Southwest Chicken Salad

Southwest Chicken Salad is a tasty meal prep lunch that's high in protein and fibre. Top with avocado and eat with tortilla chips!

I made my 5 ingredient chicken salad pretty much every week, and my secret to never getting sick of it is trying new flavour variations. So far I've done a honey mustard chicken salad, Mexican street corn chicken salad and cranberry pecan chicken salad. The newest addition to the roster is this southwest chicken salad, and you're going to love it. We use tons of veggies, cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro and a delicious BBQ sauce Greek yogurt dressing to hold it all together.

I love topping it with diced avocado and diving in with some tortilla chips. It's perfectly crunchy, creamy, and chunky for a satisfying lunch that's also nutrient-dense.

Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved

1. Perfect for meal prep. This southwest chicken salad is the best non-boring meal prep protein. It's also versatile, so you can enjoy it in different ways throughout the week.
2. High protein. One serving of chicken salad has 32g of protein, which helps you stay full and satiated.
3. Colourful. Although this is a chicken salad, we pack in veggies and high fibre foods like tomatoes, corn, and beans that are rich in fibre and micronutrients.

Ingredients

Chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breast is our lean protein of choice in this recipe. This is my favorite way to make oven baked chicken breast.

Black beans. For added fiber and plant based protein, we use canned black beans in this recipe.

Corn. Did you know that corn is actually a whole grain? For ease, I recommend using canned or frozen corn. Just defrost and drain it first.

Tomato. Small on-the-vine or roma tomatoes work well in this recipe, however cherry tomatoes will also be a great addition.

Red onion. For a little added spice and flavour! If you aren’t a fan of red onion, my favourite tip is to dice the onion and add it to a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes before draining and patting dry.

Greek yogurt. For added protein and a lower fat option, I love using greek yogurt in my chicken salads and dressings.

BBQ sauce. I recommend using a lower sugar bbq sauce such as this one.

Cheese. Cheddar cheese is the perfect addition in this southwest chicken salad. It also contributes some healthy fats, calcium and vitamin D.

Cilantro. For freshness!

Spices. All you need is salt, black pepper, cumin, paprika, and chili powder.

Lime juice. A little acidity provides the perfect amount of freshness in this chicken salad.

The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

Instructions

1. To a large mixing bowl, add diced chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro and cheese. Top with Greek yogurt and BBQ sauce and season with salt, black pepper, cumin, paprika and chili powder. Drizzle with lime juice if desired.

2. Stir well. Top with diced avocado and eat with tortilla chips if desired.

Substitutions and Variations

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Vegetable chopper (for easier chopping!)

Storage

This southwest chicken salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More Chicken Salad Recipes

Looking for more non-boring chicken salad recipes? You'll love these:

• Greek Tzatziki Chicken Salad
• Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad
• Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad

📖 Recipe

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5 from 5 votes

Southwest Chicken Salad

Southwest Chicken Salad is a tasty meal prep lunch that's high in protein and fibre. Top with avocado and eat with tortilla chips!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Lunch, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken, salads, Sandwiches and Wraps

Servings: 6

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 1 lb cooked chicken breast cubed
• 1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
• 1 cup corn
• ½ cup tomatoes diced
• ½ cup red onion diced
• ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
• ¼ cup cilantro chopped
• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoon low sugar BBQ sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ lime juiced (optional)

For topping:

• Avocado diced
• Crushed tortillas

Instructions

• To a large mixing bowl, add diced chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro and cheese. Top with Greek yogurt and BBQ sauce and season with salt, black pepper, cumin, paprika and chili powder. Drizzle with lime juice if desired.
• Stir well.

Notes

Greek yogurt can be replaced with mayonnaise for a creamier taste and texture if desired.

For a milder red onion flavour, add diced red onions to cold water and allow them to sit for about 5 minutes before draining and patting dry.

*I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe below (toppings not included). However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 452IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 3mg

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