High Protein Southwest Chicken Salad (Printer-friendly)

Grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and crisp vegetables tossed with zesty lime-cilantro dressing for a satisfying, protein-packed meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp chili powder
04 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp 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 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped

→ Dressing

18 - 3 tbsp Greek yogurt (0% or 2% fat)
19 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
20 - 1 tbsp olive oil
21 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
22 - 1/2 tsp honey or agave syrup
23 - 1/4 tsp 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.
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 Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy lime-cilantro dressing hits every bright and tangy note you want in a southwest salad while keeping things light
  • Each bowl delivers over 35 grams of protein without making you feel heavy or sluggish afterward
02 -
  • Do not skip letting the chicken rest or you will end up with dry meat and a puddle on your cutting board
  • The dressing tastes better after 30 minutes in the refrigerator so make it first if you have time
03 -
  • Grill extra chicken at the beginning of the week to throw this salad together in under 10 minutes on busy nights
  • Massaging a tiny bit of olive oil into the avocado pieces helps prevent them from turning brown in the salad
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