Southwest Chicken Salad

4.86 from 7 votes

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!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

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

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