Chopped Chicken Taco Salads with Cheese Quesadilla Strips.
I made us more salad!
More CHOPPED salad, to be exact. My favorite kind. Everything is in little bits and oh-so cute.
However… if you came over for lunch, I doubt I’d ever make salad because entertaining people is the perfect excuse to eat something rich and delicious. Calories don’t count when eaten with friends. I’m thinking pizza.
Yes, pizza.
If you haven’t figured it out already, this is sort of my copycat version of Chili’s quesadilla explosion salad, which I haven’t had in eons but used to loooooove. I mean, I was eating that back in the day long before I was consuming vegetables, which makes perfect sense since it now always tops the lists of those “highest calorie foods” and “things to avoid at chain restaurants” and [insert scary music here] “salads that aren’t what they seem.” Whatever. That’s why it was so good.
I used to love going to Chili’s for the chips and salsa but three or four years ago, after driving around for an hour and not really knowing what we wanted to eat (know that feeling?), my husband and I ended up there and had one of the worst meals of our lives. Which rarely happens because surprisingly, I am not a high-maintenance restaurant eater. Unless it’s at brunch.
So we haven’t been back since and more than once I have wanted one of those salads. Mainly for the quesadillas. Of course.
Also, don’t listen to me, because this isn’t a copycat version at all, it’s just my version. You know I like to make stuff up.
There are a ton of ingredients here, but I find they are all pretty necessary and “a ton” does not always equal “time consuming.” You’re gonna marinate you’re chicken overnight (or not), add your salad junk together, toss in a little dressing and crush tortilla chips over top.
Now we are best friends. Right?
Chopped Chicken Taco Salads with Cheese Quesadilla Strips
Ingredients
chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 limes, juiced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
quesadilla
- 2 whole wheat tortillas
- 4 ounces monterey jack cheese, freshly grated
salad
- 4 cups butter lettuce, chopped
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 2/3 cup sweet corn
- 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 red onion, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive olive
- 1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1 lime, juiced
- a few tortilla chips, crushed
Instructions
- The night before (or a few hours before) combine cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Add chicken to a large ziplock bag or baking dish and cover with olive oil and lime juice, then add in garlic. Sprinkle seasoning over top and marinate in the fridge for 2-24 hours.
- When ready to make the salads, heat a large skillet over medium-heat heat and add a little olive oil. Sear chicken both sides then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook until chicken is cooked through. Additionally you can bake or grill the chicken – whichever you prefer! Once chicken is finished, let cool for a few minutes and then cut into chunks.
- While the chicken is cooling, add a tortilla to the same skillet (add a little olive oil or butter if you’d like, then add the grated cheese and the second tortilla on top. Cook until both sides are golden and cheese is melted, then remove from the skillet and slice into strips.
- To make the salads, combine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, corn and onion in a large bowl, then toss with the salt and pepper. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar and lime juice, tossing well to coat. Add in chicken and toss well, then separate on to two plates or bowls. Add crushed tortilla chips on top and quesadilla slices.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to our facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
Thought so.
108 Comments on “Chopped Chicken Taco Salads with Cheese Quesadilla Strips.”
Right when I saw this amazingly beautiful salad, my first thought was of Chili’s quesadilla explosion salad, which I LOVE!! This would make the perfect side salad to an outside summer BBQ. Can’t wait to give it a try!
I am a huge Mexican food fan and this salad sounds like something I would absolutely love! I really like the cheese quesadilla strips too. It makes the salad that much more interesting. I am definitely trying this! :)
My first restaurant job was in a Chili’s!! And I used to order that salad as my shift meal– so so good. But I was 18 which I think means that calories were non-existent.
We had a similar never-again experience with Carrabba’s last year. Hadn’t been in eons and then it was suuuuch a disappointment! Dang I’m glad I can cook.
P.S. Oil + Vinegar + Lime Juice = Best Summer Dressing Ever.
Love the addition of cheese quesadilla strips! So fun.
This looks so good!
I never make salads like these but every time I have one at a restaurant I always wonder why not.
Quinn Cooper Style
The quesadilla strips are just awesome. Seriously, awesome!
This is what the world needs a brilliant dish turn into salad. At least I can feel good about eating tacos! Wonderful
LOVE the Chili’s quesadilla explosion. I justify the calories by feeding my kids the quesadillas – then we don’t have to order a meal for them off the kids menu! Definitely making this this weekend.
WHAT?! This looks amazing. I will be putting this on the menu docket ASAP!
Can I count this as a healthy summer salad! The quesadilla strips are just too good to be true!
Quesadillas are my FAVORITE food ever! What a great twist.
Nom nom nom – this sounds brilliant!! And don’t worry about the huge list of ingredients – I know it will be worth it in the end!
