Description
This Quick Southwest Chicken Salad is a vibrant and flavorful main course that combines shredded chicken, black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for a healthy lunch or dinner, this no-cook salad is easy to prepare in just 15 minutes and features classic Southwest and Tex-Mex flavors with a creamy lime-spiced dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen and thawed)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream or Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the shredded or diced chicken breast, rinsed black beans, corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, and chopped romaine lettuce.
- Toss the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together until all the components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately for the freshest taste and best texture. Optionally, enjoy as is, in wraps, or as a topping for tortilla chips.
Notes
- For a lighter version, omit the mayonnaise and use all Greek yogurt for the dressing.
- To prepare ahead, make the dressing and chop vegetables in advance, then toss together just before serving.
- This salad works well not only on its own but also as a filling for wraps or a topping for tortilla chips.
