Guys, this list of Mexican salads has changed my salad game.
I know, I know. When people think of Mexican food, they usually go for the tacos, the fajitas, the enchiladas. Or plain old chips and salsa! And frankly, that’s a shame, because Mexican salads are entirely underrated.
People will even order sopapillas or fried ice cream but skip right over some phenomenal salad recipes. This list has ten exceptional options, from chunky and filling black bean salads to bright Mexican shrimp salads.
1. Taco Salad
Okay, I almost didn’t include this one. I know, I know, taco salad! Everybody has a recipe for it, right? But I just couldn’t have a list of Mexican salads without it.
And if you’re one of those people who doesn’t have that perfect, go-to recipe? Well, this recipe is for you.
And while you can totally play around with the salad ingredients however you like, trust me when I say you’ll want to stick to that recipe for the beef filling.
Adding the chili powder, fire-roasted salsa, cumin, pepper, and fresh cilantro gives it the best flavor and takes the whole salad to another level. It just makes the whole thing a total home run.
2. Mexican Street Corn Salad with Avocado
This one is for anyone who enjoys shoe peg corn salad or any dense, chunky salad with lots of fresh veggies and just tons of flavor. It’s also an A+ option for bringing plenty of color to the table.
We’re talking white and yellow from the corn, purplish-red from the onion, all that green from the cilantro, avocado, and jalapenos, and white from the Cotija cheese.
Despite its chunky heartiness, it has a light, refreshing taste. There’s also just a hint of spice from the chili powder. So good.
3. Ensalada Navideña
This one is also known as Mexican Christmas fruit salad. It’s a sweet and fruity dessert salad traditionally served at… you guessed it… Christmas. It’s full of various tastes and textures and is truly delightful.
That sweet, creamy dressing is absolutely drool-worthy. And between the apples, pineapples, pecans, coconut, raisins, and maraschino cherries, it’s hard to decide what you love most! What a dream.
Best of all, it’s light and not too bad for you, especially for a dessert. If you like, you can also add mini-marshmallows for extra fluffiness and sweetness.
4. Chicken Quesadilla Salad
If you are obsessed with the Quesadilla Explosion salad from Chili’s, then you’ll go crazy for this quick and easy homemade version.
It takes only 30 minutes to make, though you’ll need to marinate your chicken for at least 3 hours ahead of time.
Don’t skip that part! Doing so gives it a tender, succulent texture and an exquisite flavor.
The combination of cool, crisp garden veggies, warm, soft chicken, and those hot, gooey quesadillas is just… wow. It’s an incredible flavor explosion happening on your tongue.
5. Black Bean Salad
This salad is a lot like black bean salsa, except it’s chunkier, heartier, and less saucy. If you clicked on the link, saw that enormous ingredients list, and ran back here screaming, stop! Take another look.
You’ll see this tasty salad is extremely easy to make, taking only 20 minutes. There’s also no cooking involved, just a lot of mixing and stirring.
If you love black beans and fresh veggies (corn, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc.), then you’ll love this recipe. And don’t worry. Basically, the entire bottom half of the ingredients list contains only spices, oil, seasonings, etc.
6. Mexican Shrimp Salad
If you want your Mexican salad to have a little more savory depth in it, you have to try this shrimp salad instead. The combination of peeled shrimp, black bean salsa, corn, and more tastes fantastic.
There’s also somewhat of a bite from the chili powder, especially if you use hot powder instead of mild. It’s a total choose-your-own-adventure situation.
7. Cucumber Tomato Salad
This salad is for those who prefer their appetizers to be cool, refreshing, and supremely zesty. The salad itself is so simple and uses only five ingredients – cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Cotija cheese, and cilantro.
It has a wonderful, fresh flavor and is perfectly healthy.
Most of the work (which is still very little) goes into making the salad dressing. It’s tangy and zesty, but there’s also a slight sweetness to it that’s hard not to love.
For it, you’ll need olive oil, red wine vinegar, Mexican oregano, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and just a little bit of sugar to help tone down the zing.
8. Mexican Fruit Salad
Okay, so you may be thinking that fruit salad is pretty much fruit salad wherever you eat it, and to a certain extent, you’d be right.
However, Mexican fruit salad uses tropical fruits (watermelon, mango, pineapple, papaya) and features chili lime seasoning and lime juice for a totally unique sweet, tart, and spiced taste.
Plus, using the hollowed-out pineapple as the serving dish is just awesome; it makes the whole thing look striking and chic.
9. Mexican Chopped Salad
The first time I had authentic Mexican tacos – the kind made from a dear friend who’d moved here from Mexico – they blew my mind.
People from Mexico put all kinds of great things on their tacos – carrots, radishes, small chunks of lime, and more – and they are the best tacos I’ve ever had.
This Mexican chopped salad is like one of those tacos but in salad form. You’ll use radishes, black beans, avocado, feta cheese, and so much more. And the honey-lime vinaigrette is amazing!
10. Tomato and Tomatillo Salad
This simple recipe is quick and easy to prepare. Other than the dressing, it uses only five ingredients: vine-ripened tomatoes, tomatillos, avocado, Cotija cheese, and cilantro.
You’ll need a few more things for the cilantro-lime dressing, but it, too, isn’t challenging to make.
It has a wonderfully fresh but tangy taste that pairs perfectly with all the salad’s ingredients. Just be sure you don’t go overboard on the lime juice.
If you do, it overpowers the cilantro and messes up the entire balance of the salad.
