Description
Zesty Southwest Chicken Salad is a vibrant, protein-packed salad combining juicy grilled chicken, fresh veggies, and a cilantro lime dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 cup chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Tortilla strips for topping
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl or resealable bag, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add the chicken breasts and coat them in the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Heat a grill or large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the Greek yogurt or sour cream, lime juice, fresh cilantro, garlic, and olive oil. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, layer the chopped romaine lettuce as the base. Top with black beans, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and thinly sliced red onion. Arrange the sliced grilled chicken on top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Drizzle the cilantro lime dressing over the salad and finish with crispy tortilla strips.
Notes
This salad pairs well with tortilla chips and salsa or Mexican-style rice. You can customize it with different proteins or fruits.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg