This delicious Santa Fe Salad features crisp lettuce, juicy chicken, black beans, and a medley of colorful vegetables, all dressed with a creamy lime-infused dressing. With its bold flavors and fresh ingredients, this healthy salad will transport your taste buds to the Southwest. Make it in 30 minutes!
In the warm weather months, I crave refreshing salads that are both satisfying and packed with flavor. Some of my favorite salads are my grilled shrimp salad, summer citrus salad with grilled chicken, and chicken salad with grapes and almonds.
But one of my all time favorites has to be the Santa Fe Salad, a delightful Southwest-inspired creation. Packed with bold flavors and fresh ingredients, this is a delicious and satisfying salad that can be made in just 30 minutes.
Whether you're craving a light and satisfying weeknight dinner or looking to impress guests with a vibrant, flavor-packed salad, this Santa Fe Salad won't disappoint!
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What is a Santa Fe Salad?
A Santa Fe Salad, also known as a Southwest Chicken Salad, is a vibrant and flavorful salad. It's inspired by the culinary traditions of the Southwest, particularly Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's a common salad that you'll find on restaurant menus like Chili's or Cheesecake Factory, each with its own twist.
A Santa Fe style salad typically includes juicy chicken, lettuce, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, creamy avocado, and shredded cheese. It's usually accompanied by a zesty Southwest dressing infused with flavors like chili powder, cumin, and lime, which add a distinctive kick.
This Southwest-inspired chicken salad is often topped with crispy tortilla strips, which add a delightful crunch. It's a delicious and satisfying main dish salad with tons of flavor, color, and texture.
Not only is this salad delicious, it's also a nutritious and well-rounded meal. By incorporating a variety of fresh vegetables, lean protein, fiber-rich legumes, and healthy fats, this Santa Fe Salad offers a balanced mix of nutrients.
This Santa Fe Salad recipe is featured in my collection of 30+ Healthy High Protein Lunch Ideas!
Why You'll Love This Dish
- Packed with flavor- a tasty blend of vibrant and bold flavors
- Easy to Prepare- the perfect easy weeknight dinner
- Balanced and Nutritious- a well-rounded nutritional profile with a mix of lean protein, dietary fiber, and healthy fats
- Versatile- equally suitable for lunch, dinner, or parties
- Wholesome and Satisfying- this hearty Santa Fe chicken salad will fill you up without weighing you down
Doctor's Tips
- It's easy to make homemade salad dressing! Plus, homemade dressing is healthier, fresher, and better tasting than store-bought dressing.
- When you make your own salad dressing, you have complete control over the ingredients you use. You can choose high-quality oils, such as olive or avocado oil, which provide beneficial unsaturated fats. You can also avoid additives, preservatives, excessive sodium, and artificial flavors or sweeteners commonly found in store-bought dressings.
- Homemade salad dressing is a simple way to elevate the nutritional value and taste of your salads.
Ingredients
Ingredient notes and substitutions (see full ingredient list in recipe card below):
- Chicken- I grill boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the recipe; however you can also use leftover cooked chicken like rotisserie chicken
- Lettuce- I like the crunch of romaine lettuce but you can use mixed greens, baby spinach or any lettuce that you like
- Black beans- you can use pinto beans or kidney beans instead
- Corn- I like to use fresh corn kernels when it's in season- I grill it and then cut off the kernels. You can also use frozen or canned corn; if using frozen corn, I like to use fire-roasted corn, which adds a nice smoky flavor.
- Cheese- I like to use crumbled cotija cheese however you can substitute other Mexican cheese like queso blanco. You can also use shredded cheese like Monterey jack, Mexican blend, or cheddar cheese.
- Tortilla strips- I like to make my own tortilla strips (see recipe card at end of post) but you can also buy crunchy tortilla strips from the grocery store or use crushed tortilla chips.
- Spices- I use a mixture of dried spices like chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder for the chicken and the dressing. You can use taco seasoning or whatever spices you like. You can also use my Mexican chicken marinade.
