Description

This Creamy Southwest Chicken Salad is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Combining shredded rotisserie chicken with black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and a zesty, spiced mayonnaise dressing, this salad delivers a satisfying Southwest-inspired taste with minimal effort. It can be served on its own, as a sandwich filling, or with crackers and lettuce cups for a versatile meal option.

Ingredients

Scale

Dressing

½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup mayonnaise
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Salad

3 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (about 1 rotisserie chicken)
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
½ cup red onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 bunch green onions, diced

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Instructions

Make Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lime juice, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lime juice, salt, or pepper to suit your preference.
Combine Ingredients: Add the chopped or shredded chicken, drained black beans, drained corn, diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, and diced green onions to the bowl with the prepared dressing. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate it until ready to serve, allowing the flavors to meld for at least 10 minutes. Enjoy the salad as is, or serve it on bread, crackers, or in lettuce cups for additional texture and presentation options.

Notes

For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some chopped jalapeños to the dressing.
This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Using rotisserie chicken speeds up preparation, but leftover cooked chicken works well too.
To reduce fat, substitute the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or a lighter mayo.
Serve chilled for best flavor and freshness.