Quick Southwest Chicken Salad (2024)

Not your average chicken salad! This quick Southwest Chicken Salad recipe is made with shredded chicken, flavorful spices and a handful of vegetables and protein. Serve on its own, in a sandwich, wrap or bed of lettuce! This recipe is also dairy free and gluten free!

Southwest Flavored Chicken Salad

Is it really summer if you don’t have chicken salad at least once? This southwest chicken salad recipe is definitely a warm weather staple at our house.

It comes together so quickly and without the need to turn on a burner or oven. It’s also packed with protein from the shredded chicken and beans so it’ll keep you satisfied.

Looking for more chicken salad recipes? Try our easy rotisserie chicken salad or BLT chicken salad!

Why You’ll Love This Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe

• Quick and Easy - You can make this chicken salad in less than 10 minutes. It’s truly one of the easiest recipes, especially if you have the shredded chicken already cooked. Simply mix all of the ingredients together and you’ll have a delicious dinner or meal for the rest of the week.
• Healthy Add-Ins - This chicken salad has a variety of healthy ingredients and it’s easy to customize.
• Portable - One of the best things about chicken salad is that it’s easy to bring places. It’s the perfect recipe for outdoor barbecues, family gatherings, or work lunches.

Ingredients You'll Need

The ingredient list for this southwest chicken salad is simple and flavorful!

• Chicken - I have a blog post going over 4 easy ways to cook and shred chicken if you need some guidance.
• Black Beans - canned black beans add more protein to the dish.
• Corn - for convenience this recipe calls for canned corn but you can use frozen or cooked corn on the cob.
• Jalapeños - either take the seeds out of the fresh jalapeños or keep them in for added spice.
• Pepitas - also known as shelled pumpkin seeds, are delicious in this salad. They can usually be found in the grocery store by other nuts and seeds. You could also swap out the pepitas with sunflower seeds.
• Cherry Tomatoes - for added color and flavor.
• Red Onion - I like to use raw chopped red onion.
• Lime dressing - made with mayo, lime juice, and a mixture of spices.

Find the specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

How To Serve Chicken Salad

• Plain - this recipe tastes great on its own.
• Lettuce - serve on a bed of lettuce or wrapped up in lettuce leaves.
• Bread or tortilla - make a chicken salad sandwich or wrap for an easy lunch.
• Crackers - one of my favorite ways to serve chicken salad is as a snack dip with crackers. I like to use Simple Mills crackers since they are gluten free and taste great.

Recipe Notes

• Meal Prep - Chicken salad is easy to make and lasts awhile in the fridge (up to 5 days), making it a great meal prep option. Use leftover shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken for even faster assembly.
• Fruit - Looking to add a little sweetness to this chicken salad? You could try adding dried cranberries or chopped apple.
• Pepitas - If you're having trouble finding pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds), try swapping them out with sunflower seeds.
• Spicy - This southwest chicken salad has a mild spice kick to it already but if you want you can add cayenne pepper or leave the seeds in the jalapeño to make it spicy.

Storage

Store this southwest chicken salad in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

More Chicken Salad Recipes

• Cranberry and Pecan Chicken Salad
• BLT Chicken Salad
• Rotisserie Chicken Salad

More Recipes To Try

• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
• Salmon Patties
• Buffalo Chicken Wraps
• Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing
• Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken

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