Santa Fe Chicken Salad
This Santa Fe Chicken Salad will allow you to enjoy Southwestern flavors while keeping it healthy! It’s a wonderful option if you have a craving for Mexican food but want something light and simple that’s still very tasty. It’s a perfect choice for a quick lunch or an easy dinner!
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
This Santa Fe salad recipe has it all: vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. The colorful combination of ingredients gives your taste buds plenty of variety!
The ingredients aren’t strictly Mexican or Southwestern, but they give this dish a new twist. I especially love the tangy peanut lime vinaigrette dressing and the sweetness of the dates.
Make sure to check out my recipes for sofritas, keto taco casserole, and shredded chicken tacos for even more Mexican-inspired flavor!
When I usually make a salad, I’ll grab bagged greens, toss some precooked chicken on it, and call it a day. But, that gets old fast. It’s refreshing to have this Santa Fe salad recipe add some life to my lettuce.
Why You’ll Love This Santa Fe Salad Recipe
- Easy – After you’ve cooked your blackened chicken, all you’ll need to do is prepare the dressing and then throw all of the other ingredients in a bowl to toss!
- Delicious – The combination of perfectly seasoned chicken, tangy homemade peanut lime vinaigrette, and fresh veggies is out of this world.
- Wholesome – My blackened chicken salad recipe is full of ingredients that won’t weigh you down. It’s light and refreshing!
Featuring a Homemade Santa Fe Salad Dressing
The peanut lime vinaigrette is a fantastically delicious Santa Fe salad dressing. It adds even more flavorful layers to this zesty dish!
It’s also simple to make and keeps well in the fridge. And Santa Fe chicken salad isn’t the only recipe it pairs with! You can double up on the dressing and use it for other salads, or as an Asian-inspired marinade.
How to Make Santa Fe Chicken Salad
Prepare the chicken
Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl and mix to combine.
Place the chicken breast in a Ziploc bag and flatten it with a mallet (or frying pan), then dredge in the spices. Add the olive oil to a hot skillet and pan-fry the chicken for 2 minutes on each side. Then, bake at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes.
Make the peanut lime vinaigrette
Prepare your homemade Santa Fe salad dressing while your chicken bakes. Add olive oil, fresh lime juice, peanut butter, soy sauce, dried cilantro, garlic, lime zest, and honey to a blender and pulse until emulsified.
Assemble your blackened chicken salad
Combine all of the blackened chicken salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss with your peanut lime vinaigrette. Enjoy!
Santa Fe Blackened Chicken Salad Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
What is Santa Fe chicken made of?
Every Santa Fe chicken salad recipe will vary slightly, but most feature seasoned blackened chicken, corn, tomatoes, black beans, and avocado. I love adding dates, feta, and peanuts — it’s what makes my recipe so unique!
How long will Santa Fe chicken salad stay fresh?
Most salads typically keep in the fridge for 1-2 days. You can extend the life of your blackened chicken salad by keeping the dressing separate and minimizing any extra liquid from ingredients like corn.
Can I use a different blackened salad dressing?
This Santa Fe salad dressing is a peanut lime vinaigrette, and it’s amazing. But, you can definitely use whatever dressing you prefer. I think this blackened chicken salad would also go well with a creamy dressing like ranch.
More Salad Recipes on The Bewitchin’ Kitchen
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Sunflower Seed Dressing
Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Salad
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
This Santa Fe chicken salad, topped with tangy vinaigrette, adds a twist to Southwestern flavors while keeping it light and healthy.
Servings 4
Calories 428kcal
Ingredients
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 2 blackened chicken breasts sliced
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1/2 cup dates chopped
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/4 cup tortilla strips
- 1/4 cup peanuts
Blackened Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Peanut Lime Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup olive oil + 1 1/2 tbsp
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 1/2 tbsps peanut butter
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
- 2 garlic cloves
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, toss with the peanut lime vinaigrette.
Recipes for chicken and vinaigrette below:
Blackened Chicken
- In a medium bowl combine the spices.
- Flatten chicken in a Ziploc bag with a mallet (or a frying pan), dredge in the spices and add to a hot skillet with olive oil.
- Fry for 2 minutes on each side and then bake for 15 minutes.
Peanut Lime Vinaigrette
- Add ingredients to a blender and blend until emulsified.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 795mg | Potassium: 876mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 899IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 2mg
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Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.
adding chicken to any salad makes it better
Yes! It’s a great way to get a healthy dose of protein in!
I love a salad with curried chicken and grapes. Yum.
That sounds delicious!
My favorite BBQ sidedish is Boston Baked Beans. Â It goes with everything BBQ. Â Â https://www.google.ca/amp/s/allrecipes.com/recipe/18255/boston-baked-beans/amp/
Yum! I love baked beans, but I’ve never made them before!
This looks great! My favourite summer chicken salad is one my mom makes with shredded chicken, mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles. It’s amazing!
Yum! You’ll gave to post it.
My favourite is coleslaw with chicken and sesame seeds.
This is one of my fave dishes at Earl’s. I love chicken on my salad but my absolute fave summer BBQ chicken salad is a chicken salad with grapes and veggies and a yogurt/mayo sauce. YUM!
You have me intrigued! I want to try that!
Chicken wings are messy but one of my favourite things to bring to a barbecue or gathering.
Looks delicious & easy, can’t wait to try it!
My favorite is a BBQ chicken caesar salad.
I love cold chicken salads that you can turn into sandwiches the next day
My favorite is definitely our homemade BBQ Lemon Chicken!
There’s this chicken salad at Independant Grocer which has curry and raisins. And I normally would be so opposed to raisins but they are amazing!!!
My favourite is a chicken Cesar sald! So delicious and it isn’t the same without chicken.
I make a mean cold chicken soba noodle salad 🙂 Prefect for hot nights!
I love to make Chicken Breast (cubed) potato salad. Adding the extra protein makes the potato salad more yummy as a side or even as a main.
I use Pomegranate dressing on my chicken saleds
A chicken version of a Cobb salad is my fave!
The Chicken Avocado and Black Bean Salad looks amazing!
Barbecue Chicken Salad http://www.chicken.ca/recipes/barbecue-chicken-salad
We like a chicken Caesar but regular chicken salads with grapes and celery is refreshing
Love the Santa fa chicken salad.. yummy!
Caesar chicken salad it blackened chicken salad is a fav!
Love the Santa fa chicken salad..or a BBQ chicken salad.Â
What temperature do you bake the chicken at?
Thanks in advance!
Hey John
In a medium bowl combine the spices.
Flatten chicken in a Ziploc bag with a mallet (or a frying pan), dredge in the spices and add to a hot skillet with olive oil.
Fry for 2 minutes on each side and then bake for 15 minutes.
🙂