Oh, girl…your chopped salad looks absolutely divine! Yes, you are my new best friend. LOL! Hubby and I experienced the very same thing with Chili’s once. One awful meal and, well…that’s that. With this recipe, who needs Chili’s?
If you are serving this at lunch of course we can be best friends lol! The salad looks amazing and I love that you add cheesy tortilla strips. Yumm!!
Oh man, I think I ate the quesadilla explosion from Chili’s like 3 times a week in college. Until I had a VERY traumatic experience of which I do not speak of. But I lurrrrve the idea of creating this at home! YUM!
You make the most delicious salads!
The chilis near me used to be this dumpy place and then it mysteriously “caught fire” and was renovated. Haven’t been in awhile, but I think I would prefer this salad over theirs any day!
I haven’t had a quesadilla in ages.. It’s sounded pretty great right about now.
I had a chicken taco salad recipe lined up to make, but this one may have just beat it out. Looks awesome!
This looks amazing! I had a burrito the size of my head last night, no regrets. I could easily eat Mexican food on the daily, this salad looks like it needs a margarita!
perfection! but I’m a glutton and would love some avocado in here in too ;)
quick Q – how do you chop your salads so perfectly? do you have one of those fancy thingamabobs I see in my local Chop’t / Just Salad? let a girrrl know!
avocado’s in there!
and i just use a knife – lay everything out on a cutting board and chop, chop, chop.
I love everything about this salad, especially the added cheese quesadillas… YUM!
that salad looks so good – i wont even feel like eating one with all that yummy ingredients in there
keep it up with the salads lady, i’m loving it!
I have a similar version that I do now and then but this reminds me that I should do it more now! Always a good one!
This is my kinda food all the time!
The cheese just oozing from that quesadilla is a beautiful thing!
<3 Quesadilla croutons! Can I just have a bowl of those with avocados?
Every salad should come topped with cheesy quesadillas. Perfection.
How do you get your tortillas so golden brown? When I try to heat them in a nonstick pan, they just get warm, but never really change color. Do I need to throw some butter in there or something?
YES butter. it’s the key! i don’t always do it – it depends on what else i’m eating (moderation… blah blah blah) but i did for these pics. use whole wheat tortillas! cancels out the butter. right?
stop it.
<3
lol
This is the way I love to eat any day of the week. Beautiful salad, and I love the quesadilla strips!
And how about some black beans? Garbozos? YUMMMM so good Guess what’s for supper?
The only time I crave salads like this is during the summer and I want this!!!! Love the strips of quesadilla…brilliant…
Looks amazing and your comments totally reminds me of my friend Carmela at http://www.happycalories.org/
I think all happy calories don’t count!!
Salad looks amazing…maybe I can make it for my new husband and tell him it is a quesadilla! I am crossing my fingers!
Love chopped salads; I’m making this week!!
Wicked good… bravo!
I love you.
My husband and I go to chili’s every once in awhile and the quesadilla explosion salad was the light of my life. But then they took it off of the “2 for 20$” menu, which means I can never have it again (I’m one of THOSE people).
I used to dream of the molten lava cake as well, but had it a couple weeks ago and wasn’t impressed and haven’t really had the desire to go back to chili’s since.
So basically I’m excited to make this salad!
Love chopped salads, too, Jessica!
Thanks !
This is probably THE most perfect salad in all of Salad Land. It’s similar to the salad I had last night, except mine had sour cream. And chips. And salsa. Maybe it’s the same. But without corn. OH LIFE!
that’s why we’re soulmates.
I love salad that is topped with tons of ingredients. Chopped salad is also becoming my favorite. It’s my favorite way to make it when I’m at home.
OH. MY. GOSH. There are no words for how good this looks. I literally want to faceplant into that first picture.
Also? Chopped salads are DEFINITELY the best. You get a little of everything in each bite without any huge chunks of one certain thing taking over. It’s by far the thing I miss most about working in Manhattan – sooo many chopped salad places!
Our favorite flavors and ingredients all wrapped up in one dish!
HOLY QUESADILLAS!!! Not going to lie, that Chili’s salad goes down in the books and I, like you, used to munch on it way more than I ever should have! But WHOA- your version looks BETTER!!!!
Can’t wait to try!
Xo
Dana Ivy
http://www.iadorewhatilove.com – Check out my blog!!
I’m a Mexican Food Lov-ah and this looks amazing!! Pinning this to make ASAP!
That stack of quesadillas. Wow.
Gorgeeeouusssssss. The ‘dillas would be perfect for scooping up all the yummy salad goodness.
I love chopped salads, but I can never get the lettuce chopped up right. Wow – that sounds really silly, but I’m serious! I’ll keep trying because this looks delicious!
si por favor!
Wow, what a beautiful salad! This would be beyond amazing with a creamy avocado dressing… or just as-is! Brilliant.
this salad takes taco night to the next level!!