Tender shredded chicken, black beans, sweetcorn and crunchy red pepper come together in this Creamy Southwest Salad, all tossed in a smoky, creamy lime dressing. It’s colourful, filling and packed with flavour.
It comes together in about 15 minutes and is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Perfect for lunches, barbecues, picnics and meal prep.
Creamy Southwest Salad
Shredded chicken, black beans, sweetcorn and red pepper tossed in a smoky, creamy lime dressing, with no cooking needed if you use leftover chicken.
For the Salad
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
- 1 can sweetcorn, drained
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- A handful of fresh coriander, chopped
For the Creamy Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Juice of ½ lime
Method
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, smoked paprika, cumin, chilli powder, honey, salt, black pepper and lime juice together until smooth.
- Prepare the Salad: Add the shredded chicken, sweetcorn, black beans, diced red pepper and halved cherry tomatoes to a large bowl.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with the chopped coriander and serve straight away, or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tips and Variations
- Rinse the black beans well after draining so the dressing stays creamy and not cloudy.
- Leftover roast chicken or a shop-bought rotisserie chicken works perfectly here.
- For extra crunch, add some diced red onion or crushed tortilla chips just before serving.
- Swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.
- For a milder salad, reduce the chilli powder or leave it out.
- Serve it as a side, pile it into wraps, or enjoy it as a filling lunch on its own.
Storage
Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Give it a gentle stir before serving, as the dressing may settle.
Allergy information: Contains milk and egg.
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