Ingredients for Southwest Salad:

How to Make Southwest Salad:

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  Begin by preparing your ingredients. Thoroughly drain the black beans and corn. Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, dice the tomatoes, and thinly slice the bell peppers.
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  Combine all the prepared ingredients—lettuce, black beans, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, and grilled chicken strips—into a large stainless steel mixing bowl. Toss gently to ensure everything is well distributed.
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  For optimal freshness and crunch, keep the salad refrigerated until you are ready to serve. Add the Chipotle Ranch dressing just before serving to prevent the lettuce from becoming soggy. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Enjoy as a delightful standalone salad or as a flavorful wrap in soft flour tortillas.

To scale the recipe down for smaller gatherings (serves approximately 15 people), use:

• 1 1/2 Bunches of Romaine Heads
• 15 oz can of corn
• 15 ounces of canned black beans
• 1 large beefsteak tomato, diced
• 12 oz Chicken Fajita Strips
• 1 bell pepper (for a colorful mix, use 1/3 each of green, red, and orange bell peppers.)

Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing: For a personalized touch, simply puree 1 or 2 adobe peppers (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce) into your favorite store-bought ranch dressing. Adjust the quantity of peppers to achieve your desired level of spice and smoky flavor.

Nutrition per serving

A Southwest Salad is a vibrant and flavorful Tex-Mex inspired dish, typically featuring a base of crisp romaine lettuce topped with a medley of ingredients such as savory grilled chicken, sweet corn, robust black beans, fresh tomatoes, and colorful bell peppers. It’s often distinguished by a creamy, spicy dressing, with Chipotle Ranch being a popular choice. It’s wonderfully versatile, equally delicious served as a refreshing salad or wrapped in soft flour tortillas.

Popular Dressings to use for Southwest Salad:

• Chipotle Ranch Dressing (a classic for a reason!)
• Zesty Lime Vinaigrette
• Creamy Avocado dressing
• Fresh Creamy Cilantro dressing
• Bright Cilantro Ranch Dressing
• Classic Ranch Dressing
• Our delicious Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

To create a hearty Southwest Pasta Salad, simply toss your prepared Southwest Salad ingredients with your favorite cooked pasta noodles. Penne, fusilli, or rotini work particularly well as they hold the dressing and other components nicely. Ensure the pasta is cooled before combining. For a healthier, gluten-free alternative, consider incorporating cooked quinoa instead of pasta for added protein and nutrients.

This Southwestern Chicken Salad recipe is designed for ease and efficiency while delivering maximum flavor. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll typically need to create this fantastic Tex-Mex inspired dish:

• Romaine Lettuce: Provides a crisp and refreshing base. Feel free to use any green leafy lettuce you enjoy, such as iceberg or spring mix, but romaine offers a great crunch.
• Corn: Canned whole kernel corn is incredibly convenient. For an elevated flavor, grill fresh corn on the cob and then slice the kernels off.
• Black Beans: Canned black beans are a must. Always remember to rinse and drain them thoroughly before adding to the salad to remove excess sodium and improve texture.
• Tomatoes: Roma or beefsteak tomatoes, diced, add juicy freshness and a pop of color.
• Grilled Chicken: We opted for pre-cooked Grilled Chicken Strips, specifically fajita-flavored, for ultimate convenience. However, you can certainly make your own by seasoning chicken breasts with your preferred rub (like taco or fajita seasoning) and then grilling or pan-searing them until cooked through.
• Bell Peppers: To make the salad visually appealing and add diverse flavors, use a mix of different colored bell peppers. Our recipe calls for red, orange, and green varieties.
• Chipotle Ranch Dressing: A key flavor component. We used a store-bought Great Value Brand for simplicity. To make your own homemade chipotle dressing, puree one or two adobe chipotle peppers (from a can in adobo sauce) into your favorite plain ranch dressing until smooth. Adjust to your desired spice level.

