Southwest Caesar Salad

Give your classic Caesar salad a bold, flavorful twist with this Southwest Caesar Salad recipe! Packed with smoky grilled chicken seasoned with cumin and chili powder, this vibrant salad features crisp Romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy diced avocado, sweet corn, and hearty black beans. Finished with a creamy chipotle-lime dressing made from Greek yogurt and a hint of honey, and topped with crunchy tortilla strips and cotija cheese, this salad is a symphony of texture and taste. It's quick to prepare, making it perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner or a show-stopping centerpiece for your next gathering. Healthy, zesty, and utterly delicious, this Southwest-inspired Caesar salad will keep you coming back for more!

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 cup Black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup Corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 large Avocado, diced
• 0.5 cup Grated cotija cheese (or Parmesan as a substitute)
• 1 cup Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
• 2 pieces Boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Chili powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 piece Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons Lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• 1 clove Garlic, minced

Directions

Step 1

Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 2

In a small bowl, mix olive oil, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, 0.5 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Rub this mixture onto both sides of the chicken breasts.

Step 3

Cook the chicken breasts on the preheated grill pan for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (73.9°C). Set aside to rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, lime juice, honey, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Adjust the seasoning to taste and set the dressing aside.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped Romaine lettuce, black beans, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, and diced avocado.

Step 6

Add the sliced grilled chicken on top of the salad mixture.

Step 7

Drizzle the chipotle-lime dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.

Step 8

Sprinkle grated cotija cheese and tortilla strips (or crushed tortilla chips) over the salad as garnish.

Step 9

Serve immediately and enjoy your zesty Southwest Caesar Salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1546.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3048.2

Total Fat 193.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 34.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 465.4mg	0%
Sodium 4207.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 183.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 39.9g	0%
Total Sugars 26.0g
Protein 158.5g	0%

Vitamin D 29.4IU	0%
Calcium 702.2mg	0%
Iron 13.8mg	0%
Potassium 3708.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 55.9%

Protein: 20.4%

Carbs: 23.7%