How To Make Santa Fe Salad Step-By-Step
- Step 1- Sprinkle chili powder and salt on the chicken breasts.
- Step 2- Grill the chicken over medium-high heat in a grill pan or large skillet like a cast iron skillet. Cook 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F as checked with a meat thermometer.
Meat Thermometer
Invest in a good meat thermometer and never overcook or undercook meat again!
- Step 3- To make the Southwest salad dressing, place the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, dried spices, honey, and water in a medium bowl.
- Step 4- Whisk until smooth.
- Step 5- Place the lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, corn, black beans, scallions, and cheese in a large serving bowl.
- Step 6- Top with sliced chicken and crispy tortilla strips. Drizzle the Southwest salad dressing on top.
Chef's Tips
- The beauty of this salad is that you can customize it to your liking. You can try using other ingredients like fresh cilantro, black olives, bell pepper, jalapeños or pickled onions. You can top your salad with a dollop of guacamole, sour cream or salsa.
- You can also use my Mexican chicken marinade to make the chicken for this dish.
- This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover chicken you may have in your fridge, like rotisserie chicken.
- Leftovers are great the next day tucked into flour or corn tortillas to make tacos.
- I like to make my own crispy tortilla strips (see section below) but you can also buy crunchy tortilla strips from the grocery store or use crushed tortilla chips.
How To Make Crispy Tortilla Strips
- Cut 4 small corn or flour tortillas into thin (¼-inch) strips.
- Toss the strips with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven at 400°F 8-10 minutes until golden. Alternatively, you can cook them in the air fryer at 360°F for 6-8 minutes, tossing them halfway through. Sprinkle tortilla strips with a pinch of salt.
- Cool the strips and then sprinkle them on top of the Santa Fe Salad. Leftover strips can be stored in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature.
Have you ever wondered how long chicken can sit out before you need to toss it? Read my post all about how to properly handle and store chicken to help ensure that it's always safe to eat!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, a Santa Fe salad is a nutritious and well-rounded meal. By incorporating a variety of fresh vegetables, lean protein, fiber-rich legumes, and healthy fats, this Santa Fe Salad offers a balanced mix of nutrients.
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the salad dressing separately from the salad to preserve the greens a little longer.
Santa Fe Salad, also known as Southwest Chicken Salad, is a flavorful salad typically made with a combination of grilled chicken, lettuce or mixed greens, black beans, corn, avocado, and tomatoes, topped with crispy tortilla chips and a zesty Southwest dressing.
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Recipe
Santa Fe Salad (Southwest Chicken Salad)
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 large chicken breasts (8 oz each)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups romaine lettuce
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup corn I use frozen fire roasted corn
- ½ cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 4 scallions sliced
- ¼ cup cotija cheese or queso blanco can substute shredded Mexican blend or Monterey jack
- 1 cup tortilla strips for salads (see notes)
- Oil for brushing grill
Southwest Salad Dressing
- ½ cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon honey or agave
- 1-2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Sprinkle the chili powder and salt evenly over the chicken breasts, patting it in so that it adheres. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat. Brush with oil. Grill the chicken, about 4-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from grill and let chicken rest for several minutes.
- To make the salad, mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic, powder, salt, honey, and water together in a medium bowl until smooth. Add more water as needed to thin the dressing out to the desired consistency.
- Arrange the lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, corn, black beans, scallions, and cheese in a large serving bowl. Slice the chicken and arrange the slices on top. Garnish with tortilla strips, if desired. Serve with Southwest dressing on the side.
Notes
- Cut 4 small corn or flour tortillas into thin (¼-inch) strips.
- Toss the strips with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven at 400°F 8-10 minutes until golden. Alternatively, you can cook them in the air fryer at 360°F for 6-8 minutes, tossing them halfway through. Sprinkle tortilla strips with a pinch of salt.
- Store leftover strips in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature
url says
Love this colorful and healthy recipe, with mixture of meat, lentils, vegetables and cheese.
I also learnt how to make tortilla strips, from corn tortillas.
(I used the air fryer).
Thank you, Sonali. i always get new little tips from your recipes.