Southwestern Chicken Salad

Bursting with bold flavors and vibrant colors, this Southwestern Chicken Salad is the perfect blend of juicy, spiced chicken, fresh vegetables, and zesty dressing. Featuring tender grilled chicken breasts seasoned with smoky taco spices, crisp romaine lettuce, sweet cherry tomatoes, grilled corn, creamy avocado, and hearty black beans, this salad is both hearty and nutritious. A homemade lime-cumin dressing ties it all together with a tangy, subtly sweet finish, while a sprinkle of cilantro adds a bright, herbaceous touch. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is ideal for a quick weekday lunch or a crowd-pleasing dinner. Packed with protein and loaded with Tex-Mex flair, it’s a fresh and flavorful meal that satisfies every craving!

Nutriscore Rating: 82/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:12 mins

Total Time:27 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup corn kernels (cooked or grilled)
• 1 cup black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 0.5 piece red onion
• 1 piece avocado
• 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 0.25 cup cilantro (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 2

Rub the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over both sides.

Step 3

Grill the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove the chicken from the grill, let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into thin strips.

Step 4

While the chicken cooks, wash and chop the romaine lettuce, halve the cherry tomatoes, and dice the red onion and avocado.

Step 5

In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, corn, black beans, red onion, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Step 6

To make the dressing, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, lime juice, honey, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well combined.

Step 7

Add the sliced chicken on top of the salad, drizzle the dressing evenly over everything, and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Step 8

Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious Southwestern Chicken Salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1987.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1913.5

Total Fat 86.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 23.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.9g
Cholesterol 356.3mg	0%
Sodium 2867.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 143.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 42.8g	0%
Total Sugars 29.8g
Protein 158.0g	0%

Vitamin D 3.5IU	0%
Calcium 816.4mg	0%
Iron 17.1mg	0%
Potassium 4477.7mg	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: 39.4%

Protein: 31.8%

Carbs: 28.8%