Description
A vibrant and flavorful Southwest Chicken Salad bursting with zesty lime, creamy avocado, and smoky spices, perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner. This salad combines tender chicken, black beans, sweet corn, and fresh veggies tossed in a spicy mayo or Greek yogurt dressing for a nutritious and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 cans chicken (drained and flaked) or 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 cup corn (canned or thawed from frozen)
- 1/2 cup canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1/3 cup red bell pepper (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup red onion or green onions (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 small avocado (diced, add just before serving)
Dressing and Seasonings
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 cup mayo or Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp hot sauce or chipotle sauce
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chicken, corn, black beans, red bell pepper, red or green onions, fresh cilantro, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, lime juice, mayo or Greek yogurt, and hot sauce. Stir well until all ingredients are evenly mixed and coated by the dressing.
- Chill (Optional): If time permits, refrigerate the salad for about 15 minutes. This step is optional but helps the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Add Avocado and Serve: Just before serving, gently fold in the diced avocado to maintain its texture and freshness. Serve the salad with tortilla chips, on crostini, in lettuce cups, or as a filling for wraps.
Notes
- The avocado should be added right before serving to avoid browning.
- Use either mayo or Greek yogurt depending on your preference for creaminess and tang.
- Adjust hot sauce to your heat tolerance.
- Can be served as a dip, salad, or sandwich filling.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 200g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: southwest chicken salad, chicken salad, easy chicken salad, southwestern salad, healthy chicken salad, avocado chicken salad, black bean salad
