MEXICAN CHICKEN SALAD

I am always looking for ways to make high protein meals that are lower in fat and sugar but still tasty.  This is my version of a Mexican chicken salad to be used the same way you would use chicken salad - in salads, sandwiches, etc.

This is a good recipe for leftover chicken but if you don't have leftovers bake the chicken.  I just put season salt and pepper on three small skinless, boneless breasts and wrapped in foil, baked in a 325° oven for approximately 45 minutes - depends on the size, thickness of the breasts, I checked them at 30 mins and set the timer again for 45 - you want them done but not overcooked and dry.  Set them aside to cool.

After the chicken has cooled, cube it and put into a bowl large enough to mix your salad.  I really have not measured recipe for this but I take some ranch dressing that I have made with buttermilk (cuts way down on the fat) and add some catchup and some chili powder (instead of the catchup you could use some of the yummy Thai sweet chili sauce) and set aside for the flavors to meld. The only ingredient that may be a little hard to find are the sliced, sweet jalapenos that really make this salad pop (they are also just the best to add to tuna salad).  Walmart carries them and many other stores do too - Trappey's and Mrs. Renfros are the brands I have tried.

Mexican Chicken Salad

To the cubed chicken and some of the jalapenos (I chop them), some of the dressing, corn, beans, green onion and some salsa (I like the smokey taste of Stonewall's black bean salsa but use what you like).  It needs to bind a little but you don't want too much of the dressing.

Next put the salad together, line the plate with some of the iceberg lettuce then top with a lot of the shredded lettuce, put a nice amount of the chicken salad in the middle and then add sliced green onions, diced tomatoes and avocado, some of the beans and the corn and finally some of the tortilla strips (usually found in the produce area) then drizzle some more of the dressing on the salad. 

A delicious, healthy chicken salad, with a twist.

Serve with a little more dressing - nothing else needed.  If you were not concerned about adding some extra calories serve with some nice warm tortillas and add some grated cheese to the salad.  Salad is hubby approved - we are happy to have it without the cheese and the tortillas - makes a nice lunch or summer dinner.

Resource

Sweet Jalapenos, Walmart and specialty food stores
Red Place Mats, Set of 4 PCS Quilted,13X19" QLT? PLACEMAT, CONSTANTINE
Red crystal water goblets, Horchow
Red flatware, Hampton Forge Argent Sophia 20-Piece Flatware Set, Red, AFU70920QF
Red hand made Italian dinner plates, HomeGoods
White lantern, Hobby Lobby

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