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Spicy Southwest Salad


  • Author: Marina Savoy
  • Total Time: 30 minutes (plus marination time)
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A vibrant, protein-packed salad with grilled lime-marinated chicken, fresh veggies, and spicy ranch dressing. Perfect for meal prep, quick lunches, or weeknight dinners.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • 2 tbsp lime juice

  • 1 tbsp honey

  • 1 tsp ground cumin

  • 1 tsp chili powder

  • ½ tsp garlic powder

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 tbsp avocado or olive oil

  • 6 cups mixed greens

  • 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed

  • 1 cup corn kernels

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

  • ½ small red onion, sliced

  • 1 avocado, sliced

  • ½ cup tortilla strips

  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

  • ½ cup ranch dressing

  • 12 tbsp hot sauce


Instructions

  • Whisk together marinade ingredients. Add chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 8–24 hours.

  • Grill marinated chicken 5–6 minutes per side until fully cooked. Rest and slice.

  • Mix ranch dressing with hot sauce for the spicy dressing.

  • In a bowl, layer greens, beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, avocado, and tortilla strips.

  • Top with grilled chicken and spicy ranch. Garnish with cilantro.

Notes

  • For meal prep, keep dressing and tortilla strips separate until serving.
  • Adjust hot sauce to control spice level.
  • Use leftover grilled chicken for wraps or tacos.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: Southwest American