High Protein Southwest Chicken Salad (Printer version)

Grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and fresh vegetables with tangy lime-cilantro dressing

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp chili powder
04 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Salad

09 - 1 large romaine lettuce heart, chopped
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 1 cup canned sweet corn, drained
13 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
14 - 1/2 avocado, diced
15 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
16 - 1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
17 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

18 - 3 tbsp Greek yogurt (0% or 2% fat)
19 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
20 - 1 tbsp olive oil
21 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
22 - 1/2 tsp honey or agave syrup
23 - 1/4 tsp ground cumin
24 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, honey, cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, bell pepper, avocado, red onion, cheddar cheese, and cilantro.
06 - Arrange sliced chicken on top of the salad. Drizzle with dressing, toss gently to combine, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The protein keeps you full for hours without that heavy feeling
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes
  • The Greek yogurt dressing gives you all the creaminess with a fraction of the calories
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest after grilling is the difference between juicy meat and dry disappointing slices
  • The dressing tastes better after sitting for 10 minutes so the honey dissolves completely
  • Dont skip the rinse on your beans or your salad will have an unpleasant tinny taste
03 -
  • A cast iron skillet creates beautiful grill marks if you dont have access to an outdoor grill
  • Warm the leftover chicken slightly before adding it to cold salad for the best temperature contrast
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