This particular Southwest Salad recipe is already designed to produce a substantial batch, calling for 5 heads of romaine lettuce—perfect for feeding a large gathering! If you frequently shop at bulk stores like Costco, you’ll find romaine lettuce in convenient multi-packs. Canned beans and corn are inherently efficient for large quantities, and you only need a few fresh vegetables like tomatoes and bell peppers. For the grilled chicken, pre-cooked fajita-style chicken pieces can often be found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores like Aldi, saving considerable time. Preparing a large batch is not only a very cost-effective way to entertain, but it also provides ample leftovers, making it an excellent option for meal prepping healthy lunches or dinners throughout a busy week. Just remember to add your favorite salad dressing right before serving to maintain the salad’s freshness and crunch!

To scale down the Southwest Salad for a smaller crowd (approximately 15 servings), use:

• 1 1/2 Bunches of Romaine Heads
• 15 oz can of corn
• 15 ounces of canned black beans
• 1 large beefsteak tomato, diced
• 12 oz Chicken Fajita Strips
• 1 bell pepper (for a colorful presentation, use 1/3 of a green, red, and orange bell pepper).

Grilling chicken can seem daunting, but it’s quite simple once you get the hang of it! Here’s how to achieve perfectly grilled chicken breasts for your Southwest Salad:

1. Preheat the Grill: Turn on your grill and set the flame to high. Most gas grills will handle this automatically; if you’re using a charcoal grill, ensure the coals are hot and evenly distributed.
2. Pound the Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts often come in thick, uneven sections. To ensure even cooking, place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them with a meat mallet until they are about 3/4-inch thick. Alternatively, for ultimate convenience, you can skip this step entirely and use pre-packaged grilled chicken strips.
3. Season Generously: Lightly toss the chicken breasts in a tablespoon of olive oil, then coat them thoroughly with 1 tablespoon of fajita seasoning mix or your favorite Tex-Mex dry rub. Mix well to ensure every piece is evenly seasoned.
4. Grill to Perfection: Place the seasoned chicken breasts onto the pre-heated grill. Immediately reduce the temperature to medium heat. Close the grill lid and set a timer for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 4-5 minutes, or until an internal meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F (74°C).
5. Rest the Chicken: Once cooked, transfer the chicken breasts to a clean cutting board and allow them to rest for at least 5-10 minutes. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a tender and flavorful result before slicing into strips for your salad.

Absolutely! Southwest Salad is an excellent choice for making ahead, especially when preparing for a party or meal prepping. To ensure the best quality:

• Prepare Components: Drain all canned goods thoroughly and ensure all fresh vegetables are washed and completely dry before chopping. Excess moisture can lead to a soggy salad.
• Store Separately: Combine all the solid salad ingredients (lettuce, chicken, beans, corn, veggies) in your large mixing bowl. However, keep the dressing separate until just before serving. This prevents the lettuce leaves from wilting and becoming soggy, maintaining their crisp texture.
• Refrigeration: Keep the undressed salad mixture stored in the refrigerator. If you’ve made a large batch that doesn’t fit in your bowl, a clever space-saving tip is to transfer the undressed salad into clean grocery bags or large gallon-sized freezer bags. This allows it to cool efficiently and frees up fridge space until serving time.
• Serving Leftovers: For any leftovers, portion the salad into individual airtight containers. Store the dressing separately in a small container to be added right before eating. This strategy is perfect for healthy and convenient meal prep throughout the week.

While a store-bought Chipotle Ranch Dressing offers a fantastic shortcut for this Southwest Salad, crafting your own homemade version is surprisingly simple and allows for customization of flavor and spice. To make homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing, simply take your favorite plain ranch dressing (either store-bought or a homemade recipe) and puree one or two adobe chipotle peppers (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce) into it. Start with one pepper, blend, taste, and then add another if you desire more smoky heat and a deeper orange color. The peppers in adobo sauce add a wonderful depth of flavor and a touch of heat that transforms regular ranch into an irresistible Tex-Mex complement for your salad.

Given that a Southwestern Chicken Salad draws its inspiration from Tex-Mex cuisine, robust Mexican-inspired flavors are the ideal choice for seasoning your grilled chicken. If you’re preparing your own chicken breasts from scratch, we highly recommend using either a classic taco seasoning blend or a dedicated fajita seasoning mix. Both options are packed with spices like chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder, which will infuse your chicken with that authentic, smoky, and slightly spicy Tex-Mex taste that perfectly complements the other vibrant ingredients in the salad.