Light and zesty, this Southwest chicken salad recipe comes together in just over 30 minutes, and it is bursting with flavor and nutrition. A great light dinner, using a homemade yogurt dressing, this meal is perfect for packing in your lunchbox for a satisfying lunchtime meal. Double the recipe for a great meal prep option.
Tasty Southwest Chicken Salad
Want dinner on the table in about 30 minutes?
Then this is the recipe for you.
It is:
- great for meal prepping
- great for packing for lunch - won't get soggy!
- made with simple nutritious ingredients that are easy to find in a regular supermarket
- packed full of protein, with around 35g per serve
- kept on the lighter side, by using yogurt instead of sour cream for the dressing.
Sound good?
Let's get cooking!
Assembly Instructions
Not only is this southwest chicken salad recipe full of simple ingredients, but it is also super simple to throw together.
Start by marinating the chicken.
For this simply add the oil, lime juices, herbs, and spices to a Ziploc bag, pop in your chicken, close the bag, and give everything a good smoosh to make sure the chicken is covered in the marinade.
Leave for about 15 minutes to let the chicken soak in all those lovely flavors.
While that's working its magic you can go ahead and make your salad dressing by combining the Greek yogurt, olive oil, and lime zest and giving everything a good stir until it is completely combined.
No need for a food processor, this mixes well enough with just a fork or spoon.
Now all you have to do is cook your chicken and layer all of the salad ingredients on your plates.
Start with the salad leaves, and then top with sweet corn kernels, beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
Slice the chicken, serve on top of the salad, add a drizzle of the dressing and you are good to go.
Double the recipe and enjoy for lunch the next day.
Storing Leftovers and Meal Prepping
This is the perfect chicken salad recipe for making ahead of time.
The whole thing can be made and stored in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
I would reccomend keeping the salad dressing in a separate container, and simply adding it when it comes time to serve.
This is also a great one for prepping in mason jars.
Simply add the dressing to the bottom of the mason jar, followed by the sliced chicken and the salad ingredients.
This prevents the dressing from making the salad leaves go soggy and wilting.
The chicken can also be marinated ahead of time to get your prep going.
Double the recipe and make some mason jar salads for the week ahead.
Leftover salad should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions and Variations
Make sure you are using fresh ingredients when you make this tasty salad.
You want crisp greens, juicy tomatoes, and creamy avocado to really make it pop.
To serve, pop the salad leaves onto 2 serving plates, and add all of the other prepared ingredients on top.
Slice the chicken breast and pop on top of the salad with a generous helping of the yogurt dressing on top.
I like to serve with a sprinkle of crushed tortilla strips on top for a bit of crunch, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Try adding some extras like these to vary things up and use what you have:
- chopped bell peppers
- chopped green onion
- change up the beans: I used kidney beans for this version, but black beans or pinto beans are other good options
- sour cream can be used instead of the yogurt to make the dressing
- add some hot sauce to the yogurt dressing for a bit of a kick
- use a rotisserie chicken to make this meal even easier
- a sprinkle of cheese on top: cotija cheese or a nice grated cheddar cheese are both great options.
There are so many different ways you can enjoy this flavorful salad, so make it as epic, or as plain as your little heart desires!
TIP: to change things up load up some regular tortillas with the salad, chicken, and dressing to make some wraps for lunch the next day.
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Try one of these recipes next:
Tried this healthy salad and loved it?
Be sure to leave a star rating on the recipe card below.
Happy Eating.
xx
Recipe
Zesty Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Salad
- 2 cups salad mix
- 1 cup corn
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 ripe avocados cut into chunks
- ½ red onion diced
Yogurt Dressing
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- pinch of salt
- cilantro leaves, lime wedges, tortilla strips to serve
Instructions
- Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, salt, and spices, pour into a Ziploc bag and add the chicken. Close the bag and smoosh the chicken and marinade until the chicken is covered. Set aside for 10-15 minutes.2 chicken breasts, 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Fry the chicken in a medium-sized pan with low-med heat for about 10-12 minutes on each side, covering the pan with a lid to ensure even cooking. It is cooked when the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (75C), and the juices run clear.
- While the chicken is cooking, divide the salad mix between 4 bowls, as well as the corn, black beans, chopped red onion, cherry tomato halves, and diced avocado.1 cup corn, 1 cup black beans, 2 cups salad mix, 2 ripe avocados, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ½ red onion
- Slice the cooked chicken into even-sized slices and place half of each breast on top of the salad.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together until well combined.½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons lime zest, pinch of salt
- Drizzle the salad with the yogurt dressing and serve. Top with cilantro leaves, lime wedges and tortilla strips if desired.cilantro leaves, lime wedges, tortilla strips
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Carol says
This was so tasty! I especially liked the dressing, the lime zest made it.
Debbie says
This salad is yummy and exactly what I was craving. I love the yogurt dressing - this is my new go-to!
Rachna says
I made the chicken in my air fryer and made a hearty salad following your recipe. Your homemade yogurt dressing was so good. My high protein fix!
Jenny says
I loved the flavor of the marinade! This was so easy to make and was the perfect lunch!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
This is delicious! And love that I can make a big batch and split it into portion sizes to take for lunch.
Emilie says
Such a colorful chicken salad recipe! Love the light yogurt dressing and marinated chicken breast. Yum!
Courtney says
So good, and I love that it's high in protein but super easy to make!
Lynn says
This salad was so delicious! I made it for lunch this week and I'll be making it again and again! I think I am going to double the recipe and make it for my family dinner next week!