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Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and Cumin Lime Vinaigrette

This hearty Grilled Chicken Southwest Salad is bursting with flavor, with fresh greens, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes, and black beans, plus a vibrant cumin lime vinaigrette!

Mexican chicken salad on a platter

The Best Southwest Chicken Salad

Our family loves a fresh, hearty salad. One with all the delicious nibbles and a flavorful dressing – and this Grilled Chicken Southwest Salad with its irresistible cumin lime vinaigrette has been a longtime favorite!

Besides being so dang delicious, this salad’s versatility is one of its greatest virtues. It’s so easy to alter to your liking, whether you prefer green peppers over red, or like to add some heat with jalapenos, or want to swap the vinaigrette for a creamy homemade ranch dressing – just substitute whatever you like, or whatever’s on hand.  

We like to serve this salad with grilled soft tortillas or some salty, crunchy tortilla chips. Because a Southwest/Mexican chicken salad simply begs to be eaten with chips and guacamole. You just can’t go wrong!

They add a limey salty crunch and help you scoop up every last nibble of deliciousness from your plate.

Overhead view of southwest salad ingredients

What You’ll Need

I appreciate the simplicity of the individual ingredients in this grilled chicken salad, and the versatility to switch them up. Scroll down to the recipe card for measurements.

For the Salad

Overhead view of cumin lime vinaigrette ingredients

For the Vinaigrette

Overhead viewofa grilled chicken salad

Recipe Variations

As I mentioned, one of my favorite things about this recipe is how flexible and adaptable it is. You can easily adjust to whatever you have on hand or are craving.

How to Make Southwest Salad

Grill the chicken, chop some fresh veggies, and mix up a vinaigrette – your gorgeous, flavorful salad awaits!

A platter of salad with fresh greens and sliced grilled chicken

Can I Prepare This In Advance?

From an entertaining point of view, this salad is a great option for a main entree. It can mostly be prepared the day before, which is perfect for no-stress, no-kitchen-mess as your guests are arriving!

Here’s what I do – Just add a couple of chicken breasts to your grilling the evening prior to save you some time. Then prepare the veggies, rinse the black beans, and make the vinaigrette. Place all the ingredients in their own individual containers in the fridge, ready to go.

The next day, an hour before your guests arrive, assemble the salad on a large platter. Then slip it back into the fridge to keep cool until the doorbell rings!

A spoon of vinaigrette being drizzled over southwest salad

Serving Suggestions

I usually plate this salad on a large serving platter, so that everyone can serve themselves and add the vinaigrette as desired.

I like to add some tortilla chips on the side for salty crunch, or offer some charred soft tortillas for swiping up all the goodness.

Guacamole is always a good idea. Salsa or pico de gallo would be a welcome addition as well. Our family also likes to add dollops of sour cream, pickled red onions, and fresh lime wedges for squeezing over the top. Basically, just think about how you like to eat your favorite taco salad, and go from there.

As for drinks, a margarita is always a great idea when it comes to meals with Mexican and southwest flavors. Whether you choose a classic margarita, a “skinny margarita” aka ranch water, or a fun, flavorful riff (check out more margarita cocktails here), you simply can’t go wrong!

How to Store Leftovers

Like most green salads, this Southwest chicken salad is best enjoyed as soon as it’s put together. However, if you don’t add the vinaigrette to the salad, you can cover it and refrigerate it for a day or two.

Another option would be to just assemble as much as you plan on enjoying immediately, then store the individual ingredients separately in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

More Salad Recipes:

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fresh salad greens with sliced grilled chicken on top

Grilled Chicken Southwest Salad with Cumin Lime Vinaigrette

Yield: 6 servings
prep time: 20 minutes
cook time: 18 minutes
total time: 38 minutes
This hearty Grilled Chicken Southwest Salad is bursting with flavor, with fresh greens, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes, and black beans, plus a vibrant cumin lime vinaigrette!
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Ingredients

for the salad:

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 10 ounces romaine lettuce torn into bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup canned black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1/4″ slices
  • 2 cups lightly cooked or raw sweet corn kernels
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

for the vinaigrette:

  • ¼ c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons grated lime peel
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • For the salad: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Make sure your grill grates are clean.
  • Coat chicken with a tablespoon of olive oil. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle chicken evenly with this mixture.
  • Grill chicken until done, then remove to a plate to cool. Once cooled, slice into strips.
  • Spread the lettuce on a large serving platter. Arrange black beans, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, sweet corn, cheese, and chicken over the lettuce.
  • For the vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Makes about 1 cup.
  • To serve: Serve with guacamole, your favorite tortilla chips or grilled/toasted soft tortillas, pickled red onions, and fresh lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

Notes

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 358kcal Carbohydrates: 24g Protein: 22g Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g Cholesterol: 53mg Sodium: 496mg Fiber: 6g Sugar: 6g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
Close-up of grilled chicken on salad
fresh salad greens with sliced grilled chicken on top

This post was originally published in 2010, and then updated in 2022.