Sante Fe Chicken Salad

    Whenever it's too hot to turn on the oven I like to make large entree salads for dinner.  We often grill chicken or steak and then use it to top our favorite salads.  After a while the same salads get repetitive.  I've been looking for a Mexican type salad like the ones I enjoy eating out at restaurants.

    I found one that had chicken on top of it and a salsa ranch dressing.  It was simple to prepare, had a lot of veggies in it, and the dressing was much healthier then what I get out at restaurants.  We grilled the chicken after it marinated in a tequila lime sauce.  It was perfect for a hot day and it was filling as well. 

Sante Fe Chicken Salad (adapted from Elly Says Opa)
For the chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half

2 T. lime juice
2 T. Tequila
2 T. orange juice
1 T. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 t. oregano
1/4 t. red pepper

1 t. paprika
2 cloves garlic, smashed
salt and pepper

For the dressing:

1/4 c. salsa
2 T. sour cream
2 T. ranch dressing

1 T. fresh lime juice

1 t. salt

1/2 t. black pepper

For the Salad:

4 c. lettuce

1/4 c. cilantro, chopped

1 red pepper, diced

1/2 avocado, diced

3/4 c. black beans, drained and rinsed

3/4 c. corn

1/3 c. Pepper Jack cheese

Tortilla chips

1.  Combine the lime juice, tequila, orange juice, vegetable oil, spices, and garlic in a large zip top bag.  Place the chicken in the bag and seal.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.

2.  To make the dressing combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

3.  Heat a grill to medium high heat.  

4.  Remove the chicken from the marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Grill for 5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through.  Remove from grill and slice into strips.

5.  In a large bowl combine the lettuce, cilantro, red pepper, avocado, black beans, and corn.  Toss to combine.

6.  Place tortilla chips on 2 large dinner plates.  Place lettuce mixture on top of both.  Sprinkle with Pepper Jack cheese.  

7.  Top the salads with the chicken and finish with the salsa ranch dressing.  

This post linked to:
Trick or Treat Tuesdays, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays,