Description
A vibrant and hearty salad featuring spicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and zesty Southwest dressing, perfect for a healthy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar (or any vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 medium chicken breasts (or 3 small)
- 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
- 6–8 cups chopped spinach (or romaine)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 1/4 cup pepitas
- 1 cup crumbled tortilla chips (or tortilla strips)
- 1/3 cup Southwest Salad Dressing
Instructions
- Begin by mixing the ingredients for the marinade together in a bowl.
- Place the chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag and pour the marinade over it.
- Let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- On a baking sheet, place the marinated chicken and bake it for 15 minutes.
- Add the chopped bell pepper to the baking sheet and continue to bake for another 15 minutes.
- While the chicken is baking, prepare the salad dressing in a small bowl.
- Chop the spinach into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large salad bowl, toss together all of the salad ingredients except for the pepitas, tortilla chips, and dressing.
- Once the chicken and bell peppers are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing.
- Add the sliced chicken and bell peppers to the salad mix and toss everything together gently.
- To serve, plate each portion of the salad, adding the pepitas, crumbled tortilla chips, and a generous drizzle of the Southwest dressing on top.
Notes
Marinate chicken overnight for enhanced flavor. Use fresh ingredients for the best taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg