Mexican Chicken Salad is a fresh, flavor-packed meal that’s ready in minutes. This recipe is filled with tender chicken, crisp veggies and a zesty, creamy sauce that will have people begging for more! With so much Mexican flavor, this definitely isn’t your grandma’s traditional chicken salad.
Chicken salad is a staple meal I always have on hand! It’s just so easy to make and is perfect for quick lunches, meal planning, snacks and busy weeknight dinners. It’s the most convenient protein-packed meal and delivers the bold, Mexican-inspired flavors your family loves.
If you’re looking for fast, fresh and flavorful, this Mexican Chicken Salad recipe will be your new go-to! It’s perfect for moms like me who want to keep meal planning simple, without sacrificing taste.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- No Cooking – Besides the chicken, which I always recommend buying a rotisserie, no other cooking is required! Nothing is better than a protein-packed meal that requires no oven or stove top!
- Quick & Easy – No complicated prep. Only simple ingredients. Ready to serve in just 15 minutes, max!
- Perfect for Meal Prepping – This recipe has a great refrigerator shelf life. I love using it for weekly lunch preps!
- Versatile – This chicken salad is perfect for easy lunches, with crackers for a snack, or with a couple of simple sides for dinner. There are so many ways to serve it!
Recipe Notes
This Mexican Chicken Salad recipe is as simple as promised! Just 15 easy minutes for a family friendly, delicious meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make this Mexican Chicken Salad to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Shredded chicken – My go-to chicken for recipes is rotisserie chicken. It’s just so easy to grab and shred! You can also use grilled, baked, boiled or any leftover shredded chicken that doesn’t already have seasoning or sauce on it.
- Mayonnaise – Mayo is best and Dukes is my favorite. However, you can substitute nonfat, plain greek yogurt for a lighter version and some added protein!
- Sour Cream – Use your favorite brand. You can also use light sour cream to lose a few calories.
- Taco Seasoning – Grab your favorite brand or try making your own! Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Lime Juice – This really brightens the flavor of the chicken salad!
- Black Beans – 1/2 cup drained & rinsed. Canned is perfect! Making your own is also so simple & cost effective, and it makes a lot! Crock Pot Black Beans
- Mexican Corn – 1/2 cup, drained. Southwest corn works great, too! It’s a canned corn with red & green peppers in it.
- Red Onion – Finely dicing the onion gives onion flavor without too big of an onion bite.
- Green Bell Pepper – This gives a good crunch to the chicken salad. Buy it pre-chopped to make prep easier on yourself!
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Spicy Mexican Chicken Salad– If you like an extra kick to your Mexican dishes, add some finely diced jalapeño to this chicken salad. I would recommend discarding the majority of the seeds and most of the white ribs from the inside so it’s not too spicy. You could even use pickled jalapenos.
- Lighten it up– The tang and creaminess of mayo really are the base of any good chicken salad, However, when you want to lighten up the dish, an easy substitute is nonfat, plain greek yogurt. Bonus- it adds protein! If you want to keep the mayo, you can also use the yogurt as a sour cream substitute.
- Up your veggie game!– I love the texture the vegetables add to this dish… not to mention all of the vitamins and fiber! For added crunchiness, you can add some diced red or yellow bell peppers, a jalapeño or even a stalk or two of celery.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make this easy Mexican Chicken Salad.
Shred 3 cups of chicken and place in a large bowl.
Add black beans, corn, diced green bell peppers and diced red onion.
Combine with mayonnaise, sour cream, taco seasoning and lime juice.
Stir until the mixture is evenly coated in the dressing.
Recipe Tips
- Let it set – While you can serve chicken salad immediately, it’s best if it can sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This gives the flavors time to combine and meld together.
- Don’t skip the veggies! – I love to pack my chicken salads with veggies for a variety of reasons. It lowers the overall calories, packs in extra nutrients and fiber, gives a good texture to the dish and completes the flavor.
- Mix the dressing ingredients first – Consider combining the mayo, sour cream, taco seasoning and lime juice together first to blend the flavors evenly. Then, add the chicken and veggies and stir until everything is coated evenly with the dressing.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Buy Cooked Rotisserie Chicken – In my opinion, this is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get cooked chicken for any recipe. Some grocery stores even have pulled and shredded rotisserie chicken that is packaged and sold in their prepared foods section.
- Buy pre-chopped onion & pepper – Save yourself time and buy the pre-chopped onion & pepper. Be sure they’re finely diced. They can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.
- Prep ahead – Take a few minutes earlier in the day, or even the day before, to go ahead and shred the chicken and gather and measure out your veggies. Store in a resealable bag or air tight container and place in the fridge. When you’re ready to combine all of the ingredients, just place them into a large mixing bowl and stir.
What to Serve with Mexican Chicken Salad
Since this protein based dinner is filled with delicious Mexican flavors, it will pair well with many of your favorite Mexican side dishes and salads.
I love to pair chicken salad with other salads or sides to make a complete and filling meal. Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
- Mexican Caesar Salad
- Easy Mexican Cornbread
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Borracho Beans
Mexican Chicken Salad Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! It saves well and is perfect for snacking or the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
I recommend against freezing chicken salad. Mayonnaise and sour cream do not hold up well in the freezer.
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Mexican Chicken Salad Sandwich– Serve it on a croissant, ciabatta roll or toast your favorite bread.
- Mexican Chicken Salad Wrap– Use a traditional wrap or even a tortilla! Add some sliced avocados. In my opinion, this is a perfect easy lunch recipe.
- Mexican Chicken Salad over salad greens– I prefer mixed greens or arugula.
- Mexican Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado– This is a great gluten free alternative.
- With Crackers– This is my favorite perfect and filling snack when I’m in a hurry. Just spread a spoonful on your favorite cracker.
- Lettuce Wrap– Keep it low carb by replacing the bread with lettuce. Large leaf varieties like bibb or butter work best.
Recipe FAQ’s
How do you serve Mexican Chicken Salad?
You have so many serving options for this easy dish! You can serve it in a sandwich or wrap, with crackers, in an avocado, wrapped in butter lettuce, on a bed of leafy greens or in a hollowed out sweet bell pepper. The options are endless!
What are common mistakes when making chicken salad?
I would say there are two common mistakes. First, be sure you don’t use overcooked or dry chicken. You don’t want it to be tough or difficult to chew. You also don’t want your veggies to be chopped too big. Finely dicing them will add great flavor and help meld everything together.
What ingredients does a traditional chicken salad have in it?
The four core ingredients to chicken salad are cooked chicken, mayonnaise, celery and often a red onion or grapes. The key is combining protein with creamy dressing and crunchy elements. Take a look at my Rotisserie Chicken Salad to compare.
More EASY Chicken Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken salad recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Pesto Chicken Salad
- Million Dollar Chicken Salad
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad
- Curry Chicken Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad
Mexican Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, (1- 1 ounce packet)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 cups shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup canned Mexican (or Southwest) corn, drained
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, taco seasoning, and lime juice. Mix to combine.
- Add the chicken, black beans, corn, green bell pepper, and onion. Stir until the mixture is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Serve immediately, or chill until ready to eat.
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