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High-Protein Southwest Chicken Salad with Creamy Chipotle-Lime Dressing

A generous mound of creamy southwest chicken salad mixed with black beans and corn, served over crisp lettuce.
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This Southwest Chicken Salad delivers bold Tex-Mex flavor with juicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and a creamy, smoky chipotle-lime dressing. It is a high-protein lunch perfect for meal prep.

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 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • For the Dressing:
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chipotle powder, cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the chicken: If using pre-cooked chicken, shred it. If cooking fresh, season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin, then grill or pan-fry until cooked through. Shred or dice the chicken.
  3. Combine salad components: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, black beans, thawed corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.
  4. Dress the salad: Pour the chipotle-lime dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
  5. Add avocado: Gently fold in the diced avocado just before serving to prevent it from becoming mushy.
  6. Serve: Serve the mixture over a bed of chopped romaine lettuce for an easy high-protein lunch or pack into containers for meal prep salads.

Notes

  • For make-ahead meal prep, store the dressing separately and combine just before eating to keep the lettuce crisp.
  • If you prefer a tangier dressing, increase the fresh lime juice by one teaspoon.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten free chicken salad friendly.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/southwest-chicken-salad-recipe-quick-easy/