This delicious Southwest Chicken Salad comes together in about 30 minutes and is a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal that your family will love! We’re making it all in one bowl, which means minimal cleanup a lifesaver for busy nights. You can switch up the ingredients to suit your taste or use it as a ‘clean out the fridge’ meal to get rid of leftovers and odds and ends. This salad is so vibrant and loaded with flavor that it’ll have everyone asking for seconds!
Ingredient Breakdown
- Grilled Chicken
- Black Beans
- Sweet Corn
- Romaine Lettuce
- Avocado
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Chipotle-Lime Dressing
Let’s Get Cooking!
1. Grilling the Chicken (About 10 Minutes)
Preheat your grill or a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season your chicken breasts with a couple pinches of salt and pepper, then grill the chicken for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until fully cooked (you’re looking for an internal temperature of 165°F). Take a moment to enjoy the amazing smell while it cooks! Once it’s done, take it off the heat and chop it into bite-sized pieces.
2. Assemble the Salad (About 5 Minutes)
In a large bowl, toss together the grilled chicken, black beans, sweet corn, chopped romaine, diced avocado, and halved cherry tomatoes. Imagine all those colors mixing together, so pretty!
3. Dress It Up (About 2 Minutes)
Drizzle the chipotle-lime dressing over your salad and toss gently to combine. You want everything to be coated with that delicious dressing but be careful not to squish the avocado! The smell is out of this world, so fresh and bright.
4. Serve and Enjoy!
Serve immediately for a fresh experience or refrigerate it for meal prep. If you’re meal prepping, I recommend keeping the dressing separate until you’re ready to enjoy it to keep everything crisp!
Why I Love This Recipe
This Southwest Chicken Salad is literally my go-to recipe when I want to whip something up that feels special without a ton of effort! I’m a real sucker for salads that are loaded with flavor, and this one absolutely delivers. The best part is how versatile it is, you can use whatever you’ve got on hand. It decides to be whatever you need it to be, whether you’re trying to impress guests or just feeding the family. Trust me when I say, my kids devour this salad, they even fight over the last scoop!
If you loved this Southwest Chicken Salad, be sure to check out my Easy Low FODMAP Tacos, my Japanese Pork Katsu Curry, or my Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad for more quick and delicious recipes!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This salad comes together in under 30 minutes! It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need a nutritious meal in a flash. You can even grill the chicken ahead of time and just toss everything together when you’re ready to eat. It’s truly a time-saver.
Crowd-Pleaser
Whether you’re feeding kids or adults, the whole family will love it. Each bite is a burst of flavor, so it’s great for anyone who enjoys a little adventure in their food plus, it’s healthy!
Customizable
The secret to a delicious Southwest Chicken Salad is that you can switch up the ingredients endlessly! If someone in your family doesn’t like black beans, swap them for chickpeas, or if you’re short on corn, throw in some diced bell peppers instead. The salad is super forgiving!
Meal Prep Friendly
Want to make your week a little easier? This salad is perfect for meal prep! Just store the ingredients separately, and pack them for the week. The only thing you’ll need to do is drizzle on that dressing just before you dive in.
Loaded with Flavor
Have I mentioned the flavors? The smoky dressing combined with the fresh veggies and grilled chicken is just SO good! It’s a winning combination that you’ll find yourself craving again and again.
Serving Suggestions
What to serve with this salad? Well, you can keep it simple and enjoy it on its own for a light lunch or dinner. But if you’re feeling generous, pair it with some crunchy tortilla chips and homemade salsa, or serve it alongside homemade quesadillas or grilled shrimp tacos for a full fiesta experience!
Storage and Reheating
Your Southwest Chicken Salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days, which makes it amazing for meal prep! Just make sure to keep the dressing separate from the other ingredients until you’re ready to eat it.
Reheating Instructions
You can enjoy this salad cold, straight from the fridge. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to heat it up, you can gently warm the chicken in a skillet! Just a minute or two until it’s warmed through should be plenty!
Freezer Friendly?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this salad, as the texture of the veggies and avocados will change. But, you can always freeze the grilled chicken separately and thaw it when you’re ready!
In a world that’s always go-go-go, this Southwest Chicken Salad is a breath of fresh air. It checks all the boxes! Delicious? Check. Quick? Check. Family-approved? Double check! So grab your ingredients, and let’s make dinner happen tonight!
And, as always, happy cooking! If you have any questions or just want to share how your salad turned out, drop a comment below! I love hearing from you! Follow us on Pinterest for daily meal inspiration!
Southwest Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your grill or a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Grill the chicken for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Once cooked, remove from heat and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the grilled chicken, black beans, sweet corn, chopped romaine, diced avocado, and halved cherry tomatoes.
- Drizzle the chipotle-lime dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately for a fresh experience or refrigerate for meal prep.