Description
This Southwestern Chicken Salad is a creamy, protein-packed twist on your classic chicken salad, bursting with bold Tex-Mex flavor. Juicy chicken meets smoky spices, black beans, corn, and crisp veggies all tied together with a tangy Greek yogurt dressing. It’s vibrant, refreshing, and perfect for lunches, meal prep, or sunny potlucks. #SouthwesternChickenSalad #HealthyLunch #MealPrepMagic #ProteinPacked
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
Dressing
- 1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt or skyr
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- ¾ tsp ground cumin
- ¾ tsp chili powder
- ¾ tsp smoked paprika
- Cayenne pepper, optional, to taste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Mix-Ins
- ¾ cup black beans
- ½ cup finely diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup corn (fire-roasted preferred)
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill, bake, or pan-sear until cooked through. Let cool, then dice or shred into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the cooked chicken, black beans, red bell pepper, corn, red onion, and cilantro to the bowl with the dressing.
- Stir until everything is well coated and evenly distributed.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving, or enjoy immediately for a fresh and flavorful meal.
Notes
- Fire-roasted corn adds a smoky depth—look for it frozen or canned.
- For extra zest, add a bit of lime zest to the dressing.
- This salad is great in lettuce cups, wraps, or served over greens.
- Make it spicier with diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 80mg