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Get ready for a party on your plate with this vibrant and nutritious Southwest Chicken Salad!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe
- Great Texture and Flavor: Our Southwest Chicken Salad provides enjoyment in each bite of texture and flavor, combining the crunch of fresh romaine, the tenderness of shredded chicken, and the creaminess of diced avocado. The addition of black beans, corn, and celery adds a satisfying crunch, while the green onions and cilantro provide a fresh herby note.
- Delicious Dressing: But what really sets this salad apart is its bold and tangy dressing, made with homemade mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. The dressing brings all the flavors together and adds a richness that complements the freshness of the vegetables.
- Healthy Ingredients: And let’s not forget about the nutrition – this salad is a powerhouse of protein, fiber, and vitamins, thanks to the chicken, beans, and vegetables. The avocado adds healthy fats, while the lime juice provides a burst of vitamin C.
The prefect chicken recipe for this salad is our Garlic Herb Poached Chicken Breasts recipe. This chicken also works well with Buffalo Chicken Salad and our Chicken Salad Grain Bowls.
Homemade Mayonnaise:
Benefits of Making Homemade Seasoning
➡️ What’s really in those packets?!👀
I love to mix up my own seasonings with organic spices because those little packets of taco seasoning are usually made with canola and soybean oils linked to inflammation, sugar, anti-caking agents, and natural flavors. Not to mention making my own taco seasonings actually tastes better too! YIKES. Many of us grew up with the packets and had no idea!
You’ll never purchase those store-bought packets again, after making it yourself!!
So simple, delicious, and lasts for several months – so double or triple the recipe below for the taco seasoning and keep it handy in a small glass container near your stove.
How to cook your own beans in an instant pot:
Ingredients:
These are the clean ingredients that come together to make our Southwest Taco Salad delicious and nutritious.
4 servings
For the Taco Seasoning:
- 2 Tbsps chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsps paprika
- 4 tsps ground cumin
- 2 tsps sea salt
- 2 tsps ground black pepper
For the Salad:
- 1 large head of romaine, chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if using canned
- 1 cup organic frozen corn, thawed
- 4 celery ribs, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tsps homemade taco seasoning (recipe above)
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- juice of 1 fresh lime
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup homemade mayonnaise
- 1 fresh garlic clove, minced
- 2 tsps apple cider vinegar
- sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
How to make Southwest Chicken Salad:
In a small bowl, whisk all of your dressing ingredients until well combined. Set aside.
In another small jar, make the taco seasoning mix.
In a large salad serving bowl, add the romaine, chicken, pepper, beans, corn, celery, onions, and cilantro.
Drizzle with your dressing and sprinkle with taco seasoning mix, then gently toss to combine.
Add your diced avocado and squeeze the fresh lime juice over the avocado.
Serve and Enjoy!
💚Rachel
Rachel’s Tips for Best Results
- 🍋 ALWAYS use freshly-squeezed lime juice from an actual fresh lime. Bottled lime juice from the store will give your salad a strange metallic or overly acidic taste. We want this salad fresh & bright!
- Want to get the most juice possible from each of your fresh limes? Of course, we do! Here’s a quick trick:
- On your counter or a cutting board, press and roll the lime back and forth very firmly with your hands.
- The rolling loosens and breaks down some of the citrus membranes and makes the outside a little more pliable. This makes it easier to squeeze which also means you’ll likely get more juice from your squeeze.
Serving Suggestions
This southwestern chicken salad is great on its own or as a side dish. Here are some main dishes we thing pair well with this dish.
Meal Prep
This recipe makes 4 servings, so it’s perfect for meal prep cold lunch for the week or enjoy as a quick and easy dinner. If you’re using this recipe for meal prep, consider adding the avocado immediately before serving.
Leftover Storage
This healthy southwest chicken salad stays good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days if sealed tightly and there’s plenty of lime juice on your avocado to keep it green.
More Southwest Inspired Recipes You’ll Love
- [VIDEO] Southwest-Style Chicken and Corn Chowder
- Southwest Chicken + Rice Bowls for Epic Clean Eating Meal Prep!
- Eat Clean: Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms!
- Clean Eating Southwest Style Pumpkin Power Bowls!
Easy Southwest Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large head of romaine, chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if using canned
- 1 cup organic frozen corn, thawed
- 4 celery ribs, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tsps homemade taco seasoning, recipe above
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- juice of 1 fresh lime
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup homemade mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 fresh garlic clove, minced
- 2 tsps apple cider vinegar
- sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk all of your dressing ingredients until well combined. Set aside.
- In a large salad serving bowl, add the romaine, chicken, pepper, beans, corn, celery, onions, and cilantro.
- Drizzle with your dressing and gently toss to combine well. Sprinkle with taco seasoning to your taste and stir gently to combine.
- Add your diced avocado and squeeze the fresh lime juice over the avocado.
- Divide among your plates and enjoy!
- Stays good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days if sealed tightly and there’s plenty of lime juice on your avocado to keep it green. If you’re using this recipe for meal prep, consider adding the avocado immediately before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
