Description
Savor southwest spicy salad’s zesty charm, blending bold flavors with fresh ingredients. Crisp greens and smoky proteins create a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
Vegetables and Produce:
- 1 head green leaf lettuce chopped
- 2 tomatoes diced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 2 avocados sliced
- 1 cup corn
- 1/2 red onion sliced
- cilantro for garnish
- 1 lime juiced and zested
- lime wedges
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce of choice
- 1/2 cup tortilla strips
Instructions
- Craft a zesty marinade by combining lime zest, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, honey, and avocado oil in a large bowl or ziplock bag, whisking until smooth and well-integrated.
- Thoroughly coat chicken breasts in the prepared marinade, seal container, and refrigerate for 8-24 hours to allow flavors to intensify.
- Preheat a grill pan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, testing readiness by sprinkling water droplets that should sizzle immediately upon contact.
- Transfer marinated chicken to the heated grill pan, cooking 5-6 minutes per side until achieving a golden exterior and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken from heat, let rest for 3-5 minutes, then slice into thin, uniform strips.
- Prepare spicy ranch dressing by blending ranch with hot sauce until thoroughly combined and creamy.
- Construct salad foundation using chopped green leaf lettuce as the base layer.
- Strategically arrange sliced chicken, tomatoes, black beans, red bell pepper, avocado, corn, and red onion atop lettuce.
- Sprinkle tortilla strips across the salad for added texture and crunch.
- Drizzle spicy ranch dressing over salad, gently tossing to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Finish by garnishing with fresh cilantro and a lime juice squeeze, serving with additional lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- Marinate chicken longer for deeper, more intense flavor profiles that’ll make your taste buds dance with excitement.
- Swap chicken for tofu or grilled portobello mushrooms to create a delicious vegetarian version of this southwest sensation.
- Reduce heat by using mild hot sauce or omitting it entirely for a family-friendly spice level that everyone can enjoy.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time to streamline the cooking process and make mealtime a breeze, especially during busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 8 hours (or up to 24 hours)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg