Best Southwest Salad Recipes

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients; pour over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving. Serve as desired., Salads: Top salad greens with chicken salad; sprinkle with almonds., Pitas: Line pita halves with lettuce leaves; fill with chicken salad., Wraps: Place chicken salad off-center on tortillas; top with avocado. Roll up.

SOUTHWEST SALAD

Steps:

• Mix all salad ingredients together in large serving bowl.
• Mix all dressing ingredients together in a cup or small bowl.
• Toss with dressing or serve on the side.
• If preparing ahead of time, wait to add chips so they stay crisp.

SOUTHWEST RANCH SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl.
• For best results, cover and chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

SOUTHWEST LAYERED SALAD

Steps:

• Mix dressing mix, buttermilk, yogurt, and taco seasoning mix together in a mixing bowl.
• Line a large serving bowl with the torn lettuce.
• Mix roasted peppers, black beans, corn, onion, and green chiles together in a bowl. Spread mixture over the lettuce. Top with tomatoes; sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Arrange avocado slices in an overlapping circle. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with dressing on the side.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SALAD I

Steps:

• In a covered jar, mix the lime juice, olive oil, salt, garlic, cilantro, chili powder, and cumin. Cover, and shake until well blended.
• Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Toss with the chicken, black beans, onion, and tomato. Just before serving, toss with the dressing mixture and Parmesan cheese. Serve with tortilla chips, either crushed over the top of the salad, or on the side.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND CORN BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Mix ranch dressing and salsa together in a small bowl.
• Layer 1/2 of the corn bread crumbles, pinto beans, corn, green chile peppers, and olives in a large bowl; cover with 1/2 of the dressing mixture. Layer bell pepper, chicken, bacon, onion, and tomatoes over dressing. Top with remaining corn bread crumbles and dressing mixture. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors combine, 3 to 4 hours.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SALAD WITH RICE, CORN, AND CHILIES

Steps:

• Whisk first 5 ingredients and 1/2 cup cilantro in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Place chicken, corn, chilies and bell peppers on rimmed baking sheet. Brush 1/2 cup dressing over both sides of chicken and vegetables. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Bring 3 1/2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in heavy large saucepan. Mix in rice. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Keep pan covered and let rice stand 5 minutes. Transfer rice to large bowl; fluff with fork. Pour 1/2 cup dressing over hot rice and toss; let cool.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill chicken and vegetables until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender and slightly charred, about 6 minutes per side. Cut chicken, peppers and chilies into strips. Cut corn off cobs. Toss chicken and vegetables in medium bowl with enough dressing to coat; add to rice and toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide salad among 6 plates. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve.
• *Chipotle chilies canned in a spicy tomato sauce, sometimes called adobo, are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.
• **Fresh green chilies, often called pasillas; available at Latin American markets and some supermarkets.

COPYCAT CHICK-FIL-A SPICY SOUTHWEST SALAD

Steps:

• Brine:.
• In a medium bowl whisk together ingredients for brine.
• Add chicken, making sure to coat evenly. Allow chicken to marinate for 20 minutes. Remove chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat grill to high, oil lightly. Grill chicken turning once until grill marks have appeared and chicken is opaque throughout, about 3 to 4 minutes a side. Remove chicken to a cutting board and slice thinly across the grain.
• Salad: Toss together salad ingredients. Top with sliced chicken and favorite dressing.

SOUTHWEST RICE AND CORN SALAD WITH LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Cook rice until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Drain again.
• Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice and 3 tablespoons oil in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add corn, poblanos, yellow bell pepper, and zucchini. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables are just tender, 6 to 7 minutes; scrape into large bowl. Add rice, avocado, green onions, cilantro, and dressing; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

SOUTHWEST SHREDDED PORK SALAD

Steps:

• Place pork in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix cider, green chiles, garlic, salt, pepper sauce, chili powder, pepper, cumin and oregano; pour over pork. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender., Remove roast from slow cooker; discard cooking juices. Shred pork with 2 forks. Arrange salad greens on a large serving platter. Top with pork, black beans, tomatoes, onion, corn and cheese. Serve with salad dressing. Freeze option: Place shredded pork in a freezer container; top with cooking juices. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally.

SPEEDY SOUTHWEST SALAD

Steps:

• Place the greens in a large salad bowl. Top with corn and beans. , In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing and picante sauce; spoon over vegetables; toss to coat. Sprinkle with tortilla chips, cheese and tomatoes. Serve immediately.

