Southwestern Chicken Caesar Salad With Chipotle Dressing

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

I strongly suggest to make the dressing up to 24 hours in advance to blend flavors, also you can grill the chicken a day in advance and refrigerate. If you are not a black bean lover then you can omit them and use corn niblets, adjust the dressing ingredients to taste :)

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 40 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• olive oil
• 1 (1 1/3 ounce) package fajita seasoning mix
• 1 small romaine lettuce (about 7-8 cups torn into bite-size pieces)
• 3/4-1 cup black beans (rinsed and very well drained or use corn niblets)
• 1 1/2 cups garlic-flavored croutons (or use as much as desired)
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 -2 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into rings
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (or to taste)

CHIPOTLE DRESSING

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 2 anchovy fillets
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 chipotle pepper (from a jar or can)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
• salt (or to taste) (optional)

Directions:

1. Brush olive oil over the chicken breasts, then sprinkle the fajita seasoning onto both sides.
2. Grill over medium-high heat about 6 minutes per side (or you may broil).
3. Allow to cool then slice into strips; set aside.
4. For the dressing; in a blender or food processor combine mayonnaise, 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, sour cream, cumin, anchovy fillets, green onions, Dijon mustard, chipotle pepper, fresh garlic, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper; process or blend until smooth then season with salt if desired.
5. Place the lettuce in a large glass bowl, add in black beans; toss to mix.
6. Top the salad with croutons and red bell pepper rings and cooked chicken slices, then sprinkle with about 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or any amount desired).
7. Drizzle the dressing over the salad or serve dressing on the side.
8. Delicious!

Reviews

[Jewelies]

This dressing is awesome, wow! Really creamy but not at all hot from the chipotle pepper. I took your advise and made this 24 hours in advance to allow the flavours to all come together. Thank you Kitten for another winner.

[PaulaG]

The dressing is outstanding as is the salad but the dressing--OH WOW! I made the dressing using yogurt for the sour cream and omitting the anchovy (don't do those). The dressing was made this morning and I used a little on my roast beef sandwich at lunch. Very good! For the salad, I didn't have fajita seasoning mix so I used your Kittencal's Taco Seasoning Mix. After misting the chicken breasts with olive oil I rubbed the taco seasoning into the chicken and cooked them on the George Forman grill. This is a wonderful dinner salad.