EASY TO COOK

🥗 Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe 🌶️

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This Southwest Chicken Salad is packed with bold flavors, juicy chicken, crunchy veggies, and a zesty dressing. It’s a perfect meal for lunch or dinner, loaded with protein and healthy ingredients!

📋 Ingredients:

For the Salad:

  • 2 cooked chicken breasts, diced or shredded 🍗
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed 🫘
  • 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen) 🌽
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 🍅
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced 🌶️
  • 1 avocado, diced 🥑
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped 🧅
  • 4 cups romaine lettuce or mixed greens 🥬
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 🌿
  • Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla strips, or crumbled queso fresco for garnish 🧀

For the Southwest Dressing:

  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream 🥛
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 🥄
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice 🍋
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder 🌶️
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin 🌿
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 🌿
  • Salt and pepper to taste 🧂
  • Optional: A pinch of cayenne for heat 🌶️

📝 Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

  1. Cook the chicken:
  • If you haven’t already cooked the chicken, season the breasts with salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin. Grill, bake, or pan-fry until fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F). Let it cool, then dice or shred the chicken.

2. Assemble the Salad:

  1. Prepare the salad base:
  • In a large salad bowl, add the romaine lettuce or mixed greens.
  1. Add the toppings:
  • Top the greens with the diced chicken, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, avocado, red onion, and fresh cilantro.

3. Make the Dressing:

  1. Mix the dressing:
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt or sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using) until smooth and creamy.

4. Serve:

  1. Dress the salad:
  • Drizzle the Southwest dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
  1. Add garnishes:
  • Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla strips, or crumbled queso fresco if desired.

5. Enjoy:

  1. Serve immediately:
  • Serve this Southwest Chicken Salad immediately for a fresh, flavorful meal!

⏱️ Preparation Time: 15 minutes
⏱️ Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes (for chicken)
⏱️ Total Time: 25-30 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 4 servings
🔥 Calories: Approximately 350-400 kcal per serving (without garnishes)

This Southwest Chicken Salad is the perfect combination of fresh, crunchy vegetables, tender chicken, and a creamy, zesty dressing. It’s healthy, hearty, and packed with flavor! 🥗🍗🌽