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pouring the dressing over the southwest salad with chicken

Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe

Jenni Cole
A creamy and healthy Southwest chicken salad recipe with a tangy cumin, chili, and lime dressing that comes together in just 30 minutes! This will keep for 4 days in the fridge and makes a great work lunch idea.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 334 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb cooked shredded chicken - about 2-3 breasts (400g) about 1.2 lb raw weight before cooking. Or use rotisserie chicken
  • 1 15.5 oz can black beans (190g) rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup corn, frozen (150g) and defrosted. We used roasted Trader Joes corn.
  • ¾ cup grape tomatoes, quartered
  • ½ cup red onion chopped (70g)
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas) (35g) or sunflower seeds

Dressing

  • ⅓ cup nonfat Greek yogurt 70g we used Fage brand
  • ⅓ cup light Mayo 60g we used Best Foods (Hellmans)
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (62mL) about 2 large limes
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika use smoked paprika for a smokier taste
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayo, freshly squeezed lime, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, toss the shredded chicken, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, and cilantro.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and stir well to combine.
  • Serve the salad on a bed of lettuce, with chips, or on lettuce leaves. Enjoy!

Notes

  • The whole salad weighs 1160g and serves 4.
  • The main salad calories are lower which means you can add extra toppings like cotjia cheese (highly recommend!), avocado, and more cilantro. Or serve with tortilla chips on the side.
  • To reduce the fat: you can leave the pumpkin seeds out of the salad or use them as garnish on top of each serving.
  • Inspired by With Sweet Honey, recipe made lighter and macro friendly

Nutrition

Serving: 290gCalories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 34gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 431mgPotassium: 616mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 964IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chicken meal prep, high protein, macro friendly
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