Description
📋 Description
This vibrant, flavor-packed Quick Southwest Chicken Salad is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or light lunches. Loaded with grilled chicken, crunchy veggies, creamy avocado, and a zesty yogurt-lime dressing, it comes together in just 20 minutes. It’s customizable, healthy, and incredibly satisfying—Southwest flair made simple!
Ingredients
🍽️ Ingredients
Salad Base
2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced (or use rotisserie chicken)
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce (or mixed greens)
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn kernels (grilled or canned)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 ripe avocado, diced
½ red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or Monterey Jack)
¼ cup tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
Creamy Southwest Dressing
⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
🥣 Instructions
Grill or Prep Chicken:
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and cumin. Grill or pan-sear for 5–6 minutes per side until cooked through. Let rest and slice thinly.Prepare the Salad Base:
In a large salad bowl, layer lettuce, beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, avocado, cilantro, and cheese.Make the Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.Assemble the Salad:
Add the sliced chicken on top of the salad base. Drizzle dressing over everything and gently toss to combine.Finish & Serve:
Top with crunchy tortilla strips just before serving. Enjoy immediately or store components separately for meal prep.
Notes
🧾 Notes
Short on Time? Use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked grilled strips.
Make it Vegan: Swap chicken with grilled tofu or chickpeas and use dairy-free yogurt.
Spicy Kick: Add a diced jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
Meal Prep Tip: Store ingredients separately and combine just before serving for maximum freshness.
Kid-Friendly Version: Leave out onions and swap cilantro for parsley.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Main Course
- Method: Grilling, Tossing
- Cuisine: Southwest, American
Nutrition
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: ~390mg
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: ~75mg