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Amazing Southwest Chicken Salad in 35 Min

A vibrant bowl of southwest chicken salad featuring grilled chicken, corn, black beans, avocado, and creamy dressing.
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Make this flavorful Southwest Chicken Salad featuring grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and a zesty cilantro-lime dressing. It is a high-protein, fresh meal perfect for lunch or a quick dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or diced
  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed or fire-roasted
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup tortilla chips, crushed (optional garnish)
  • For the Cilantro-Lime Dressing:
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Grill or bake until cooked through. Let cool slightly, then dice or shred the chicken.
  2. Make the dressing: Combine Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add a tablespoon of water if the dressing is too thick.
  3. Assemble the salad base: In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
  4. Combine: Add the cooked chicken to the vegetable mixture.
  5. Dress and serve: Drizzle about half of the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Add more dressing as needed. Top with diced avocado and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with crushed tortilla chips, if using.

Notes

  • For meal prep, store the dressing separately and add it just before serving to keep the greens crisp.
  • You can substitute the Greek yogurt in the dressing with mayonnaise or sour cream for a richer flavor profile.
  • Use rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/southwest-chicken-salad-recipe/