Description
Southwestern Chicken Salad is a bold, colorful meal packed with juicy seasoned chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and crunchy tortilla strips. Tossed with a creamy Southwest dressing, this easy recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or healthy lunches.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Salad
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup tortilla strips
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
For the Southwest Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp taco seasoning
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
Instructions
- Season and cook the chicken: Rub the chicken with olive oil and season with chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Grill or pan-sear over medium-high heat for 6–7 minutes per side, until fully cooked. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, taco seasoning, hot sauce, and garlic until smooth.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the romaine, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, cheddar cheese, red onion, and cilantro.
- Add the chicken: Arrange the sliced chicken over the salad and drizzle with the Southwest dressing.
- Serve: Top with tortilla strips and extra cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges if desired.
Notes
For meal prep, store the dressing, avocado, and tortilla strips separately until ready to serve. Add jalapeños, pico de gallo, or a sprinkle of cotija cheese for even more Southwestern flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: southwestern chicken salad, southwest salad recipe, grilled chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, easy dinner salad, meal prep salad