Chicken Fajita Salad Recipe

With Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

Real Restaurant Salad Recipe

This tasty Chicken Fajita Salad is an easy chicken salad recipe you can make at home without waiting for a table at the restaurant.

This is probably not an authentic Mexican recipe, more like Cal-Mex, but with the peppers, avocado and cilantro lime dressing, it certainly creates that ambiance.

Chicken Fajita Salad Recipe

With Cilantro Lime Dressing

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Serves 4

Ingredients:

Fajita seasoning for chicken (see below)
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips (and cubed after cooking, if you wish)
Vegetable oil spray
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
6 to 8 cups shredded romaine lettuce (or salad mix of your choice)
1/2 cup thin sliced green bell pepper
1/2 cup thin sliced red bell pepper
1 small red onion, sliced into rings or julienne
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese (or Monterrey Jack cheese)
One 15 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
1 medium tomato, diced
4 - 8 black olives
1 Avocado, sliced
Creamy cilantro lime dressing (recipe below)

Instructions:

Place a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot
Add chicken and sprinkle chicken with fajita seasoning and sauté 8 minutes or until chicken is done (no longer pink inside) and browned on the outside
Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro
Set aside
In a mixing bowl, combine lettuce, peppers, cheddar cheese, tomato and beans and toss with chicken
Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing
Plate and garnish with black olives and sliced avocado

Serve with warm tortillas or tortilla chips and your favorite salsa or Pico de Gallo

Fajita Seasoning

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon chili powder (Ancho if you have it)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Combine all seasonings well.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

Preparation time: 10 minutes. Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients and stir well with a whisk
Cover dressing and refrigerate

Yummy! This chicken fajita salad is wonderful on a warm spring or summer day. In the evening, I like to have a classic Margarita with this salad! :-)