Friday, June 15, 2012

Chop, Chop

When I’m in the kitchen, time is of the essence.  The less time I can spend preparing a meal, the better.  Especially on Wednesdays…I don’t like to miss Modern Family ;)  I’m a big lover of all kinds of salads because they’re pretty easy and quick to prep and they always hit the spot.  When I found the recipe for this salad, my mouth started watering uncontrollably.  This had to be on the dinner table IMMEDIATELY.  I could wait no longer.  And I’m so glad I didn’t.  Amazing.  Outstanding.  Delicious.  INcredible.  Try it for yourself and you’ll see what I’m talkin’ about!

SOUTHWESTERN CHOPPED CHICKEN SALAD

recipe via Greens & Chocolate

2 cups shredded chicken {you could use rotisserie}

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 can sweet corn OR 1 cup frozen corn, thawed {I used frozen}

2 roma tomatoes, diced

4 green onions, chopped

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

2 avocados, diced

1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped

1 cup crushed tortilla chips {or taco flavored Dorito’s}

 

DRESSING:

1/2 cup mayo

2/3 cups Greek yogurt

1 tbsp. ranch seasoning

1 tbsp. taco seasoning

 

First, let’s go ahead and make the dressing.  I like to give the flavors a chance to marinate while I’m prepping the rest of the salad. Here’s what you’ll need.

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This dressing couldn’t be any easier to make.  For real.  {For REALZ, if you’re cool like that.}  Grab yourself a small bowl, toss in all the dressing ingredients, and mix well until combined.  Then set aside.  Dip your pinky finger in the bowl and sneak a little taste if you’re like me.  And then taste it again…with a different finger, of course.  Or the same.  Just don’t tell anyone you double dipped ;)

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Now let’s go ahead and make the salad.  You’ll spend a few minutes chopping and dicing, but trust me when I tell you it’s worth it. 

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Chop/dice the avocados, tomatoes, green pepper, cilantro, and onions.  Shred your chicken.  Rinse your black beans.  Chop the lettuce.  If you aren’t a fan of iceberg, toss in your favorite flavor. I think this would be excellent with romaine, but the iceberg was on sale :)  Mix everything together, except for the chips.

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Now pour the dressing…yes, ALL of it…onto the salad and mix well until it’s all combined.

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Stand back and marvel at this little southwestern masterpiece.

Oh friends.  We aren’t finished just yet.  It’s time to add the crunchiness…because every salad needs a little crunch!  First, serve yourself a bowl of salad.  Then crush a few chips…and a few more…and then a little bit more than that {I like A LOT of crunch}.  I used regular tortilla chips {Santita’s, to be exact}, but I think the taco flavored Dorito’s would be AMAZING, too!!!  Toss those into your bowl and mix well.  Then DEVOUR.  You won’t have a choice.  It would be sinful if you didn’t.

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Heaven in a bowl, I tell ya.  Heaven in a bowl.  Hands down, this is my favorite salad of ALL time.  Chop, chop people!  What are you waiting for?!?!  Get this on your table TONIGHT!!!!

16 comments:

  1. Looks like it definitely needs a jumbo margarita to go with it!

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  2. Oh YES! Do you have Panera Bread in Texas? I eat there several times a week and my favorite salad is 'bbq chopped chicken salad' and it is almost exactly like this!!! You just saved me a ton of money! Thank you Cara! Please post on First grade Parade. I am dying to know what grade you are teaching next year. Please be second. Please be second......

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  3. This was wonderful! Even the little picky eater in my house liked it! Thank you for posting.

    Rebecca

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  4. So glad you loved this salad as much as I did!!

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  5. Okay, we just made this for dinner tonight and my husband took one bite, looked at me, and said- put this in the rotation! Whoo!

    Very good!!

    Laura Jane
    callmelaurajane.com
    laurajanedesigns.com

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  6. I made this for dinner tonight and it was super yummy! I didn't have tortilla chips, but I used Doritos instead and they tasted great!

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  7. I made this on Friday and it was wonderful!

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  8. I'm wondering how left overs held up for the next day. I love to make a dinner that gives me a decent lunch to take to work. Did the lettuce wilt beyond eating?

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  9. I don't often comment on blogs. But I made this salad & had to come back & tell you how AWESOME it is!

    I'm a big salad eater & this is my new favorite! So thanks!

    & for the person asking about it holding up for leftovers? I left my dressing on the side & used it as needed & stored the assembled salad in the fridge.

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  10. This is SO delicious. I could literally eat it every day, and not feel too terribly guilty about it ;)

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  11. This looks AMAZING! I am wondering how many servings does it make?

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  12. Is there a printer-friendly option?

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  13. I just saw your House Hunters International show! There was even video of you editing this very page in it.

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  14. One of my favorite dishes! Thanks for sharing all of these awesome recipes. Not one has failed me yet.

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