Flamin Hot Cheeto Salad (Printable)

Crunchy mix of spicy Flamin Hot Cheetos, crisp cucumber, and bright lime-hot sauce dressing for a fresh bite.

# Components:

→ Salad Base

01 - 2 cups Flamin Hot Cheetos, coarsely crushed
02 - 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
03 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
05 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce (Tapatío, Valentina, or Sriracha)
06 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
07 - 0.125 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Place the diced cucumber and chopped cilantro into a large mixing bowl.
02 - Whisk together lime juice, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over cucumber and cilantro, tossing gently to evenly coat.
04 - Just before serving, fold in the crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos and toss lightly to distribute.
05 - Serve immediately to retain maximum crunch and freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 10 minutes, no cooking required, just chopping and mixing.
  • The contrast of spicy crunch against cool, crisp cucumber is genuinely addictive.
  • It feels like a snack and a salad at the same time, which somehow makes it feel less guilty.
02 -
  • Add the Cheetos as late as possible—if they sit in dressing for even 10 minutes, they turn into mush and the whole thing falls apart.
  • Taste the dressing on its own before adding it to the salad; it should make your mouth light up with lime and heat, because it's the soul of the whole dish.
03 -
  • Crush the Cheetos by hand into the bag rather than in a bowl—it's less mess and you can control the size of the pieces better.
  • If you like extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder to the dressing for a deeper, more complex spice that builds on what the Cheetos already bring.
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