Southwest Chicken Salad
Southwest Chicken Salad is a main dish salad that’s easy, healthy and loaded with flavor. Perfect for summer–or all year round!
Recently, a favorite restaurant of ours closed. And although I enjoy the replacement, there is a dish from the original I can’t stop missing–a Southwest Chicken Salad. A perfect combo of healthy and tasty, it was always a favorite for healthy eating.
Guess it’s time to try making it myself!
Happily, I learned that homemade is just as tasty and not hard at all. You just whip together a spiced-to-taste yogurt dressing (so you can indulge without guilt). Then pile up pre-washed lettuce and add easy-to-source toppings. There’s even a little crunch from some corn chips.
Now with the lettuce contamination scares now, I’m not buying mine in the store. Instead I wash and spin local lettuce from the farmer’s market or my CSA. It’s still super easy and ready to eat!
Even better, with summer’s heat upon us, a flavorful entree salad means no heating up the kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This!
Flavorful. With vibrant Southwest flavors like salsa and avocado, I’d welcome this tasty main dish salad even when I want to indulge!
Healthy. This Southwest Chicken Salad is loaded with wholesome ingredients! Even the dressing is healthy since it’s based on reduced fat yogurt. It’s even gluten free!
Easy. Many of the ingredients in this easy salad can be sourced already prepared. From canned beans to rotisserie chicken to prepared guacamole! You’re not busy, are you?
Step by Step Overview
In a small bowl, assemble and whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Put half of the lettuce in a large salad bowl, then top with half of the other ingredients. Repeat with a second bowl.
Drizzle with salad dressing, or serve on the side and let guests add their own.
Variations
There are so many tasty toppings you could add to this and frankly I just ran out of room. You might also consider black olives, pickled jalapeno slices, chopped red pepper or thin-sliced red onion. And I’ll bet you can think of more if you try!
If you’d rather have guacamole than plain avocado, that would be delicious. And I even have a time-saving tip for in the “Tips” section below!
Tips & FAQs
If you want to turn avocado into guacamole but are pinched for time, I have a simple hack for you. Just mash up your avocado and add couple spoonfuls of prepared salsa. As the Mexican American friend who gave me the tip pointed out, salsa has the same ingredients that you’d add to the guacamole.
I use salsa in addition to cherry tomatoes. Party because the restaurant used it but mostly because it’s so good!
I like to keep each topping separate on top of the lettuce. But other people just sprinkle everything randomly on top. You do you!
Awesome Avocado Recipes
- Avocado Pancakes from That Recipe
- Avocado Smoothie from Magical Ingredients
- Carne Asada Burger with Chipotle Guacamole from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Creamy Avocado Pasta from Jen Around the World
- Fennel Orange Avocado Salad from Creative Cynchronicity
- Southwest Chicken Salad from Art of Natural Living
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Southwest Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Dressing:
- ½ cup plain reduced fat yogurt
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne optional, if you want more spice
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
Salad:
- 4 cups lettuce
- ¼ cup prepared salsa
- 8-10 cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and sliced (grilled, rotisserie or even random chicken leftovers)
- ½ cup black beans
- ½ cup sweet corn
- ¼ cup grated cheddar or other cheese
- ½ avocado sliced or cubed
- ½ ounce corn chips or to taste
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro optional
- ½ lime sliced in wedges (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, assemble and whisk together the dressing ingredients. Set aside.
- Put half of the lettuce in a large salad bowl, then top with half of the other ingredients. Repeat with a second bowl.
- Drizzle with salad dressing, or serve on the side and let guests add their own. Add a couple lime wedges for drizzling if desired.