This Southwest chicken salad is jam-packed with yummy, colourful ingredients, like chicken, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese, avocado and corn chips. And no salad is complete without a delicious homemade salad dressing. This one is served with a creamy chipotle dressing and is it ever good! You’ll want to make this chicken chopped salad time and time again.
I love a good salad. You too? Being salad season, you’re definitely going to want to give this Southwest chicken salad a try.
I remember years ago having a dinner-sized salad (somewhat similar to this one) at a restaurant. Delicious, but nothing like homemade if you ask me!
Like most green salads, this Southwest chicken salad can be made super quickly and is just so satisfying.
It’s loaded with colourful ingredients, plenty of texture and tons of flavour. The salad itself, of course, just hits the spot. But the creamy chipotle salad dressing that it’s served with? So freaking yummy! Made with chipotle peppers, it gives the dressing such a lovely smoky flavour with some spice, which pairs beautifully with the salad ingredients.
Fan of green salads? Check out this mixed green salad with fruit. It’s one of my favourites, especially during the summer months.
Chipotle Salad Dressing Ingredients
- Plain Greek yogurt: Adds creaminess to the salad dressing. I prefer to use at least 2% milk fat plain Greek yogurt for this recipe, not fat-free.
- Mayonnaise: Adds richness to the salad dressing. I prefer to use a regular mayonnaise, not fat free.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce: They are the star of this creamy dressing. They add a yummy smoky, slightly spicy, flavour which can’t be beat. You can typically find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce right alongside chopped green chilies, tortillas and the like in the grocery store. No need to rinse the adobo sauce off them. Just pluck them from the can and use in your dressing.
- Lime juice: Brightens the dressing and helps thin it out. I used 1 tablespoon of lime juice, but you can use a tad more if you like.
- Sugar: Balances out some of the savoury flavours, but don’t make the dressing sweet.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential in any homemade dressing!
Southwest Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Lettuce: This green salad uses plenty of chopped lettuce. I typically like to use red and green leaf lettuce or Romaine lettuce (or a combination of them).
- Cooked chicken: Use cooked chicken leftover from another meal, cook some fresh just for this recipe, or use some from a store-bought rotisserie chicken, whatever you prefer. I like to use white meat for this recipe.
- Cheddar cheese: To add another element of flavour, I used a jalapeno cheddar. You can use a regular variety if you prefer.
- Veggies: Bell pepper, grape tomatoes, corn, cilantro and green onion all add tons of colour, texture and flavour to this salad.
- Canned black beans: Give them a good rinse and drain before using.
- Avocado: I prefer to dice the avocado instead of slicing it so it’s a tad more hearty when tossing the salad.
- Corn chips: Adds an awesome crunch to the salad. Use tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips if that’s what you prefer or have on hand.
How To Make the Salad Dressing
To make this creamy chipotle salad dressing, you simply combine the salad dressing ingredients in a mini food processor and process until combined. Then it’s ready to use!
If you need to thin the dressing, just add more lime juice (a little at a time because you don’t want to overthin it) until you’ve reached the consistency you like best.
Tip: Though I prefer to use a mini food processor to whip up the dressing, if you don’t have one, no worries! You can first finely chop the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, then whisk them with the rest of the salad dressing ingredients in a bowl until combined.
Assembling the Salad
Place the Southwest chicken salad ingredients (aside from the corn chips … I like to add them after so they stay crunchy) in a large mixing bowl, then drizzle with a little chipotle salad dressing. Mix to combine, ensuring all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Serve the salad, then top with corn chips and more salad dressing. Devour!
Can I Make Ahead of Time?
For sure! You can make the salad and dressing a day ahead of time.
Combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl (with the exception of the avocado and corn chips), cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Tip: Don’t dress your salad until you’re ready to eat it so the lettuce maintains optimal crispness and freshness.
When you are ready to enjoy, add the avocado, drizzle over some salad dressing and mix to combine. Upon serving, top with corn chips and more salad dressing.
Tips
- Ensure your cooked chicken has cooled before using so you don’t wilt your lettuce.
- If you want to make your Southwest chicken salad more substantial, feel free to add more cooked chicken.
- Mix up the protein! Have some cooked turkey on hand? Try that instead of chicken for something a little different.
- The quantities of each ingredient, especially the toppings, are more of a suggestion. Like more corn, add it! Not fussy on avocado, omit. Feel me?
- Add more spice by adding some sliced fresh jalapeno pepper.
