Description
This Zesty Southwest Chicken Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish combining shredded chicken, black beans, corn, fresh veggies, and a tangy lime-cumin dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, it can be served as a salad, in wraps, or as a taco filling. With its fresh ingredients and zesty dressing, this salad offers a delicious balance of protein, fiber, and bright Southwestern flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed & drained
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Optional: tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips for crunch
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream or Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded chicken, rinsed black beans, corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the combined salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together until all components are well coated with the zesty dressing.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese over the top. Add crunchy tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips if desired. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- For meal prep, store the dressing separately and add just before serving to keep the salad fresh.
- Add a diced jalapeño for extra spice or substitute chicken with grilled shrimp or tofu for variety.
- Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream for a lighter dressing and added protein.
- This salad is also delicious when wrapped in tortillas or served as a taco filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (if chicken already cooked)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook, mixing
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Southwest chicken salad, zesty chicken salad, black bean salad, Mexican chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, quick chicken salad
