Spicy Southwest Salad (Print-Friendly Version)
Grilled chicken goes perfectly with zesty vegetables, avocado, and spicy ranch for a bold southwest salad.
# Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Spicy Ranch Dressing
01 -
2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce (like Chipotle Cholula)
02 -
1/2 cup ranch dressing
→ Salad Assembly
03 -
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
04 -
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
05 -
1 head green leaf lettuce, chopped
06 -
1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed from frozen)
07 -
2 medium tomatoes, diced
08 -
2 avocados, sliced
09 -
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
10 -
1/2 cup tortilla strips
11 -
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
12 -
Lime wedges, for serving
→ Chicken Marinade
13 -
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
14 -
1 lime, juiced and zested
15 -
1 teaspoon chili powder
16 -
1 teaspoon garlic powder
17 -
1 tablespoon avocado oil
18 -
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
19 -
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
20 -
2 tablespoons honey
# How to Make It:
01 -
In serving bowls, lay out chopped green leaf lettuce. Add sliced grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, black beans, red bell pepper, avocado slices, corn, and red onion on top. Finish with tortilla strips and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges and a drizzle of spicy ranch dressing.
02 -
Whisk together the ranch dressing and hot sauce in a small bowl until fully combined. Set it aside for drizzling later.
03 -
In a large bowl or zip-top bag, mix lime juice and zest with garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, honey, and avocado oil. Toss in the chicken breasts, making sure they get coated. Seal it up and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 8 hours, up to 24.
04 -
Get a grill pan heated over medium. Spray it with cooking spray. Add the marinated chicken breasts when it’s hot. Grill them for 5 to 6 minutes per side, flipping once, until you've got nice grill marks and they hit 165°F inside. Move them to a plate to cool a bit, then slice into thin strips.
# Extra Information:
01 -
Letting the chicken marinate overnight really amps up the flavor and tenderness.