Southwest hen salad is what I make once I need dinner to really feel recent with out wandering into unhappy desk-lunch territory. It has sufficient crunch, coloration and precise substance to really feel like a meal, which is greater than I can say for loads of salads that anticipate applause for exhibiting up with lettuce and never a lot else.
What makes this model particularly good is the stability. The hen is seasoned and seared correctly, the corn and black beans make it hearty, the avocado softens the sharper edges, and the cilantro lime dressing ties the entire thing collectively with out drowning it.
Why You’ll Love This Southwest Chicken Salad
Feels like a full meal. Between the seasoned hen, avocado, black beans, corn, and crisp romaine, that is the form of salad that eats like dinner as an alternative of a facet dish pretending to assist.
The dressing makes it style brilliant and recent. The cilantro lime dressing brings acidity, creaminess, and simply sufficient sweetness to get up the entire bowl.
Plenty of texture. You get juicy hen, crunchy lettuce, creamy avocado, crisp onion, and optionally available tortilla strips, which retains the salad from getting boring midway by way of.
Southwest Chicken Salad Ingredients
These elements are very versatile and might be omitted or elevated as wanted. A full listing of elements with measurements for this recipe is obtainable within the printable recipe card beneath.
- Boneless skinless hen breasts – I used 2 breasts for this recipe that collectively weighed about 1 pound.
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika and chili powder – to make a dry seasoning mix for the hen.
- Red onion, candy corn and black beans – combine these three along with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt. I exploit canned corn and beans, however frozen or recent is ok too. Just be sure they’re cooked!
- Romaine lettuce – the right hearty base for any salad, I like to cut mine for simpler consuming.
- Oil for searing the chicken- any impartial oil will do.
- Sliced avocado – creamy avocado pairs completely with the seasoned hen.
- Tortilla strips – for an additional crunch – simply mash up some tortilla chips.
- Cilantro lime dressing – made tremendous fast in a blender with cilantro, lime, olive oil, honey, rice vinegar and plain Greek yogurt, it comes collectively in a snap.
How to Make a Southwest Chicken Salad
Whether for lunch or dinner, you may have this crispy salad prepared and on the desk in solely half-hour!
- Season and tenderize hen. Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder in a small mixing bowl. Take hen breast and place underneath a sheet of plastic wrap or in a plastic bag and pound with a meat tenderizer till the hen is half its authentic thickness. Season the hen on either side with the seasoning mix.
- Cook hen. Heat oil in a big forged iron skillet or heavy backside pan over medium warmth. When the oil is heat add the hen to the pan. Cook hen on either side for six minutes either side. Ensure that the interior temperature of the hen reaches 165°F then take away from the pan.
- Make dressing. Combine lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, honey, rice vinegar and yogurt in a small meals processor or blender. Pulse till absolutely mixed.
- Combine remaining elements. While the hen cooks mix beans, corn, diced pink onion, lime juice and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Finely chop the romaine lettuce and slice the avocados.
- Assemble salad. Slice the marginally cooled hen breast into strips. Assemble the salads by inserting the lettuce on a serving plate. Top with the bean and corn salad, hen, avocado, and tortilla strips. Drizzle the dressing on prime and serve.
Chef Tips
I’ve made this southwest hen salad in my take a look at kitchen to convey you the perfect suggestions and tips for achievement.
- Pound the hen evenly. This helps it cook dinner on the similar price and makes it simpler to slice neatly.
- Let the hen relaxation earlier than slicing. That retains the juices within the meat as an alternative of on the reducing board.
- Dress the salad proper earlier than serving. That retains the romaine crisp and the avocado more energizing.
- Season the bean and corn combination individually. That small further step provides the entire salad extra taste.
- Use ripe avocado, however not overly gentle avocado. You need creaminess, not mush.
- Add the tortilla strips on the finish. They preserve their crunch finest that means.
Storage
Storage: Store the hen, dressing, and salad elements individually in hermetic containers within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Make forward: The hen and dressing can each be made forward, which makes this an awesome meal-prep salad. Assemble simply earlier than serving for the perfect texture.
FAQs
It generally is a balanced, hearty choice with protein, greens, beans, and a lighter creamy dressing.
Yes, although the seasoned skillet hen provides the salad extra taste and texture.
Usually a mixture of elements like chili-seasoned hen, black beans, corn, lime, avocado, and a dressing with a recent, tangy taste.
More Delicious Salad Recipes
I’m all about turning a salad right into a meal! These are a few of my favourite salad recipes.
Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe
This southwest hen salad is loaded with hen, beans, corn, avocado and a creamy cilantro lime dressing for a recent, hearty salad.
Prevent your display from going darkish
Servings:
Make the Salad:
In a small mixing bowl, stir collectively the 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon floor black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika. Set apart.
Place the 2 boneless skinless hen breasts underneath a sheet of plastic wrap or in a plastic bag and pound with a meat tenderizer till the hen is half its authentic thickness. Season the hen on either side with the seasoning mix.
Heat 1 tablespoons vegetable oil in a big forged iron skillet or heavy backside pan over medium warmth. When the oil is heat add the hen to the pan. Cook hen on either side for six minutes either side. Ensure that the interior temperature of the hen reaches 165°F then take away from the pan to relaxation.
Make the Salad Dressing:
Combine 2 teaspoons recent lime juice½ cup further virgin olive oil, ½ cup cilantro leaves, ¼ cup recent lime juice, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon honey in a small meals processor or blender. Pulse till absolutely mixed.
Assemble the Salad:
Combine the rinsed and drained 1 cup corn kernels , 1 cup black beans, diced ¼ pink onion, 2 teaspoons recent lime juice and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Finely chop the r2 hearts romaine lettuce and slice the 1 avocado.
Slice the marginally cooled hen breast into strips towards the grain. Assemble the salads by inserting the lettuce on a serving plate. Top with the bean and corn salad, hen, avocado, and tortilla strips. Drizzle the dressing on prime and serve.
If you’ve got tried this recipe, come again and tell us the way it was within the feedback or scores.
Make forward: The hen and dressing can each be made forward, which makes this an awesome meal-prep salad. Assemble simply earlier than serving for the perfect texture.
Calories: 545 kcal, Carbohydrates: 31 g, Protein: 19 g, Fat: 41 g, Saturated Fat: 8 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 37 mg, Sodium: 668 mg, Potassium: 807 mg, Fiber: 9 g, Sugar: 8 g, Vitamin A: 1778 IU, Vitamin C: 15 mg, Calcium: 48 mg, Iron: 2 mg
