch Dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make chicken taco salad ahead of time?

I recommend prepping all the ingredients, cooking your chicken, chopping you veggies and making your taco salad dressing ahead of time but waiting until you are ready to serve it to assemble and dress the salad.

What should I serve chicken taco salad with?

It is a great stand alone meal but I often will serve it with some tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole.

I don’t have any taco seasoning what else can I use?

You could use a combination of cumin, salt and pepper. Season to taste. Add in a little chili powder too if you have it.

For some other yummy main course salads try:

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5 from 2 votes