Description
A vibrant and protein-packed Southwest Chicken Salad featuring tender cooked chicken, black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and a tangy Greek yogurt and BBQ sauce dressing. This salad is perfect for a healthy lunch or meal prep, offering a flavorful blend of southwestern spices and a refreshing lime kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast, cubed
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn
- ½ cup tomatoes, diced
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- Avocado, diced (optional)
- Crushed tortillas (for topping)
Dressing & Seasoning
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp low sugar BBQ sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ lime, juiced (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced cooked chicken, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, red onion, chopped cilantro, and shredded cheddar cheese. This forms the base of your salad with a delightful mix of textures and flavors.
- Add Dressing and Seasonings: Top the salad ingredients with plain Greek yogurt and low sugar BBQ sauce. Sprinkle in salt, black pepper, ground cumin, paprika, and chili powder evenly over the top to infuse the salad with a southwestern flair.
- Mix and Finish: Drizzle fresh lime juice over the mixture if using. Stir everything together well to ensure the dressing and spices coat all the ingredients uniformly, blending all the flavors beautifully.
- Serve: For added texture and creaminess, top your salad with diced avocado and crushed tortillas before serving. This salad is perfect on its own or served alongside tortilla chips.
Notes
- Southwest Chicken Salad is an excellent meal prep option that’s high in protein and fiber.
- Topping the salad with avocado adds a creamy texture and healthy fats.
- Crushed tortillas provide a satisfying crunch to complement the fresh ingredients.
- Adjust the spices according to your preferred heat level.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 299 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 381 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 74 mg
