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Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe

Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 13 reviews

This Southwestern Chicken Salad is a flavorful and healthy dish featuring tender shredded chicken mixed with a zesty Greek yogurt dressing and fresh southwestern ingredients like black beans, corn, and cilantro. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, it showcases a delightful blend of smoky spices and creamy texture that can be served on toast, tortilla chips, or wrapped in a tortilla.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste

Dressing

  • 1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt or Skyr
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • ¾ tsp ground cumin
  • ¾ tsp chili powder
  • ¾ tsp smoked paprika
  • Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
  • Cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)

Salad Mix-ins

  • ¾ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup finely diced red bell pepper
  • ½ cup corn, preferably fire-roasted
  • ¼ cup finely diced red onion
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Cook the chicken: Place chicken breasts in a medium pot and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Cover with at least an inch of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  2. Shred the chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Shred the chicken using two forks or use the mixer on a low setting for a quicker method.
  3. Prepare the dressing and combine: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lime juice, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Add the shredded chicken, black beans, red bell pepper, corn, red onion, and cilantro. Stir until all ingredients are evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Chill and serve: Refrigerate the chicken salad until chilled and the flavors meld together, about 30 minutes to an hour. Serve on whole wheat toast, tortilla chips, rice cakes, or in a tortilla wrap. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Using fire-roasted corn adds a smoky flavor that enhances the salad.
  • You can customize the spice level by adjusting or omitting cayenne pepper.
  • This salad stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
  • For a lighter version, you can substitute low-fat Greek yogurt.
  • To make it vegetarian, substitute the chicken with grilled tofu or chickpeas.

Nutrition

Keywords: southwestern chicken salad, shredded chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, greek yogurt chicken salad, easy chicken salad recipe

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/southwestern-chicken-salad-recipe/