Southwest Chicken Salad takes chicken salad to the next level with black beans, roasted corn, crisp bell peppers, and a creamy chili-lime dressing.
Southwest Chicken Salad
There’s no shortage of chicken salad recipes here—I love them, and so do so many of you! When someone on Instagram asked for a Southwest-style chicken salad, I was all in.
I got to work right away, starting with the dressing from my sweet potato burrito bowls. After some tweaking, I nailed it! It’s not just so delicious—it’s also very easy to make.
Plus, you can serve this chicken salad in so many different ways.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Southwest Chicken Salad:
- Chicken: Rotisserie is easiest and flavorful, but any cooked chicken works.
- Black beans: Rinse, drain, and dry before adding them in.
- Corn: Fresh, canned, or frozen all work; roasted corn adds extra flavor.
- Red pepper: Chop small for even bites throughout.
- Red onion: Soak in cold salted water to mellow the flavor, or skip if you prefer.
- Cilantro: Chop finely for a fresh, herby flavor.
- Pepitas: Dry-roasted and lightly salted ones deliver the best texture.
Southwest Chicken Salad Dressing
- Mayo: Full-fat for creaminess or light for less fat; a good brand makes a big difference.
- Sour cream: Light keeps it creamy but lighter.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime tastes best; add zest for stronger lime flavor.
- Spices: Chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and paprika give a delicious Southwestern flavor.
- Salt: Add a little at a time to find the right flavor.
Southwest Chicken Salad Serving Ideas
- Sandwich: Add lettuce and serve on a buttery croissant or on sandwich bread.
- Lettuce Wrap: Wrap it in crisp lettuce leaves for a lighter option.
- Chip Dip: Serve with tortilla chips or crackers for dipping.
- Tortilla or Pita Wrap: Stuff into a tortilla or pita for a quick wrap.
- Salad Bowl: Pile it on top of mixed greens for a fresh salad.
- Raw Veggies: Scoop it up with celery sticks or bell pepper slices.
Storage
Store Southwest Chicken Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir well before eating.
More Chicken Salad Recipes:
- Healthy Chicken Salad made with Greek yogurt
- Curry Chicken Salad with golden raisins
- Avocado Chicken Salad with bacon
- Chopped Chicken Salad with a simple dressing
- Pineapple Chicken Salad with honey-roasted almonds
Southwest Chicken Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken rotisserie preferred
- 3/4 cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup frozen corn see note 1
- 1/4 cup diced red pepper
- 1/4 cup diced red onion see note 2
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup pepitas optional
- Mini croissants and lettuce
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth.
- Add all salad ingredients to the bowl with the dressing. Gently stir until everything is well coated.
- Taste the salad and adjust salt, lime juice, or seasonings if needed.
- Serve however you like—on a croissant with lettuce or with tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Yum! I’ve been wanting to make this for meal prep lunches for a while, I finally made it for dinner so I could have leftovers. It was so good, great flavor, I can’t wait to see how it tastes after being in the fridge over night, I imagine the flavors will have blended even more. Thanks!
I’m so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Jeni!
As Chelsea’s employee, I have made this recipe, and it is just as good and easy as it looks! My husband and I love it!