Name: Southwest Chicken Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 cups
Ingredients: 3 cups of cooked and shredded chicken; 1/2 cup black beans, drained; 1/2 cup sweet corn, drained; 1/2 cup finely diced bell pepper; 1 jalepeno, seeded and finely diced; 1/3 cup finely diced red onion; 1/4 cup finely diced cilantro; Juice of 1/2 a lime; 1 cup greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing; Optional toppings: Shredded cheese, diced avocado, or tortilla strips.; 1 cup plain greek yogurt; 1/2 - 3/4 cup water (to desired consistency); Juice of 1 lime (or to taste); 1 tbsp honey; 1 1/2 tbsp ranch seasoning mix; 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp adobo chili powder; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp ground coriander; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

This southwest chicken salad combines shredded chicken with beans, corn, cilantro, and other flavorful ingredients for a creamy and delicious bite. Coated in a spicy greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing, this chicken salad has over 25 grams of protein per serving and is a delicious, protein packed lunch option with no cooking required!

Jump To Recipe

southwest chicken salad on wooden board with limes and bell peppers.

One meal that tends to get neglected in my home is lunch. I’m diligent with prepping breakfast and planning for dinners, but I often find myself snacking through lunch or piecing random ingredients together to form some sort of a balanced meal.

In an effort to overcome the lunch time slump, I have started really leaning into easy lunch time recipes like this southwest chicken salad. Why does it work? Because it literally takes 10 minutes to prep and requires no cooking and no reheating!

The best part about chicken salad is that it can be filled with so many different flavors. A simple shredded chicken base and your choice of ingredients and dressing gives you new flavors every single week and avoids any meal prep burn out that you may have experienced in the past.

This southwest chicken salad is one of my favorite renditions. Shredded chicken mixed with fresh and flavorful ingredient like bell peppers, corn, beans, and cilantro then coated in a slightly spicy greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing makes this lunch perfectly balanced and full of protein!

You’ll love having this healthy chicken salad recipe prepped and ready to serve at every lunch hour throughout your week. Let’s get to the recipe:

large bowl of southwest chicken salad topped with colorful tortillas strips and avocado.

Why you’ll love this southwest chicken salad recipe:

You’ll love munching on this chicken salad throughout the week because it is:

High in protein: One serving of this southwest chicken salad has over 25 grams of protein which will help keep you full until your next meal.
Loaded with vegetables: The base of chicken salad is shredded chicken but this chicken salad recipe is just as full of vegetables as it is of chicken! Corn, beans, diced bell peppers, and onions all add fresh flavor to this southwest inspired recipe.
A no-cook recipe: No cooking required to get this recipe ready to enjoy… unless you have to cook your chicken, of course. Cooked and shredded chicken combined with canned vegetables and fresh vegetables make this recipe incredibly easy to pull together!
Refrigerator friendly: Chicken salad is best served cold which makes this recipe refrigerator friendly and perfect for a lunch box! This likely won’t be the prettiest meal you have ever served… but it will taste good.
Full of convenient ingredients: Canned chicken, canned beans, and canned corn are the primary ingredients for this southwest chicken salad. A little chopping of some raw veggies and one bowl of mixing for your greek yogurt dressing is all you will need to do.
Coated in a greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing: The greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing is a key ingredient for this recipe. It’s incredibly easy to make, adds a ton of protein, and is full of flavorful southwest seasonings to give this recipe its flavor.
Delicious enjoyed on its own or served as a dip: You can enjoy this recipe with a fork or dip chips or bell pepper slices into it and enjoy it dip style.

You’re going to love this high protein chicken salad recipe! Now let’s get into the convenient and nutritious ingredients you will need to make it:

greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing over a board of vegetables.

**Greek Yogurt Southwest Ranch Dressing**

.

Get the recipe

Ingredients you’ll need:

This southwest chicken salad recipe is full of easy to use ingredients like:

Cooked and shredded chicken: You can add an extra step and cook and shred your own chicken breast for this recipe or keep it easy and use canned chicken breast (drained) or chopped rotisserie chicken as the base of your recipe.
Canned black beans: I recommend buying low sodium black beans, draining the can, and rinsing off your beans to remove any excess sodium.
Canned sweet corn: Drained.
Bell peppers: I used a tri-color bag of bell peppers, diced, for a colorful addition but you could buy one large bell pepper and dice it up for this recipe.
Red onion: Finely diced.
Jalapeño: Seeds removed and finely diced.
Lime juice: Adds a delicious freshness to your chicken salad.
Cilantro: Finely chopped.
Greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing: The key ingredient in this southwest chicken salad a simply greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing. It’s filled with flavorful spices and the greek yogurt adds a creamy base with some extra protein to your recipe.

That’s it!

ingredients for southwest chickens salad.

Step by Step Instructions:

1) Prep your ingredients by chopping your chicken as needed, draining your cans of beans and corn, and chopping your fresh vegetables and cilantro. Add your prepped ingredients to a medium mixing bowl.

2) Add all of your southwest greek yogurt ranch dressing ingredients to a small bowl and mix to combine. Add your dressing to your chicken salad ingredients and stir until thoroughly coated. Add dressing to taste.

southwest chicken salad with greek yogurt southwest ranch dressing.

3) Top your southwest chicken salad with a squeeze of lime juice, diced avocado, and tortilla strips when ready to enjoy. This chicken salad recipe can be enjoyed with a fork or served with a side of chips, bread, or bell peppers. Enjoy!

southwest chicken salad with fresh ingredients.

Swaps, substitutions, and serving suggestions:

This easy, high protein lunch recipe will likely become one of your favorites because it is really easy to make and fully customizable. A few ways that you can change this southwest chicken salad up would be to:

Swap your veggies: You could add canned green chiles, diced poblano peppers, and diced tomatoes as extra flavor additions.
Change how you serve it: I like to pair this southwest chicken salad with tortilla chips or whole grains crackers but you could also keep it low carb and pair it with bell pepper chips.
Turn it into a bowl: Serve this chicken salad over a bed of rice or leafy greens and turn it into a high protein bowl.
Change up your dressing: I think this chicken salad is best served with a homemade southwest greek yogurt ranch dressing but you can really change up the flavor by swapping your dressing.

And more! Make this recipe your own and tag me on instagram with any fun ideas you come up with!

Recipe FAQ:

What kind of chicken works best for chicken salad?
1. Cooked and shredded chicken breast is the best option with the freshest flavor. You can also use chopped rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken breast that has been drained.
How long can I keep this chicken salad in the refrigerator for?
1. Chicken salad will stay good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
What is the best way to serve chicken salad?
1. Chicken salad is best served cold and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways like on its own with a fork, over a bed of rice as a bowl, or paired with chips or whole grain crackers for some crunch!

Other easy summer recipes will love:

Looking for other summer recipe ideas? I have a few on my blog that I think you will love:

One Pot Sausage Tortellini with Spinach

Get the recipe

Crispy Ground Chicken Tacos

Get the recipe

Sweet Potato Ground Beef Bowl

Get the recipe

*These blogs may contain affiliate links. Any purchase made through my links gives me a small commission and supports Lauren Twigge Nutrition