The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad
The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad layers teriyaki-marinated chicken over crisp romaine with sweet corn, black beans, and shatter-crisp tortilla strips. A bright cilantro–lime–peanut vinaigrette adds nutty depth, tang, and a touch of sweetness that ties everything together. It’s a hearty, restaurant-style salad perfect for a weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing main.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 47 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 18 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 77 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 20
- Heart Health
- 34
- Metabolic
- 49
- Digestive
- 25
- Inflammatory
- 51
- Performance
- 45
- General Wellness
- 1
Place the chicken breasts and teriyaki marinade in a large resealable plastic bag, then refrigerate to marinate for at least 1 hour.
- 2
In a food processor, combine the cilantro, peanut butter, red wine vinegar, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, and lime zest; blend until well mixed. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup olive oil and blend until the dressing is smooth. Add pepper and blend again.
- 3
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Arrange the corn tortilla strips on a baking sheet and drizzle 2 teaspoons olive oil over them.
- 4
Bake in the preheated oven until crispy, 5 to 10 minutes.
- 5
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook until browned, 7 to 10 minutes per side. Let cool until easy to handle, about 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- 6
In a large bowl, toss the corn, black beans, and romaine lettuce together. Top with Monterey Jack cheese, the chicken, and the tortilla strips, then pour the dressing over the salad.
- Calories 1232.08 kcal High 62%
- Protein 81.37 g Good Source 163%
- Carbohydrate 82.41 g 30%
- Total Fat 62.96 g High 81%
- Saturated Fat 16.72 g High 84%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 197.61 mg High 66%
- Sodium 1782.75 mg High 78%
- Dietary Fiber 7.04 g Good Source 25%
- Total Sugars 21.92 g --
- Added Sugars 5.84 g Moderate 12%
- Calcium 599.32 mg Good Source 46%
- Iron 4.88 mg Good Source 27%
- Potassium 176.57 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 94.25 mcg Moderate 10%
- Vitamin C 5.2 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin D 0.32 mcg Low Source 2%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Peanuts 🥜
- Milk 🥛
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Sesame
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad is made with 17 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 50 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Beans, Black Pepper, Brown Sugar, and Chicken Breast. Each serving provides about 1232.08 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Beans, Black Pepper, Brown Sugar, Chicken Breast, Fresh Cilantro. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad?
- About 50 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1232.08 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 17 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad healthy?
- The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 1232.08 calories and 81.37 g of protein, or 163% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1782.75 mg (78% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 16.72 g (84% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 5.84 g (12% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Peanuts, Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sesame, Corn and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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