- Enjoy this salad as a side with your favourite protein (grilled chicken is a great option). Alternatively, enjoy it as an entrée on its own or with a side, like soup, gazpacho or bread. It makes about 4 to 6 side servings (with the former being quite generous), or 2 to 3 entrée-sized servings.
More Yummy Salad Recipes
- Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad
- Winter Green Salad With Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
- Blueberry Spinach Salad
If you make this Southwest chicken salad, be sure to leave a comment below!
This chopped salad recipe was originally posted April 12, 2018 but has been updated.
Southwest Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Chipotle Salad Dressing
- ⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt, not fat free
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from about half a lime (use a little more if you want to thin the dressing)
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Southwest Chicken Salad
- 8 cups chopped lettuce, delicious options are red and green leaf lettuce or romaine lettuce
- ½ pound cooked chicken, cut into cubes (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup cubed jalapeno marble cheddar cheese, or regular cheddar cheese
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (or colour of choice)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup canned black beans , rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained (or use thawed and drained frozen corn kernels or fresh corn kernels)
- 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
- ½ cup chopped cilantro, optional (or use less if you prefer)
- ⅓ cup chopped green onion, or red onion
- 1 cup corn chips, or crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips
Instructions
- Make the chipotle salad dressing: Place the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, lime juice, sugar, salt and black pepper into a mini food processor and process until combined. Add more salt and black pepper to taste, if desired.
- Make the Southwest chicken salad: To a large mixing bowl, add the lettuce, cooked chicken, cheddar cheese, bell pepper, grape tomatoes, black beans, corn kernels, avocado, cilantro (if using) and green onion. Drizzle over a little chipotle salad dressing, then mix to combine everything. (I like to drizzle over just a little dressing first to lightly coat everything, then serve the tossed salad with more dressing to drizzle over after).
- Divide the salad onto plates or in bowls and distribute the corn chips over top. Drizzle over more chipotle salad dressing to taste. Enjoy! Yields about 4 to 6 side servings or 2 to 3 entrée-sized servings.
Notes
- Ensure your cooked chicken has cooled before using so you don’t wilt your lettuce.
- If you want to make your Southwest chicken salad more substantial, feel free to add more cooked chicken.
- Mix up the protein! Have some cooked turkey on hand? Try that instead of chicken for something a little different.
- The quantities of each ingredient, especially the toppings, are more of a suggestion. Like more corn, add it! Not fussy on avocado, omit. Feel me?
- Add more spice by adding some sliced fresh jalapeno pepper.
- Enjoy this salad as a side with your favourite protein (grilled chicken is a great option). Alternatively, enjoy it as an entrée on its own or with a side, like soup, gazpacho or bread. It makes about 4 to 6 side servings (with the former being quite generous), or 2 to 3 entrée-sized servings.
- You’ll likely have a little extra chipotle salad dressing leftover. Store leftover dressing in an airtight container and enjoy within 3 to 4 days.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Sarah
This salad sounds awesome! I love using leftovers for salad- it makes them taste so much better. And wow that dressing sounds incredible!!!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Sarah!! Happy weekend to ya 🙂
Shashi at SavorySpin
Dawn, this is such a colorful salad! I love your pairing of that chipotle lime dressing with all those crunchy veggies! You’ve inspired me to make my dressing more often! I’ve gotta admit, I tend to buy a dressing from the store every now and then and then it hangs out in my fridge forever after a couple of uses! But with a homemade one I won’t be wasting AND homemade ones (like this clearly demonstrates) are so much more tastier!
Happy FriYAY to you! Hoping you and your hubs have a wonderful weekend filled with all sorts of deliciousness! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Shashi!! Hope you get a chance to try this one out – I’m sure you’ll love it too 😉 Have a fabulous weekend, my friend! XOXO
Katherine | Love In My Oven
That dressing sounds amazing!!! I love chipotle! You always have the best big salads 🙂 I love salads like these for an easy lunch or dinner. I hope you have a great weekend my friend! XO
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Katherine! You’re so kind! Have a lovely weekend too! XO
Miriam
Love how colourful this salad is and the chipotle lime dressing sounds amazing. I have to admit that I have not used chipotle peppers in my kitchen before but it sounds they are worth looking out for 🙂 Have a great weekend, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Miriam! They are pretty tasty and add a lot of flavour to any dish 🙂 Have a great weekend too!!
