Ensalada de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Salad)

This Ensalada de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Salad) is a quick meal that is packed with protein and vegetables then mixed with a creamy chicken salad dressing. 

Serve this recipe as a dip with chips, on bread to make a sandwich, or as tostadas. You can even fill your Mexican chicken salad tostadas with some Pico de Gallo or Homemade Guacamole! If you love a flavorful classic chicken salad recipe, then you’ll love my Best Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe! Or try my Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe!

Why This Recipe Works

• Quick and easy lunch or dinner recipe. This Mexican chicken salad recipe comes together easily and is ready in no time! It’s great for lunches or as a last-minute dinner idea. 
• Light and fresh. This ensalada de pollo is chilled, so it’s the perfect refreshing meal for the spring and summer. The lime juice in the sauce provides a refreshing flavor, and the veggies provide added nutrients. 
• Perfect picnic food. This is one of my favorite picnic date food ideas for you and your spouse or your entire family! It’s super easy to transport in a cooler. Don’t leave it sitting at room temperature for hours on end though. Return it to a cooler with ice packs or to the fridge.  

Ingredient Notes

• Sour Cream: For a lighter and healthier option, I used light sour cream. 
• Lime Juice: You can use fresh lime juice or store-bought lime juice. It gives a nice fresh flavor to the mixture. 
• Jalapeño Brine: This is the juice from pickled jalapeños. It adds a nice flavor but not too much spice. If you want a spicier flavor, you can dice some of the pickled jalapeños and add them to the mixture or add them on top. 
• Gold Potatoes: I used gold potatoes, but you can use whatever potatoes you have on hand. 
• Frozen Mixed Vegetables: This frozen mixed vegetables package makes things so quick and easy! It’s usually a combination of carrots, peas, corn, and green beans. 
• Chicken: You can cook and shred chicken, use canned chicken, or use rotisserie chicken. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook the potatoes. Add the diced potatoes to a medium pot and fill with water until potatoes are covered. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, simmer and cook for 8 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. When tender, drain the water and place the potatoes in a large bowl.
2. Make the creamy sauce. Whisk the mayo, sour cream, lime juice, jalapeño brine and kosher salt until smooth. Set aside. 
3. Add vegetables and chicken. Add the thawed vegetables, shredded chicken, green onions, and cilantro to a large bowl. Pour the sauce then mix. Cover and store in the fridge until chilled, about 1 hour. Serve on tostadas, with chips, or on bread as a sandwich.   

Recipe Tips

If you’d rather use fresh vegetables, you can! Using the frozen mixed vegetables bag is nice for ease and convenience, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. 

Some ensalada de pollo Mexicana recipes will also include a bit of mustard. If you want that addition, add a tablespoon. 

If you want to sub out the sour cream or the mayo, the best replacement would be plain yogurt. If swapping out the sour cream, I’d recommend a plain Greek yogurt. 

his recipe has a mellow flavor. For added flavor you can make some homemade Mild Taco Seasoning and add a little to taste. 

Complete the meal by serving alongside some Mexican Rice Pudding (Arroz con Leche).

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.

Do not eat if the dish has been left out at room temperature for 2 hours or more. You could get sick as bacteria can start to form. (This is a United States Department of Agriculture guideline.) On hot days, only let it sit unrefrigerated for 1 hour. 

Due to the mayo in the mixture, I don’t recommend freezing the chicken salad. The flavor and texture will be altered when frozen and thawed. 

Recipe FAQs

More Mexican Dishes

• Mexican Street Corn Casserole
• One Pan Mexican Quinoa
• Mexican Lasagna
• Walking Taco Casserole Recipe
• Taco Turkey Burgers