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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch

    Published: Aug 24, 2016 · Modified: Aug 27, 2018 by Melissa Stadler · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

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    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.comI am trying to diet right now.

    If I could insert an emjoi right here, it would be a crying one. No, it wouldn't be the "laughing so hard that I am crying" emoji but would be the ugly crying emoji because I am doing something really hard! I am a food blogger and spend most of my days scrolling through food photos, creating recipe ideas in my mind,  making them in my kitchen, and then eating them! I am basically looking or thinking about cakes and cookies on the daily.

    So I decided to go on a diet because my pants don't fit anymore and I can't go EVERYWHERE in sweatpants (it is 105 degrees in AZ so I have no business wearing them anyway)! I will just say that I am just thankful joggers are in style. Please stay in style, joggers. They along with sweatpants and pj's are basically my "uniform." #keepingitreal

    In an attempt to give this diet a real shot, I am giving up the sugar and embracing the greens and I will keep you posted how long I stay sane. There are some salads that I literally have to choke down, feeling like I am eating rabbit food.  If you are going to eat a salad, you want it to taste good, right?

    Here's a salad that will make you forget that it's even healthy.  This Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch is made with chili lime grilled chicken, roasted corn, romaine lettuce, orange peppers, grape tomatoes, pepper jack cheese, and avocado. Let's not forget about the Cilantro Lime Ranch either.  Well, let's just agree....Ranch Dressing just makes everything better.

    Although, this salad is way good even without dressing. I kid you not. "Diet girl" here has tested it out.

    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    The key to this Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad is making the star ingredient -- grilled chicken -- juicy and flavorful. A simple marinade of olive oil, lime juice, and spices can really transform chicken. Letting it sit for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour gives the marinade time to do its magic. It makes the chicken more tender, juicy, and flavorful. The chicken can be grilled on in outdoor grill or even in a skillet on the stovetop. Let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.

    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    This Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch is the ultimate summer salad, using corn straight from the cob and ripe tomatoes plucked from the vine. A good timesaver is to throw a few ears of corn on the cob on the grill at the same time you grill the chicken. Grilling corn on the cob really brings out the flavors.

    Avocados turn brown easily so a simple solution is to sprinkle them with a little fresh lime juice and salt. It keeps them from browning and brings out their natural flavor.

    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch by Modern Honey l www.mdoernhoney.com

    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch

    Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey
    Mexican chicken chopped salad with creamy cilantro lime ranch dressing
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    Chili Lime Chicken:

    • 1 lb. Chicken Breast
    • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
    • 1 Lime juiced
    • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Salt

    Salad:

    • 1 Head Romaine Lettuce or 2 Romaine Hearts, chopped into bite size pieces
    • 1 Large Avocado or 2 small avocados, sliced
    • 1 cup Pepper Jack Cheese shredded
    • 2 Ears of Fresh Corn or 1 cup White Corn
    • 1 cup Grape Tomatoes halved (or 1 large tomatoes, sliced)
    • 1 Orange Pepper sliced (mini peppers)

    Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing:

    • 1 cup Mayonnaise
    • 1 cup Buttermilk
    • 1 Ranch Dressing Packet or 3 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing Mix
    • 1 cup Cilantro
    • 2 Limes juiced
    • 1 Jalapeno deseeded

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin and salt together and pour evenly all over chicken breasts. Allow chicken to marinate for 30 minutes - 1 hour before cooking.

    Outdoor Grill Instructions:

    • Preheat the grill to medium heat.Place chicken on grill and cook for for 5-7 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. Add corn to grill to roast, if desired. Remove chicken from grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

    Skillet Instructions:

    • Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and cooked through. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

    To make dressing:

    • In food processor, pulse mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch dressing mix, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeno. Taste and add salt, if desired.

    To assemble salad:

    • Place chopped romaine lettuce in large bowl. Top with grilled chicken, sliced avocado (sprinkle with fresh lime juice and salt to prevent browning and bring out flavor), pepper jack cheese, roasted corn, grape tomatoes, and orange pepper.
    • Pour cilantro lime ranch over salad and toss to serve.
    Keyword southwest chicken salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    DSC_1591 (1) copy

    It's summer....let's not heat up the kitchen with a hot meal. Let the outdoor grill do most of the work. You are going to LOVE this Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch. Come eat salad with me!

    Happy Cooking! xo

    More Chicken

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eileen K

      August 14, 2022 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      Delish!!! This will be a regular for us. So flavorful. I only used half a jalapeño cause I’m a little wimpy in the heat department and I substituted a little less chipotle chili pepper. So YUM! Thank you!!!

      Reply
    2. Christine

      December 08, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and the whole family loved it. I will be making it again within the next week since I have plenty of leftover salad dressing.

      Reply
    3. stacy

      August 09, 2017 at 5:30 am

      5 stars
      Looks wonderful, I'm going to try and make this salad this week. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    4. Annabelle Chapple

      August 25, 2016 at 12:45 am

      What an appetising looking salad that is, though! We all diet, just few of us admit to doing it. So great work on committing to it and good luck with your goal!

      Reply
      • Modern Honey

        August 25, 2016 at 5:31 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks so much, Annabelle! Diets are super hard for foodies but always worth it in the end. Ha! Thank you for taking the time to comment. Have a great night!

        Reply

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    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

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