Marissa
Loving all of the goodies in this salad, Dawn! And with that creamy chipotle dressing? Salad perfection!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Marissa 🙂 Appreciate that!
April
Yummy! This looks great. I love a good salad with chicken. I’ve been seeing a lot of salads with chipotle salad dressings on the web lately and this one, along with the others, sound super good. I’m going to have to try it out! Thanks for the inspiration!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you April!! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina
This is my kind of dinner these days! And that dressing has my full attention!! Simple and so delicious! Love it! 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Happy to hear that!! Thank you Annie 🙂 XOXO
traci
You had me at Southwest…and I’m always game for salad. Srsly, I love chipotle flavors SOOO much that I use it in many things. It’s my favorite Southwest flavor, for sure! Your salad looks gorgeous…and timely as we’re on a similar kick right now 🙂 Just pinned this beauty!
Girl Heart Food
Yay!! Me too, Traci – I eat ’em on the regular! Hope you love this one as much as we do! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms
LOVING this!! It looks absolutely delicious and so full of flavour! I love a good chicken salad recipe and you cannot go wrong with this salad and the dressing looks and sounds amazing!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much Annie!! Appreciate that! Hope you get a chance to try this one out soon 🙂
Dannii
What a stunning looking salad. That chipotle lime dressing sounds epic too and I want to put it on everything.
Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Dannii! It is pretty delicious! Great on sandwiches and tacos too 🙂
Liz
Yum!!! I want some of that chipotle lime dressing. That sounds like the perfect spicy dressing!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Liz!! It’s pretty delish 🙂
Julia
Wish this was on my table right now! 🙂 Didn’t know what chipotle peppers were so thanks for clarifying that! 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Julia! Me and you both 😉
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
I’m always roasting a chicken for Sunday or Monday night dinner, so this salad recipe would be perfect to use the leftover chicken for the next night’s dinner! Freaking love chipotle pepper anything too! WOOOHOOOO to bringing on Cinco de Mayo!
Girl Heart Food
YES!! I say go for it!! Me too – that spicy, smoky heat is wicked! Thanks girl! XOXO
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
You always have the prettiest (and tastiest) salads, Dawn! I love a salad that’s just loaded with goodies. And, um, it’s OK to drink the dressing with a straw if no one can see me do it, right? I don’t wanna be impolite about it or anything, but it sounds completely irresistible! Have a great weekend, girlie!
Girl Heart Food
You’re so sweet! Thanks so much, Kelsie! I think I could drink that dressing with a straw too…no judgement here 😉 Have a great weekend too, my friend.
Milena
Red leaf lettuce is my absolutely favorite. Any salad with it has a place of honor in my life:) So excited about spring and summer and throwing together dinner salads like yours here. And bring on the chipotle dressings and mayos! Yum! Happy almost weekend, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! I agree – bring it on 😉 Thanks Milena! Have a fab weekend!
David @ Spiced
There are so many awesome flavors going on in this salad, Dawn! I love southwest flavors, too. Count me in! And while I do like spicy foods, I think I’ll leave the jalapeno-chomping to your husband…haha. Love this salad idea, and I hope you and the family have a great weekend ahead!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you David!! I don’t think I could eat jalapenos quite like hubby does either 😉 Have a wonderful weekend too 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I think salad season is here….although we are currently in a winter storm warning! (YIKES!) I am going to pretend it’s warm and sunny and keep my fingers crossed for warm sunny weather! I love great salads filled with lots of different tastes and textures. The blue corn chips definitely add the needed crunch! Looks fabulous!
Girl Heart Food
Oh no!! Yes…fingers crossed for warmer weather soon 🙂 Thank you so much, Kathy! Hope you get to try this one out soon!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
This salad will be perfect for the Cinco de Mayo gathering I’m planning! Love that it’s made a little lighter with the homemade salad dressing! I’m a bit embarrassed to say that I didn’t know chipotle peppers were dried and smoked jalapeños! All I know is that I like a bit of spicy, so bring on the peppers!! 😉
Girl Heart Food
Yay! It would be a lovely addition for sure! High five for spicy, am I right?! Thanks Leanne 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Love this kind of bowl salad and loving the southwest flavours! So easy, but so delicious 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Jennifer! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
This is my kind of salad Dawn! I’ve always got extra rotisserie chicken in my fridge, so this will be happening soon at our house! That chipotle lime dressing sounds fab! Pinned!
Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Happy to hear that! Hope you love it! XO