Flamin Hot Cheeto Salad (Printable)

Spicy Cheetos meet crisp cucumber and cilantro in this crunchy, zesty salad with a bold lime-hot sauce dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 2 cups Flamin Hot Cheetos, coarsely crushed
02 - 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
03 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
05 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Tapatío, Valentina, or Sriracha)
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Place the diced cucumber and chopped cilantro in a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Pour the dressing over the cucumber and cilantro, tossing gently to combine.
04 - Just before serving, add the crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos and toss lightly until evenly coated.
05 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in ten minutes with no heat, no prep stress, just big flavor fast.
  • That contrast of cool cucumber and fiery Cheetos hits every texture and taste at once.
  • It turns snack food into something bright and craveable that everyone wants the recipe for.
02 -
  • Add the Cheetos last, never early, or they'll soak up moisture and turn into mush within minutes.
  • Use a light hand when tossing after adding the Cheetos so they stay coated but intact.
  • If making ahead, keep the dressing, vegetables, and Cheetos separate until the very last second before serving.
03 -
  • Crush the Cheetos inside the bag with your hands to control the size and keep the mess contained.
  • Taste your dressing before adding it to the bowl so you can adjust lime or heat without ruining the whole batch.
  • If you want less spice, swap regular Cheetos and add hot sauce to taste for more control.
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