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Quick Zesty Southwest Chicken Salad

Quick Zesty Southwest Chicken Salad - featured image
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A fast, flavorful southwest-inspired chicken salad ready in just 10 minutes, featuring fresh veggies, black beans, corn, and a zesty lime-chili dressing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works perfectly)
  • 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup sweet corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: shred or dice approximately 2 cups of cooked chicken breast and set aside. If cooking fresh chicken, pan-sear or grill a breast seasoned lightly with salt and pepper, then let it rest before chopping.
  2. Rinse and drain the beans and corn: use about 1 cup each of canned black beans and corn kernels.
  3. Chop the veggies: dice 1 red bell pepper, halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, slice 2 green onions thinly, and dice 1 ripe avocado just before assembling.
  4. Mix the dressing: whisk together the juice of 1 lime, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Combine salad ingredients: in a large mixing bowl, add shredded chicken, beans, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, avocado, and chopped cilantro. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
  6. Add cheese (optional): sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese on top and toss lightly.
  7. Final taste check: adjust seasoning with extra lime juice, salt, or chili powder if needed.
  8. Serve immediately to enjoy fresh and crisp textures.

Notes

Use rotisserie chicken for fastest prep. Add avocado last and toss gently to avoid mashing. Fresh lime juice is essential for best flavor. Store avocado separately if making ahead to prevent browning. Adjust chili powder to control heat level. Cheese is optional and can be omitted for dairy-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: quick chicken salad, southwest chicken salad, zesty chicken salad, easy chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, black beans salad, avocado chicken salad

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/quick-zesty-southwest-chicken-salad-recipe-ready-in-10-minutes-easy-and-delicious/