Description
A vibrant and hearty Southwest Chicken Chopped Salad bursting with fresh greens, tender chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, and a zesty chipotle dressing. Perfect for a nutritious and flavorful meal that comes together quickly and can be customized to your taste.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 5 ounces spring greens (chopped)
- 4 cups cooked chicken (chopped into cubes)
- 1 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 14-ounce can whole corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 large ripe avocado (diced)
- ⅔ cup red onion (thinly sliced, about ½ a red onion)
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ⅔ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 to 5 chipotle chilis in adobo sauce
- 1 large clove garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: Add all the dressing ingredients into a small blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. If a blender is unavailable, finely chop the chipotle chilies and mix everything thoroughly in a small bowl. Refrigerate the dressing in an airtight container until ready to use.
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook the chicken using your preferred method ahead of time (grilling, baking, stovetop, or store-bought rotisserie chicken works well). Once cooked, chop the chicken into cubes.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the chopped spring greens, cubed chicken, black beans, corn kernels, halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped fresh cilantro.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour your desired amount of the prepared chipotle dressing over the salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to coat everything evenly.
- Serve: Plate the salad in large bowls. Optionally, garnish with crushed tortilla chips or a dollop of sour cream for extra texture and flavor.
- Store Leftovers: Place any leftover salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Note that the salad is best enjoyed fresh.
Notes
- You can use any cooked chicken of your choice, including grilled, baked, or store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- The number of chipotle chilis can be adjusted depending on your spice preference.
- Adding crushed tortilla chips and a dollop of sour cream enhances texture and flavor but is optional.
- Leftover salad should be consumed within 24 hours for the best taste and freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes (if cooking chicken fresh; otherwise 0 minutes with pre-cooked chicken)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southwestern
