Description
A vibrant and flavorful Southwest Chicken Salad combining shredded chicken with corn, black beans, bell peppers, creamy avocado, and a zesty lime-mayo dressing spiced with cumin, smoked paprika, and chipotle hot sauce. Perfect for a quick, nutritious meal served on its own, with tortilla chips, or in wraps.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cans chicken (drained and flaked) or 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 cup corn (canned or thawed from frozen)
- 1/2 cup canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1/3 cup red bell pepper (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup red onion or green onions (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 small avocado (diced, add just before serving)
Dressing and Seasoning
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 cup mayo or Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp hot sauce or chipotle sauce
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the drained and flaked chicken, corn, black beans, diced red bell pepper, red or green onions, chopped cilantro, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and the juice of one lime. Add the mayo or Greek yogurt and hot sauce, stirring well to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Add Avocado: Gently fold in the diced avocado just before serving to maintain its freshness and creamy texture.
- Chill (Optional): For enhanced flavor melding, refrigerate the salad for about 15 minutes before serving, though this step is optional.
- Serve: Enjoy the salad by itself, with tortilla chips, spread on crostini, or wrapped in lettuce cups or tortillas for a lighter meal.
Notes
- Using Greek yogurt instead of mayo cuts down on fat and adds a tangy flavor.
- Add avocado last to prevent it from browning.
- Chilling the salad allows flavors to develop but it can be served immediately.
- Adjust the hot sauce amount based on your spice preference.
- For a gluten-free meal, avoid serving with crostini and opt for lettuce wraps or chips labeled gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Keywords: Southwest Chicken Salad, chicken salad, avocado salad, healthy chicken recipe, no cook salad, southwestern cuisine
