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+ servings

Quick Southwest Chicken Salad

A creamy, smoky shredded chicken salad with black beans, charred corn, bell pepper, and pepper jack cheese. Perfect for a speedy lunch or party dip.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 1
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 1 whole rotisserie chicken, skin removed and shredded (about 4 cups)
  • 3/4 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen, thawed)
  • 3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large scallion, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (about 2 ounces)
  • 1 ripe Hass avocado, sliced for garnish
  • Tortilla chips or lettuce cups, for serving
For the Dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium lime, zested and juiced (about 2 tablespoons juice) use 1 lime for zest, 1-2 limes for juice

Method
 

Char the Corn
  1. Heat a large skillet over high heat and add a drizzle of oil (about 1 tablespoon). Pat the corn kernels dry with a paper towel, then add them to the hot skillet. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until deeply charred on one side, then stir and cook another 2-3 minutes until evenly charred. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Make the Dressing
  1. In a small bowl or directly in your serving bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, honey, salt, pepper, lime zest, and lime juice until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more lime juice or salt as needed.
Assemble the Salad
  1. To the serving bowl with the dressing (or transfer dressing to a large bowl if made separately), add the shredded chicken, charred corn, black beans, diced bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, sliced scallion, cilantro, and shredded pepper jack cheese. Toss gently with a spatula until everything is evenly coated and creamy.
Serve
  1. Top with sliced avocado just before serving. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping, or scoop into lettuce cups, wraps, or over cucumber slices. This salad also works great as a sandwich filling.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 27gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 580mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4g

Notes

Use cold or room-temperature chicken so the dressing stays thick.
Slice avocado only at serving time to prevent browning; leftovers keep better without mixing it in.
Pat corn thoroughly dry before charring to get a good sear instead of steaming.
For a lighter dressing, substitute Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise and/or sour cream, and add extra salt and cumin.
Swap pepper jack for Monterey Jack, cheddar, or Colby Jack if you prefer a milder cheese.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Do not freeze.
Add diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne for extra heat.

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