This chicken salad has all your favorite taco toppings and is an easy and flavorful lunch idea.
As soon as the temperatures were up, the days were longer, and our outdoor activity was at a high, my mom would fill the fridge with homemade chicken salad.
Our favorite chicken salad recipe was, no doubt, her Simple Curried Chicken Salad. A big bowl of this has always been a summertime staple.
I also caught the chicken salad obsession and love creating unique varieties. Have you seen my Blueberry Basil Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches? They are scrumptious! 
There are so many reasons to love a homemade chicken salad.
It’s a convenient make-ahead and keep-in-the-fridge lunch option.
It always beats the lunchtime boredom blues.
It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken or dress up a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
It’s customizable with just about anything you have on hand in the kitchen.
Even with its simplicity, it’s still a lovely menu option for a more formal affair, like a ladies luncheon.
It can be enjoyed as a salad, a sandwich, a lettuce wrap and even a dip.
Best of all, it’s filling and flavorful and my Loaded Taco Chicken Salad is no different. 
Inspired by my Mexican-Style Egg Salad, this chicken salad proves to be a lunch time fiesta.
I’ve kept this one light with yogurt that gets spiced up with crowd-favorite taco flavors like chili powder, cumin, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Then it is loaded with a variety of textural ingredients like red pepper, tomatoes, olives, scallions, and cilantro. 
There are so many ways to enjoy this lunchtime treat, but a crunchy sprinkling of tortillas over the top and creamy avocado slices on the side is ideal.
It’s a party on a plate!
How do you dress up your chicken salad?
Loaded Taco Chicken Salad
This chicken salad has all your favorite taco toppings and is an easy and flavorful lunch idea.
- 1 lb chicken breast (cubed and cooked )
- 1/2 red pepper (diced)
- 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup black olives (sliced)
- 1/4 cup scallions (green parts only)
- 1/2 cup cilantro (chopped plus more for garnish)
- tortilla chips (crumbled for garnish, optional)
- avocado slices (for serving, optional)
Dressing
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp chilpoltle chili powder (optional)
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Combine all ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and set aside.
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In another bowl, combine the chicken, red pepper, tomatoes, olives, scallions, and cilantro. Toss gently.
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Add the dressing to the chicken mix and carefully stir until well coated.
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Garnish with additional cilantro and crumbled tortilla chips for texure. Serve with an avocado.
Just like a taco, customize the “toppings” any way you’d like.
Better if refrigerated for at least 30 minutes before enjoying.
Yummy!!! This is one of the recipes I LIVE off of!!!
I am drooling over this salad! Loaded with so much flavor and good for me ingredients this would make a fantastic lunch or dinner.
Thanks so much, Sharon! I’m thrilled you like it!
I love chicken salad and taco chicken salad sounds even better! Definitely going to try this out.
Yay! Hope you enjoy it! My daughter put it in a tortilla wrap and enjoyed it for lunch. It’s really versatile.
I love homemade versions of meals like this because you know exactly what’s going in it. No mystery ingredients here!
Couldn’t agree more!
I love chicken salad and have never heard of a taco chicken salad before. That’s sounds amazing! I will definitely have to try this soon.
Happy to hear, Diana! Thank you!