Crispy Chipotle Chicken Caesar Salad
With its chopped romaine lettuce, Monterey Jack cheese croutons, toasted pepitas, shredded parmesan cheese, and creamy Mexican Caesar dressing, our Mexican-Style Caesar Chopped Salad Kit delivers a delightful spin on a classic Caesar with plenty of south-of-the-border flair.
But like any Caesar, chicken is always a welcome protein-packed addition to the mix. And since the Mexican-Style Caesar Salad Chopped Salad Kit has more of a more zesty disposition, we decided to spice things up a bit with this recipe featuring crispy, bite-sized pieces of fried chicken coated in a flavorful chipotle-seasoned batter. This is definitely a recipe that will quickly earn its way into your regular rotation!
- Total TIME:
- 20 minutes
- SERVINGS:
- 3-4
- CREATED BY:
- Little Spice Jar
Ingredients
- 1 Taylor Farms Mexican Style Caesar Salad Kit
- 10 ounces chicken tenders, cut into small pieces
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chili
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Oil, for frying
- Optional: sliced onions, avocados, cherry tomatoes
Directions
- Heat a few inches of oil in a large pot over medium heat to 350ºF. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl. Dip each piece of the chicken in the flour mixture, dust off excess, dip in the beaten egg, and then back into the flour mixture, until coated evenly.
- Fry chicken nuggets in batches for 3-4 minutes or until golden and cooked. Remove from cooking oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate to cool. (If using an airfryer, spray chicken nuggets with oil. Cook at 375ºF for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through.)
- Add the Mexican-Style Caesar Salad Kit ingredients and chicken to a large bowl. Dress the salad, toss, and serve immediately.
Make Your Own Chipotle Seasoning
For the sake of simplicity, this recipe calls for a quick & basic version of chipotle seasoning, but if you want to make a more authentic seasoning mix, here’s how to do it.
You’ll need:
- 2 dried chipotle peppers
- 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)
- Spice grinder (or mortar & pestle)
Begin by removing the stems and seeds from the chipotle peppers, then finely grind them in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Combine the ground chipotle peppers with the smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add a pinch of dried oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix everything thoroughly so you can get an even distribution of flavors.
What else can you do with this smoky, spicy seasoning? Sprinkle it generously on meats like chicken, beef, or pork before grilling or roasting for a flavorful barbecue rub. Mix it into sour cream or Greek yogurt for a zesty dip or spread. Toss it with roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes or cauliflower florets for a tasty side dish. You can even sprinkle it on popcorn or mix it into scrambled eggs for a spicy breakfast dish. And that’s just the start. Enjoy experimenting with chipotle seasoning to elevate your favorite dishes with bold and smoky flavors!
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