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Quick Southwest Chicken Salad (Ultimate Guide + Flavor-Packed Recipe)

Quick Southwest Chicken Salad (Ultimate Guide + Flavor-Packed Recipe)
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Fresh, colorful, and packed with bold flavor, this Quick Southwest Chicken Salad is anything but boring. Tender shredded chicken is tossed with black beans, corn, crunchy veggies, and a creamy lime-spiced dressing for a protein-packed meal that comes together in just 10 minutes. It’s perfect for meal prep, sandwiches, wraps, or served over crisp lettuce for a lighter option.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

  • 1 lb cooked shredded chicken (about 2–3 breasts)

  • 1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

  • 1 can (15.25 oz) corn, drained

  • 1–2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and chopped

  • ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

  • ½ cup red onion, chopped

  • ¼ cup pepitas or sunflower seeds

Dressing

  • ¾ cup mayo or Greek yogurt (regular or dairy-free)

  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon cumin

  • ¼ teaspoon paprika

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Make the Dressing

In a medium bowl, whisk together mayo (or yogurt), lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, and salt until smooth and creamy.

2. Combine the Salad

In a large mixing bowl, add shredded chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeños, tomatoes, red onion, and pepitas.

3. Toss

Pour the dressing over the salad and stir until everything is evenly coated.

4. Serve

Enjoy right away or chill for 30 minutes for even better flavor.
Serve on its own, in sandwiches, wraps, or over a bed of lettuce.

Notes

  • Use rotisserie chicken for extra convenience.

  • Swap mayo for Greek yogurt to lighten it up.

  • Add avocado or shredded cheese for extra richness.

  • Adjust jalapeños for your preferred spice level.

  • Great for meal prep — flavors get better overnight.

Find it online: https://tastyquickly.com/quick-southwest-chicken-salad-ultimate-guide-flavor-packed-recipe/