Santa Fe Chicken Salad
One of my favorite restaurants is Earl’s, we eat there whenever we have a chance. It seems as though whenever I fall in love with one of their dishes, it gets taken off the local menu: roasted chicken, pad thai, bibimbap. Lately, I have been ordering the Santa Fe Chicken Salad so I wanted to recreate it, the best I could, just in case.
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
I’m trying to eat more salads. Why? Because I’ve been lacking in the vegetable department. I find salads are a delicious way to combine vegetables, protein, and healthy fats all into one quick (ande delicious) meal.
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Usually, I grab bagged lettuce, toss some precooked chicken on it and call it a day but that gets old fast. So I’m really excited to share this winning recipe for Santa Fe Chicken Salad.
It’s not often I have a salad with chicken, it’s my go-to protein source for lunch, dinner, and I even eat chicken for breakfast. Being that I live in Canada, when I shop for my chicken I look for the Raised by a Canadian Farmer logo (see above). Why? Simple. This logo means that the chicken I serve my family is raised by a registered Canadian chicken farmer, who is subject to mandatory and auditable programming for things like food safety and animal care.
Randa’s tip: If your store doesn’t use the “Raised by a Canadian Farmer” brand, you can ask them to – let your store know that you want chicken raised by Canadian farmers who are held to the highest standards.
Santa Fe Chicken Salad Recipe
This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite dishes at Earl’s. I wouldn’t say it’s a copycat, as there is a difference but this is a delicious alternative for one of my go to restaurant lunches.
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
Inspired by the Earl’s menu, this healthy salad recipe grilled blackened chicken, feta, peanuts, dates, tortilla strips, avocado, and topped with a peanut lime vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
Santa Fe Chicken Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 2 blackened chicken breasts, sliced
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1/2 cup dates
- 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
Directions:
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 Information
Yield: 4, Serving Size: 1
- Amount Per Serving:
- Calories: 662 Calories
- Total Fat: 49.2g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 75.6mg
- Sodium: 700mg
- Carbohydrates: 31.8g
- Fiber: 9.8g
- Sugar: 8.7g
- Protein: 29.1g
All images and text ©.
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.
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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. It goes with everything BBQ. 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.