Elevate your salad game with this irresistible Cafe Rio Chicken Salad, a crowd-pleasing dish bursting with bold Southwest flavors. Perfectly grilled and marinated chicken breasts are layered over crisp romaine lettuce, fluffy white rice, and tender black beans, creating a hearty base. Topped with shredded cheddar cheese, zesty pico de gallo, crunchy tortilla strips, and a generous drizzle of creamy tomatillo dressing, every bite is a tantalizing mix of textures and flavors. This vibrant and satisfying salad is finished with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, making it ideal for a quick and refreshing dinner or a party-ready dish. Ready in just 35 minutes, this recipe offers a healthy yet indulgent meal thatβs sure to become a family favorite. Keywords: Cafe Rio Chicken Salad recipe, Southwest salad, grilled chicken salad, easy chicken salad, tomatillo dressing salad.
In a large bowl, mix olive oil, lime juice, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
Add the chicken breasts to the marinade and coat them thoroughly. Let them marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
Once hot, grill the marinated chicken breasts for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked and marked with grill lines.
Remove chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
While the chicken cooks, prepare the salad base by arranging romaine lettuce in serving bowls.
Top each salad with an equal portion of cooked white rice and warmed black beans.
Add sliced chicken on top of the rice and beans.
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the chicken.
Add a scoop of pico de gallo and a handful of tortilla strips onto each salad.
Drizzle creamy tomatillo dressing generously over the assembled salad.
Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
Serve immediately and enjoy the vibrant flavors of the Cafe Rio Chicken Salad!
Calories |
3627 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 140.6 g | 180% | |
| Saturated Fat | 45.7 g | 228% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 732 mg | 244% | |
| Sodium | 7525 mg | 327% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 291.1 g | 106% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 35.5 g | 127% | |
| Total Sugars | 19.9 g | ||
| Protein | 296.6 g | 593% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1406 mg | 108% | |
| Iron | 23.5 mg | 131% | |
| Potassium | 1777 mg | 38% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.