Flamin Hot Cheeto Salad (Print Version)

A bold, crunchy combination of spicy Flamin Hot Cheetos, fresh cucumber, cilantro, and zesty lime-hot sauce. Perfect as a snack or side.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine diced cucumber and chopped cilantro in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Whisk together lime juice, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until fully incorporated.
03 - Pour dressing over cucumber and cilantro mixture, tossing gently to coat evenly.
04 - Add crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos just before serving and toss lightly until evenly coated.
05 - Serve immediately for optimal crunch and texture.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The cucumber provides this refreshing coolness that somehow makes the spicy Cheetos even more addictive than eating them straight from the bag.
  • It comes together in literally 10 minutes but people will think you actually put thought into creating something unique.
02 -
  • Adding the Cheetos too early before serving will result in a soggy mess that no one wants to eat, so timing really is everything here.
  • Crushing the Cheetos in the bag before opening saves both time and unnecessary dirty dishes while giving you better control over the size.
03 -
  • The salad actually tastes better if the cucumber-cilantro-dressing mixture chills for about 30 minutes before adding the Cheetos, allowing the flavors to properly meld.
  • For a dramatic presentation that will have guests talking, serve individual portions in the cut-open Cheetos bag with the salad spilling out onto the plate.
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