Quick Southwestern Chicken Salad: A Flavorful Fiesta in a Bowl
This Quick Southwestern Chicken Salad is a vibrant explosion of Tex-Mex inspired flavors, perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Enjoy the comforting creaminess combined with zesty lime and smoky spices for a refreshing and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn, fresh or canned, drained
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt/sour cream)
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare your chicken: Remove the skin and bones from the rotisserie chicken, then shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. If using leftover cooked chicken, dice or shred it. If using canned chicken, drain it well and flake it with a fork. Place all the prepared chicken into a large mixing bowl.
- Prep the fresh veggies and beans: Add the black beans to the bowl with the chicken. If using frozen corn, ensure it's thawed and drained; if using canned corn, drain it well. Finely dice the red bell pepper and red onion, and chop the fresh cilantro. Add all these ingredients to the bowl.
- Whisk together the creamy dressing: In a separate small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir until smooth and well combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Combine and mix: Pour the dressing over the chicken, beans, corn, bell pepper, and cilantro in the large mixing bowl. Gently fold all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Taste and adjust: Scoop a small amount onto a spoon and taste. Adjust the seasonings with more salt, lime juice, or chili powder as needed.
- Chill before serving (optional but recommended): Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: For a lighter dressing, swap out half or all of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. You can also add diced avocado just before serving to prevent browning.