Southwest Chicken Salad

This recipe for Southwest Chicken Salad is so much fresher, healthier, and tastier than any restaurant version. Made with crisp romaine, corn, avocado, tomatoes, peppers, cheese, tortillas, grilled chicken and topped with a creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing, this Southwest Salad is packed with incredible flavor!

If you love healthy Chicken Salads, you need to check out Buffalo Chicken Salad, BBQ Chicken Salad, and Waldorf Chicken Salad.

Southwest Chicken Salad

This Southwest Chicken salad is my version of a restaurant Southwest Salad--just made lighter and tastier!

It is filled with fresh produce, diced avocados, crisp romaine hearts, sweet bell peppers, corn, black beans, fresh tomatoes, and southwest flavored chicken. This healthy salad is finished with a light and fresh creamy Cilantro Lime dressing that marries all these flavors together perfectly.

Of course my family would argue that tortilla chips are a MUST on this salad--and I tend to agree that the crunch of tortilla chips adds texture for a very satisfying salad.

Ingredients for Southwest Salad

The great thing about this salad is that it is completely flexible and can be custom made based on what your family likes. Use this recipe as a guide and change up the ingredients based on your family's preference.

• Chicken--use boneless, skinless chicken breasts seasoned with taco seasoning for an easy, lean protein.
• Greens--I like the crisp, freshness of romaine hearts for this salad, but you can use iceberg or mixed greens for the base of this salad.
• Toppings--Let your taste buds guide you, but black beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, avocados, and cheese all make great toppings on this Tex Mex Salad. Omit ingredients you don't care for, or add in things like onions, feta, etc based on what you like.
• Dressing--The homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing is incredible! It is creamy, a bit spicy, and perfectly tangy. But if you don't care for it, make homemade ranch dressing and add 1-2 teaspoons of homemade taco seasoning or a tablespoon or two of salsa for a Homemade Southwest Ranch Dressing.
• Tortilla Chips/Strips--Tortilla chips are optional, but add great texture to this easy Chicken Salad.

How to Make Southwest Salad

Step One: Prepare Chicken

• Season chicken breasts with taco seasoning.
• Cook chicken until it reaches 165 degrees.
  • Grill for 6-7 minutes per side over medium-high heat.
  • Bake chicken at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
  • Broil chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, watching closely not to burn.
• Let chicken rest for 10 minutes and then slice chicken into ½ inch slices.

Step Two: Prepare Cilantro Lime Dressing

• Zest washed and dried limes with a microplane.
• Juice the limes using a juicer or beater attachment from a kitchen mixer--see how I do this here!
• Using a blender or food processor, or fork, blend together the lime juice, oil, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, honey, and avocado until smooth. If using a fork, you will need to very finely mince jalapeno and cilantro before mixing into dressing.

Tip: Omit the jalapeno for less heat!

Step Three: Assemble Southwest Salad

• Lay out shredded lettuce onto a platter.
• Top the lettuce with corn, beans, peppers, tomatoes, avocado, and sliced chicken.
• Toss together with the salad dressing and serve with tortilla strips if desired.

Notes on Southwest Salad

• Make this Southwest Salad meatless, by adding more beans and omitting the chicken.
• Use any beans you like--black beans, pinto beans, or red beans all pair well in this southwest style salad.
• You can use leftover Rotisserie Chicken or 3 Ingredient Taco Meat for an even easier version of this Southwest salad as well.
• For a vegan friendly southwest salad, omit the chicken and cheese and in place of Greek yogurt in the dressing, use half an avocado, which will give the Cilantro Lime Dressing creaminess.

More Healthy Salad Recipes

• Taco Salad
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
• Tabbouleh Salad
• Spinach Avocado Salad
• Mandarin Orange Salad
• Mexican Quinoa Salad

Southwest Chicken Salad

Made with crisp romaine, corn, avocado, tomatoes, peppers, cheese, tortillas, grilled chicken and topped with a creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing, this Southwest Salad is packed with incredible flavor!

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 325kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

For the Southwest Chicken

• ▢ 2 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• ▢ 2 teaspoons olive oil

For the Southwest Salad

• ▢ 2 hearts romaine lettuce chopped
• ▢ 1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
• ▢ 1 cup frozen corn defrosted
• ▢ 1 large tomato diced, or ½ pint of cherry tomatoes
• ▢ 1 avocado diced
• ▢ 1 cup mini peppers sliced
• ▢ ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese grated
• ▢ tortilla strips or chips optional

Cilantro Lime Dressing

• ▢ 1 teaspoon lime zest
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh lime juice 3-4 limes
• ▢ ⅓ cup olive oil or avocado oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon honey
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1 clove garlic
• ▢ ½ cup chopped cilantro
• ▢ ½ jalapeno seeds and ribs removed
• ▢ 1 tablespoon water if needed

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Instructions

For the Chicken

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F or a grill/grill pan to medium-high heat.
• Trim the chicken of any fat. Brush the chicken with olive oil and season the chicken breasts evenly with taco seasoning on all sides.
• Grill the chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Alternatively bake the chicken for 15-18 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
• Remove chicken from grill and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes, before slicing into ½ inch cubes.

For the Southwest Salad

• In a large salad bowl or platter, lay out the chopped romaine. Top with the beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cheese, and avocado. Top with chicken, tortilla chips if using, and the cilantro lime dressing.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

• Zest 1 lime and juice 3-4 limes to give you 1 teaspoon lime zest, along with ¼ cup fresh lime juice.
• To a blender add lime juice, olive oil, lime zest, salt, honey, garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno. Blend on high speed until everything is broken down and the dressing is smooth. Add water if, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed to smooth. Taste and add salt if needed.

Notes

Vegetarian Option: Make this Southwest Salad meatless, by adding more beans and omitting the chicken. 

Chicken: If your chicken breast is large, use only one breast and cut it in half widthwise. Season and cook as the recipe directs. 

Beans: Use any beans you like. Black beans, pinto beans, or red beans all pair well in this southwest-style salad.

Salsa Ranch Dressing Option: If you don't like the cilantro lime dressing, make homemade ranch dressing and add 1-2 teaspoons of homemade taco seasoning for a Homemade Southwest Ranch Dressing.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 710mg | Potassium: 934mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 7160IU | Vitamin C: 21.3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2.5mg

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