Quick & High-Protein Southwest Chicken Salad with Creamy Chipotle-Lime Dressing
Make this vibrant Southwest Chicken Salad for a quick, high-protein lunch or light dinner. It features tender chicken, black beans, corn, and a smoky chipotle-lime dressing. This recipe is tested and perfected for reliable results.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder (adjust to heat preference)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and chipotle powder. Stir in the chopped cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Combine the main ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken, rinsed black beans, thawed corn, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
- Assemble the salad: Divide the romaine lettuce among four bowls. Top the lettuce evenly with the chicken and bean mixture.
- Add avocado: Place diced avocado on top of each salad.
- Serve: Drizzle the creamy chipotle-lime dressing over the salads just before serving.
Notes
- This salad holds up well for meal prep; store the dressing separately and add just before eating to keep the lettuce crisp.
- For an extra layer of flavor, roast the corn lightly before adding it to the salad.
- You can substitute the Greek yogurt in the dressing with sour cream or mayonnaise if preferred, though Greek yogurt adds more protein.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 42
- Cholesterol: 110