Southwest Chicken Salad (Printable)
A zesty Southwest chicken salad with grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, and smoky chipotle lime dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ For the Salad
09 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
10 - 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
11 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
13 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
14 - 1 avocado, sliced
15 - ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
16 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
→ For the Chipotle Lime Dressing
17 - ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
18 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
19 - 1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
21 - 1 tablespoon honey
22 - 1 garlic clove, minced
23 - ½ teaspoon salt
24 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
25 - 2 tablespoons water, to thin as needed
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Combine olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub evenly over chicken breasts.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove, rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
05 - Whisk Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, minced chipotle peppers, lime juice, honey, garlic, salt, olive oil, and water in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust consistency with water if necessary.
06 - Arrange sliced chicken over salad. Drizzle with chipotle lime dressing and toss gently to combine or serve dressing on the side.
# Tips from dashanddishes:
01 -
- The smoky dressing has a heat that sneaks up on you and makes everything else taste more alive.
- You can prep almost everything ahead and let the flavors get cozy together while you do other things.
- It looks restaurant-quality on a plate but comes together faster than you'd expect.
02 -
- Cold lettuce and warm chicken create a moment of steam that actually helps flavors bloom together.
- If your dressing breaks or looks grainy, whisk in a splash of water and it usually comes right back together.
03 -
- A grill pan works just as well as an outdoor grill and gives you the same char marks if you get it hot enough.
- Taste the dressing before you dress the salad—you might want it spicier or more lime-forward, and it's easier to adjust when you taste it alone.