Southwest Chicken Chipotle Lime (Printable Format)
Grilled chicken paired with crisp vegetables, black beans, and a smoky chipotle lime touch.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
08 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
→ Salad
09 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
13 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
14 - 1 avocado, sliced
15 - 0.25 cup thinly sliced red onion
16 - 0.25 cup chopped fresh cilantro
→ Chipotle Lime Dressing
17 - 0.33 cup plain Greek yogurt
18 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
19 - 1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
21 - 1 tablespoon honey
22 - 1 garlic clove, minced
23 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
24 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
25 - 2 tablespoons water, to thin as needed
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Combine olive oil, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub evenly over chicken breasts.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, halved cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, sliced avocado, sliced red onion, and chopped cilantro.
05 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, minced chipotle peppers, fresh lime juice, honey, minced garlic, salt, olive oil, and water in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional water if necessary.
06 - Arrange sliced chicken atop the salad. Drizzle with chipotle lime dressing and toss gently to combine or serve dressing on the side.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It comes together in just 35 minutes but tastes like you spent way more time on it.
- The smoky chipotle dressing is tangy, creamy, and genuinely addictive—you'll want it on everything.
- It's naturally gluten-free and packed with protein, so you feel nourished without the heaviness.
02 -
- Don't skip the resting period on the chicken—it's only five minutes but it keeps the meat from turning dry.
- If your dressing breaks or looks separated, whisk in an extra tablespoon of water and it'll come back together.
- Assemble the salad just before serving; the warm chicken will soften the avocado slightly, which is actually lovely if you eat it right away but turns to mush if it sits.
03 -
- Toast your spice blend in a dry pan for 30 seconds before mixing with oil—it wakes them up and deepens their flavor dramatically.
- If you love heat, add a pinch of the adobo sauce itself to the dressing along with the peppers; it's where the real fire lives.