You’re about to get the recipe to one of my favorite lunches these days, the simple, versatile, entirely customizable, high-protein Smoked Chicken Taco Salad! You can prep the chicken for several of these salads on the weekend and you’ll be 10 minutes away from an incredible lunch salad that’ll keep you satisfied all day.

Smoked Chicken Taco Salad

Fast, healthy lunches have become more and more of a priority in our house, and I’m quickly finding out that failing to plan is indeed planning to fail.

My default if I don’t have something prepped and easy and ready to go is to boil some pasta, and I don’t know about you, but I get enough carbs with dinner to last a whole day, so adding more pasta at lunch isn’t the greatest idea for me.

That means I’m doing a lot more stir fry, Costco ready-made dishes from companies like Made Well that focus on high protein and lower net carbs, or salad and bowls with added protein in the mix.

Want more protein? Try this Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream recipe! It is a great way to get something sweet while also upping that daily protein count.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Meal prep friendly! Make a big batch and eat it for dayssssss.
Super customizable. Add (or don’t add) whatever you want to make this fit your own needs and wants.
You’ll love the rub that we used on this! It is worth the order!

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Recipe Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Chicken Breasts – The base of your protein. Smoking them brings a ton of flavor without drying them out.
Mexican Rub – A green chili rub is best for this dish! Use your favorite!
Chopped Romaine Lettuce – Crisp and sturdy, it holds up well under toppings.
Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese – A classic taco salad topper with just the right melt and flavor mix.
Avocado – Adds creamy richness and balances the smoky flavors.
Diced Tomato – Brings freshness and acidity.
Black Beans – Extra protein and fiber, plus they make the salad more filling.
Sour Cream – Cool and creamy, helps mellow out the heat.
Cilantro Lime Crema – Tangy, herby, and perfect for drizzling. Use store-bought or make your own.
Verde Salsa – Adds a little heat and zing.
Tortilla Strips or Chips – Crunchy texture and a little salt round things out.

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How To Make This Recipe

This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Preheat Smoker – Set it to 225°F.
Season + Smoke Chicken – Rub the breasts with verde seasoning and smoke for about an hour, flipping halfway through, until they hit 165°F.
Cool + Cube Chicken – Let rest, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
Prep Salad Base – Chop lettuce and prep all toppings.
Assemble + Serve – Top lettuce with chicken, beans, veggies, sauces, and chips.

Try our Chicken Burrito Bowl too!

Recipe FAQ

Can this dish be made in advance?

You can prep all the ingredients in advance, but I wouldn’t assemble until right before you’re ready to eat. You know how salads get. They like to be freshly tossed.

Substitutions and Variations

This recipe is super versatile. You can change the toppings based on what you have or like. I’m going to make you eat those beans if you hate ‘em. This is your show, and I’m just here to make it a little more delicious.

Make our Smoked Salsa Verde!

Serve This With

This salad would be fantastic with this Avocado Salad Dressing on top!

More Mexican-Inspired Recipes To Try

We've got lots of spicy Mexican-inspired dishes to love! Find something amazing below!

Tacos

Burritos

Enchiladas

Nachos

Smoked Shredded Beef Nachos
Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos

More sides and soups and stuff

Yield: 2 servings

Smoked Chicken Taco Salad

Our delicious Smoked Chicken Taco Salad is the perfect weekday lunch or quick busy weeknight dinner.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 large chicken breasts
2 tablespoons Spanglish Asadero Verde Rub (or your favorite Verde rub)
6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce

Toppings

1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 avocado, diced
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup black beans
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup cilantro lime crema
1/4 cup verde salsa
1/4 cup tortilla strips (or broken up chips)

Instructions

Preheat your smoker or pellet grill to 225°F.
Season the chicken breast with the verde rub and place the breasts on the smoker.
Let smoke for 30 minutes, flip, and then let smoke until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Remove from the grill and let cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into cubes.
While the chicken is cooling, prep and assemble your salad ingredients.
Top with the smoked chicken, toss, and enjoy!

Smoked Chicken Taco Salad