Description
This Spicy Southwest Chicken Salad is a vibrant, fresh, and family-approved meal bursting with bold Tex-Mex flavors. Featuring shredded chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, and colorful veggies, it’s tossed in a creamy, zesty, and slightly spicy southwest dressing made with Greek yogurt and spices. Perfect for quick lunches, healthy dinners, or meal prep, this salad combines wholesome ingredients with a lively kick for a satisfying and nutritious dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed from frozen)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 cups romaine or mixed greens, chopped
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
Spicy Southwest Dressing
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1–2 teaspoons hot sauce or sriracha
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the shredded chicken, black beans, corn, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped greens, shredded cheese, and chopped fresh cilantro. Toss gently to mix all the fresh components evenly.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. For added heat, stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of hot sauce or sriracha. Mix until the dressing is smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning or spice level as needed.
- Toss salad with dressing: Drizzle the spicy southwest dressing over the assembled salad. Toss gently yet thoroughly to ensure every bite is coated with the creamy and spicy dressing.
- Serve or store: Serve the salad immediately with additional lime wedges on the side for extra zest, or refrigerate the dressing separately and assemble the salad just before serving to maintain freshness and texture.
Notes
- This salad is excellent for meal prep—store all ingredients separately and toss just before eating to keep greens crisp and ingredients fresh.
- You can use grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken, or leftover taco meat depending on what you have on hand.
- For added crunch, sprinkle crushed tortilla chips over the salad before serving or roll the salad ingredients into a tortilla wrap for a handheld meal.
