Description
This Spicy Southwest Salad is a bold and flavorful dish packed with seasoned chicken, fresh veggies, and a creamy spicy dressing, perfect for a hearty lunch or light dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lime (juiced and zested)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 chicken breasts
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2–3 tbsp hot sauce of choice (e.g., Chipotle Cholula)
- 1 head green leaf lettuce (chopped)
- 2 tomatoes (diced)
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 2 avocados (sliced)
- 1 cup corn
- ½ red onion (sliced)
- ½ cup tortilla strips
- Cilantro for garnish
- Lime wedges
- Optional: Jalapeños, cheese (feta or cheddar), quinoa or brown rice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix lime juice and zest, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, honey, and avocado oil.
- Coat the chicken breasts in the marinade and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Grill or cook the chicken over medium heat until fully cooked and slightly charred. Let rest and then slice.
- In a separate bowl, mix ranch dressing with hot sauce to make the spicy dressing.
- Assemble the salad by layering lettuce, tomatoes, black beans, bell pepper, corn, red onion, avocado, and tortilla strips.
- Top the salad with the sliced chicken.
- Drizzle with spicy ranch dressing and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges.
Notes
- Adjust the level of heat by using more or less hot sauce.
- This salad is great for meal prep—just store the dressing separately.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker version.
- Add cheese or grains to make it even more filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Southwest
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Spicy Southwest Salad, chicken salad, gluten-free salad, spicy salad, healthy lunch