Dinnertime is always rough because there are so many people to please around here. I’m thankful for that, but sometimes I need a meal that I crave and that is easy to make, like this Spicy Southwestern Chicken Salad.
I don’t know what it is, but chicken salad has always been one of my favorite meals. This recipe ]is jam packed with veggies, flavors, and protein. I love that you can use canned chicken, rotisserie chicken, or any cooked chicken, really. Traditionally, chicken salad is made with chicken breasts, but I don’t have a problem with buying a rotisserie chicken and throwing each piece of delicious meat in this recipe. (Here’s a recipe for how to cook a chicken in the Instant Pot.)
This recipe is a great way to meal prep. Make a batch on Sunday and eat it for 3-4 days, by storing it in refrigerator in airtight containers.
This spicy southwest chicken salad is full of foods you can find at your local grocery store. It’s not complicated at all and is a delicious salad that your taste buds will love.
What I love about recipes such as this is that you can customize it to exactly what you like. If you do not care for red bell peppers, leave them out. If you would like to add red onion, then go for it. The more flavor options, the better.
This recipe would be great on crackers, croissant bread, tortilla chips or just by itself if you are trying to cut carbs. Plantain chips or tostones are another great option for dipping.
This meal makes me think of summer picnics and also Chick-Fil-A. I love their Spicy Southwest salad and the different flavors in it. If you have come to this page in search of that recipe, I urge you to check this recipe out, because I am pretty sure you will love it, too. And you can also serve it on a fresh bed of romaine lettuce to give it that extra crunch.
Some different options to add to this salad are: grape tomatoes, chili lime pepitas, hot sauce, green onions, fresh lime juice, red cabbage, or seasoned tortilla strips.
If you don’t like the flavor of sriracha, you could use a creamy salsa dressing and omit some of the mayo or greek yogurt. Just play around with the flavors until you find something you love.
This is a great recipe with simple ingredients and I know your family will love it!
Here’s another delicious recipe – Cashew Aoli Mason Jar Salad!
Spicy Southwestern Chicken Salad
Make this delicious, spicy version of traditional chicken salad.
Ingredients
- - (2) 12.5 oz. cans of Chicken or 3 cups of cooked chicken (about 5 small cooked chicken breasts or small rotisserie chicken)
- - 1 cup of mayo or plain Greek yogurt
- - 2 TBSP Sriracha (more if you prefer it hotter)
- - 2 tsp salt
- - 1/2 tsp pepper
- - 1/4 tsp cumin
- - 1/4 tsp dried cilantro
- - 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- - 1 red bell pepper, diced
- - 1/2 a can of black beans
- - 1/2 a can of whole sweet corn
- - 3/4 cup of diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Add your cooked chicken to a large bowl.
- Stir in mayo or Greek yogurt, sriracha, salt, pepper, cumin, and cilantro.
- Add in vegetables.
- Stir until well combined.
- Refrigerate.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 300Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 204mgSodium: 323mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 4gSugar: 8gProtein: 14g
The writer is not a doctor or nutritionist and this nutritional information is just a guideline. Please consult your doctor or nutritionist for more accurate information.