SOUTHWEST LAYERED CORNBREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cornbread according to package directions. Cool completely on a wire rack. Break into crumbles., In a 3-qt. bowl, layer half of each of the following: cornbread, beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, dressing and cheese. Repeat layers. Refrigerate, covered, until serving.

SOUTHWEST LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix dressing ingredients until well blended.
• In 4-quart glass serving bowl, layer lettuce, jicama, chicken, corn and bell peppers. Just before serving, top salad with avocados. Serve with dressing.

SOUTHWEST RICE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the rice, beans, corn and onions.
• Toss to mix.
• In a food processor, blend remaining ingredients, except the cilantro and tomatoes, until the peppers are finely minced.
• Pour the dressing over the rice mixture and mix well.
• Garnish with the cilantro and chopped tomatoes.
• This salad can be made 1-2 days in advance and served either cold or room temperature.

SOUTHWEST SALAD TACO CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Warm tortillas so they are pliable. Lightly spray six, 8-ounce custard cups with nonstick cooking spray and gently press tortilla into each cup. Bake 10 minutes or until brown and crisp. Carefully remove tortillas from cups and cool on rack. Repeat for remaining tortillas.
• Stir together Taco Ranch Dressing and salsa. Moisten chicken with 1 tablespoon prepared taco dressing mixture. Combine cheeses in small bowl, set aside. Coarsely chop salad blend and combine with dressing mixture. Toss with cheeses and chicken.
• Fill each tortilla cup with heaping 1/3 cup salad mixture. Garnish with black olives, tortilla strips and one small dollop sour-cream.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN TACO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, white pepper, cumin, oregano, thyme, and salt together in a bowl.
• Rub spice mixture into each chicken breast to coat thoroughly.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Cook chicken breasts in hot oil until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Slice chicken into strips.
• Fill each tostada shell with 1/2 cup lettuce. Divide chicken, salsa, avocados, Cheddar cheese, and olives between the tostada shells. Top each salad with ranch dressing.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN & RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Remove and discard corn husks and silk. Brush 1 tablespoon oil over ears of corn. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Cut corn from cobs. , In a large bowl, combine the chicken, red pepper, jalapenos, cilantro and corn. , In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper and remaining oil; pour over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. , Cook rice according to package directions; cool. Just before serving, stir rice and avocados into salad.

SOUTHWEST CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Toss lettuce, corn, bell pepper, and cilantro in a large bowl.
• Mix dressing with cayenne.
• Add dressing to salad and toss.
• Top with parmesan and croutons.

CILANTRO LIME GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST WITH SOUTHWEST YELLOW RICE SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Begin marinade for chicken by adding chopped cilantro to zest and juice of 2 limes mix well. In a casserole dish place 4 chicken breasts and sprinkle 1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle spices evenly on all 4, followed by cilantro lime marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• 2. Yellow rice salad begins with preparing yellow rice as directed on package. When rice is done remove to a large bowl fluff. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to mix salad.
• 3. Start fire in grill (I use charcoal but you could use gas just make sure you have nice high heat to start) you could also do this inside on a grill pan if you have no outside grill! I like to get my fire really hot all coals burning then take a paper towel with olive oil and rub grill to make sure chicken does not stick. When coals are ready medium to high heat place corn on fire grill about 6-8 minutes then remove from grill to cool. Remove chicken from marinade and place on grill. Grill 4 minutes on each side then turn and grill again to get grill marks criss crossed. Total 8 minutes on each side. Watch fire if it flames spray with water to get rid of flames. When grilling is done remove to side of grill with low heat. Then leave there to finish cooking about 10-15 minutes.
• 4. While chicken is on low heat begin salad. Cut corn from cob and place in large bowl of yellow rice. Add black beans, garlic, fresh tomatoes, and red onion toss well set aside while making dressing.
• 5. In food processor add adobe sauce, 1 sliced avocado, juice of 1 lime, sea salt, pulse 3-4 times until smooth and creamy then slowly add extra virgin olive oil while processor is running until incorporated. Remove from processor bowl and add to salad. Toss well and return to refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
• 6. Plating start with 2-3 serving spoons of yellow rice salad topped with chicken breast that have been sliced on the diagonal top with 4 slices of fresh avocado sprinkle with ground black pepper and a squeeze of fresh lime.

SOUTHWEST CORNBREAD SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cornbread mix, eggs, milk and chiles until blended. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, tomatoes, green pepper, onion and 2 cups cheese. In a small bowl, whisk the water, vinegar, oil and taco seasoning. Pour over bean mixture; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours., Cut cornbread into 1-in. cubes. In a large serving bowl, layer the cornbread, bean mixture and remaining cheese. Serve immediately.