Recipe • Chipotle Mexican Chicken Salad

Marji's Chipotle Mexican Chicken Salad

We are well into the steamy hot days of summer, although to many of you New England heat doesn't qualify. My cooking approach changes during these weeks and much is centered around main course salads. I use the handmade pottery I blogged about Saturday extensively during this season. The menu is a little more informal and so to are the dishes. I have been thinking about sharing another recipe of mine. It has been awhile since I have, and although this is not a foodie blog, it is a living creatively blog. Those of us that are DIYer's in one, area often extend that creativity to others. This is a recipe I created for summer time.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 pkg McKormick Grill Mates Tomato, Garlic, & Basil Marinade mixed with
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
• 1 can black beans drained
• 2 cans corn drained
• 1-2 medium red pepper diced
• 1-2 medium green pepper diced
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4-1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Reserve 2 Tbs for garnish.
• 1/2 box penne whole wheat pasta- cooked
• baby spinach
• Ranch salad dressing

Dressing

• 1/2 cup Mrs. Dashes Chipotle Marinade
• 1 cup fat free sour cream
• 1 TBS taco seasoning mix

Directions:

• Mix McKormicks marinade mix according to directions using 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup water and 2 TBS balsamic vinegar.
• Marinate chicken breasts in mixture for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat grill and grill chicken breasts. This can be done in advance for a cold salad or served warm on top of the other ingredients.
• Meanwhile cook pasta according to directions, drain and rinse with cold water.
• To the cooked pasta add the black beans, corn, red and green pepper onions and cilantro, reserving some of the cilantro for garnish.
• Mix the dressing by combining the Mrs. Dashes Chipotle Marinade with the fat free sour cream and taco seasonings.  Add to the pasta mixture and toss well.
• To serve, place a layer of chopped baby spinach in the bottom of a pasta bowl, add a serving of the pasta salad, a chicken breast sliced thinly, a drizzle of Ranch dressing and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

Delicious with Corn on the Cob!

Enjoy.


Previous Posts of Interest:

• Recipe • Pulled Pork Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Apples
• Grilled Pizza
• Gifts that Keep Giving • a Recipe Book

Sharing this post at the following Link Parties:

• Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple
• Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog
• Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
• Sweet Sharing Monday @ Sweet Anne Designs
• Not Just a House Wife
• Take It On Tuesday @ Romance On A Dime
• Tuesday Treasures @My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
• Simply Sensational Tuesday @ Organizing Homelife
• Uncommon Designs
• Tuesday Treasures @My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
• DIY Dreamer
• Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
• aka design
• House of Hepworths
• At The Picket Fence
• Tatertots&Jello
• Show and Tell Saturdays

©2012 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy