Wholesome Southwest Hen Salad (30-Minutes)

This Southwest Hen Salad is bursting with smoky, zesty flavors, hearty elements, and a creamy but tangy dressing.

Whether or not you want a fast lunch, a satisfying dinner, or a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, this recipe has you lined!

Filled with protein from grilled rooster, fiber-rich black beans, candy corn, and creamy avocado, this salad is each nutritious and scrumptious.

Toss it with a home made zesty chipotle lime dressing, and you’ve got a restaurant-quality meal in simply half-hour.

Let’s dive into this recent and filling Tex-Mex favourite!

Why You’ll Love This Southwest Hen Salad

• Filled with taste – Smoky, tangy, and barely spicy flavors come collectively completely.
• Loaded with vitamins – Excessive in protein, fiber, and wholesome fat for a balanced meal.
• Fast & straightforward – Prepared in below half-hour, good for busy weeknights.
• Customizable – Regulate the spice degree, swap up the protein, or make it vegetarian!

Substances You’ll Want

For the Salad:

• 2 boneless, skinless rooster breasts (or use pre-cooked rotisserie rooster)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt & pepper to style
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
• 6 cups romaine lettuce or blended greens, chopped
• 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn (recent, frozen, or canned)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ pink onion, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, diced
• ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips

For the Creamy Chipotle Dressing:

• ½ cup Greek yogurt (or mayo for a richer dressing)
• 2 tablespoons recent lime juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or ½ teaspoon smoked paprika for a milder model)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt & pepper to style

Learn how to Make Southwest Hen Salad

Step 1: Put together the Hen

1. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Rub the seasoning onto the rooster breasts.
3. Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium warmth. Cook dinner the rooster for 4-5 minutes per facet till golden brown and absolutely cooked (165°F inside temperature).
4. Let the rooster relaxation for 5 minutes, then slice or shred it.

Step 2: Assemble the Salad

1. In a big bowl, mix romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, pink onion, and avocado.
2. Add the shredded or sliced rooster on prime.

Step 3: Make the Dressing

1. In a small bowl, whisk collectively Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle powder, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Style and modify seasoning if wanted.

Step 4: Mix and Serve

1. Drizzle the chipotle dressing over the salad.
2. Toss gently to coat all the things evenly.
3. High with shredded cheese and crispy tortilla strips for further crunch.
4. Serve instantly and revel in!

Customization & Variations

• Make It Spicy – Add diced jalapeños or a drizzle of scorching sauce.
• Protein Swaps – Strive grilled shrimp, tofu, or steak as an alternative of rooster.
• Dairy-Free Choice – Skip the cheese and use a dairy-free dressing.
• Low-Carb Model – Omit the beans and tortilla strips for a keto-friendly salad.
• Vegetarian Model – Substitute the rooster with grilled portobello mushrooms or further black beans.

What to Serve with Southwest Hen Salad

This salad is hearty sufficient by itself, however you may serve it with:

• Heat flour or corn tortillas
• Cilantro lime rice
• Mexican avenue corn (Elote)
• A refreshing mango salsa

Meal Prep & Storage Ideas

• Meal Prep Pleasant – Retailer parts individually and assemble when able to eat.
• Refrigeration – Preserve the salad (with out dressing) in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.
• Dressing Storage – Retailer in a sealed jar within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
• Keep away from Soggy Salads – Add avocado and tortilla chips simply earlier than serving.

Recipe FAQ’s

Can I make this salad forward of time?

Sure! Simply retailer the elements individually and assemble when able to eat. Preserve the dressing separate to forestall the salad from getting soggy.

Can I exploit rotisserie rooster?

Completely! Shredded rotisserie rooster is a good time-saving possibility.

How do I make this salad gluten-free?

Guarantee your tortilla strips are gluten-free or omit them fully. The remainder of the elements are naturally gluten-free.

Wholesome Southwest Hen Salad (30-Minutes)

Southwest Hen Salad is a vibrant, Tex-Mex-inspired dish filled with grilled rooster, black beans, corn, avocado, and crisp greens, all tossed in a creamy chipotle lime dressing. It’s a wholesome, high-protein meal that’s good for meal prep, lunch, or dinner.Prepared in half-hour, customizable, and bursting with daring flavors – this salad is a must-try!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time 15 minutes minutes

Complete Time 30 minutes minutes

Course Important Course, Salad

Delicacies American, Tex-Mex

Servings 4 Servings

Energy 450 kcal

For the Salad:

• 2 boneless skinless rooster breasts (or use pre-cooked rotisserie rooster)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt & pepper to style
• 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking
• 6 cups romaine lettuce or blended greens chopped
• 1 cup black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn recent, frozen, or canned
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• ½ pink onion thinly sliced
• 1 avocado diced
• ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips

For the Creamy Chipotle Dressing:

• ½ cup Greek yogurt or mayo for a richer dressing
• 2 tablespoons recent lime juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chipotle powder or ½ teaspoon smoked paprika for a milder model
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt & pepper to style

Step 1: Put together the Hen

• In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Rub the seasoning onto the rooster breasts.
• Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium warmth. Cook dinner the rooster for 4-5 minutes per facet till golden brown and absolutely cooked (165°F inside temperature).
• Let the rooster relaxation for five minutes, then slice or shred it.

Step 2: Assemble the Salad

• In a big bowl, mix romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, pink onion, and avocado.
• Add the shredded or sliced rooster on prime.

Step 3: Make the Dressing

• In a small bowl, whisk collectively Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle powder, honey, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Style and modify seasoning if wanted.

Step 4: Mix and Serve

• Drizzle the chipotle dressing over the salad.
• Toss gently to coat all the things evenly.
• High with shredded cheese and crispy tortilla strips for further crunch.
• Serve instantly and revel in!