Southwest Chicken Salad

5 from 11 votes

Jul 08, 2020, Updated Jan 02, 2024

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This flavorful Southwest Chicken Salad recipe is made with fresh vegetables, juicy chicken strips, and taco seasoning. It’s a healthy dinner salad, filled with flavors and toppings that your family will love!

chicken strips, corn, tomatoes, and black beans set over salad greens in a salad bowl and drizzled with avocado salad dressing

Savor the flavors of the Southwest with this salad featuring crispy fried chicken strips and a mix of hearty veggies. As a nutritious dinner option, it’s a personal favorite of mine, perfectly capturing the essence of Southwestern flavors. Ideal for those hectic nights when you have just 15 minutes to prepare a meal, this easy-to-make salad is a lifesaver for hangry moments. The crunchy texture, the creamy avocado, and the fresh ingredients are a salad lovers paradise. Also, it’s a perfect recipe to use up with your grilled corn and grilled chicken leftovers.

close up top view shot of tomatoes and chicken strips drizzled with avocado dressing

Recipe Ingredients

This salad uses simple ingredients and flavorful seasonings to tie it all together. Here’s what you’ll need to make this healthy Southwestern dish:

Olive Oil
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Slice your chicken breasts into 1 x 3 inch strips.
Taco Seasoning: Try my easy Homemade Taco Seasoning for the freshest flavor!
Romaine Lettuce
Baby Spinach
Corn Kernels
Black Beans: Rinse and drain your corn and beans.
Cherry Tomatoes
Red Onions
Optional: Garnish your salad with fresh cilantro and serve it with lime wedges, if desired.

How to Make Southwest Chicken Salad

jar of salad dressing and two wooden spoons set next to a salad bowl filled with chicken strips, corn, tomatoes, onions, and black beans

pouring avocado dressing from a jar over a chicken salad

Heat Oil: Heat olive oil in a frying pan set over medium-high heat.
Season Chicken: Season the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning.
Fry Chicken: Add chicken strips to the hot oil and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Remove from Heat: Remove your skillet from the burner and set aside.
Assemble Salad: Arrange chopped lettuce and baby spinach in a salad bowl. Top with corn – if you have fresh corn off the cob, even better! – add black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onions and cooked chicken strips.
Add Dressing: Add Avocado Lime Dressing and toss gently to coat.
Garnish & Serve: If desired, garnish your salad with cilantro and serve it with fresh lime wedges.

Recipe Tips And Variations

Serve with Avocado Lime Dressing: My Light and Creamy Avocado-Lime Dressing is perfect for this salad. It’s super easy to make in just 10 minutes!
Chop Chicken into Bite-Sized Pieces: If you don’t want to cut the chicken strips as you eat your salad, slice them into cubes after cooking them.
Make a Salad Bar: You can turn this salad into a make-your-own meal by separating the ingredients and serving the dressing on the side. This way, everyone can enjoy a healthy salad by mixing-and-matching!
Serve with Lime Wedges: To add a zesty element to your salad, serve it with fresh lime.
To Make Ahead: Simply store your salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it cold within a couple days. Add the salad dressing only when ready to serve.

What to Serve with Salad

If a salad is just not enough, fit in a cup of jasmine rice, hard boiled eggs, or a handful of cooked pasta. A slice of focaccia or lavash would also satisfy! Don’t forget the Strawberry Pom Mojito or a glass of White Sangria.

a jar of salad dressing and two wooden spoons set next to a salad bowl filled with chicken strips, corn, tomatoes, and black beans

How to Store Leftovers

Keep salad leftovers crisp by storing them separately from the dressing to avoid sogginess. Also, store the chicken separately and reheat it in the oven when serving. Add the dressing only when you’re ready to serve the salad.

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