Description
This Spicy Southwest Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish perfect for a quick, satisfying meal. Featuring marinated grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, creamy avocado, and a zesty spicy ranch dressing, it’s a delicious blend of textures and tastes that will quickly become your go-to salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 lime, juiced and zested
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 chicken breasts
Spicy Ranch Dressing
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2–3 tbsp hot sauce of choice (Chipotle Cholula recommended)
Salad
- 1 head green leaf lettuce, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 2 avocados, sliced
- 1 cup corn
- ½ red onion, sliced
- ½ cup tortilla strips
- Cilantro for garnish
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl or gallon-sized zip lock bag, combine lime juice and zest, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, honey, and avocado oil. Add chicken breasts and toss until well coated. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours to allow flavors to penetrate.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat a grill pan over medium heat and lightly spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill pan and cook for 5-6 minutes without moving them to get grill marks. Flip once and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes until cooked through. Remove and set aside to cool slightly, then slice thinly.
- Prepare the Spicy Ranch Dressing: In a small bowl, mix the ranch dressing with your choice of hot sauce (2-3 tablespoons) until fully combined. Set aside.
- Assemble the Salad: On a plate or in a bowl, layer chopped green leaf lettuce, sliced chicken, diced tomatoes, black beans, sliced red bell pepper, sliced avocado, corn, and sliced red onion. Top with tortilla strips and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges and drizzle with the prepared spicy ranch dressing before eating.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce in the dressing to your preferred spice level.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best taste in both the marinade and as a finishing drizzle.
- This salad can be served as a main course or a hearty side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: spicy southwest salad, grilled chicken salad, healthy salad, spicy ranch dressing, avocado salad, black bean salad, easy summer salad
