High Protein Southwest Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Hearty salad with spiced grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and zesty lime-cilantro dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

09 - 1 large romaine lettuce heart, chopped
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 1 cup canned sweet corn, drained
13 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
14 - 1/2 avocado, diced
15 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
16 - 1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

18 - 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt (0% or 2% fat)
19 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
20 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
21 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
22 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
23 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
24 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6–7 minutes per side, or until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Let rest 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, honey, cumin, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, bell pepper, avocado, red onion, cheddar cheese, and cilantro.
06 - Add sliced chicken on top. Drizzle with dressing, toss gently, and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The smoky grilled chicken combined with cool crisp vegetables creates that perfect hot-cold contrast that makes salads actually exciting to eat
  • You get 36 grams of protein per serving without that heavy bloated feeling that often comes with high-protein meals
  • The lime-cilantro dressing pulls everything together with a brightness that makes you forget you're eating something so healthy
02 -
  • The dressing tastes infinitely better after sitting for at least fifteen minutes so make it first and let those flavors meld while you prep everything else
  • Warm sliced chicken over cool crisp lettuce is one of those simple contrasts that elevates this from ordinary salad to restaurant-quality meal
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before applying the spice rub or the seasonings will slide right off instead of forming that beautiful crust
  • Invest in a good instant-read thermometer because perfectly cooked chicken at 165°F makes all the difference between dry disappointment and juicy perfection
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