Head south of the border with this delicious Keto Southwest Chicken Salad recipe!
If You Want An Advance Level of Premium Keto Diet Recipes (100+ Healthy & Tasty) Then Join – Our 21-Days Keto Diet Challenge
Join The 21 Days Keto Diet Challenge for Weight Loss Here
Why It Might Not Be Keto
Chicken salad, or any salad, can sometimes trick us into thinking it’s always keto-friendly. The reality is, just because it’s a salad doesn’t mean it’s keto or even healthy! Many restaurant versions are loaded with high-carb ingredients like corn, black beans, tortilla chips, breaded chicken, and sugary dressings, which can quickly add up to more carbs than a burger with a bun!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Salad haters, listen up! If you struggle to get in your daily greens, my easy Southwest Chicken Salad recipe is the answer. This isn’t your ordinary health food – it’s creamy, satisfying, and totally keto-approved!
When I’m prepping a keto salad, it needs to have:
- Good protein
- Healthy fat
- Low-carb count
- The ability to fill you up!
Join The 21 Days Keto Diet Challenge for Weight Loss Here
How I Made It Keto
Instead of high-carb grains and beans, this salad gets color and flavor from fresh veggies like zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, sweet peppers, cucumber, avocado, and spicy peppers. Grilled chicken keeps the carb count low, and a homemade creamy southwest dressing made with keto mayo, shallots, garlic, lime, chives, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper adds delicious flavor without any hidden carbs or unhealthy oils.
Free Keto Meal Plan
While it might seem like your options are limited on keto, you probably have more to choose from than you think. To make it easier, I’ve created a free keto meal plan with 28 days worth of breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes. All meals are delicious and low-carb, so you can enjoy a variety of dishes without the guesswork.
Join The 21 Days Keto Diet Challenge for Weight Loss Here
Cooking Tips
This easy Southwest Chicken Salad recipe comes together quickly! Here are a few tips to ensure success:
- Add olive oil to your skillet to prevent sticking.
- Use a splash of chicken broth to help your seasoning blend.
- Let the chicken cool completely before adding it to your salad to avoid wilting the greens.
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- 2/3 cup (156 ml) Keto mayo
- 1 shallot (10 g), finely minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon (3 g) fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove (3 g), minced
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) apple cider vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Join The 21 Days Keto Diet Challenge for Weight Loss Here
For the Salad:
- 4 chicken tenders (approx. 400 g)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) avocado oil
- 8 small spears (128 g) asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 small zucchini (120 g), sliced
- 1 small yellow squash (120 g), sliced
- 2 cups (66 g) shredded Romaine or Cos lettuce
- 1 avocado (200 g), pitted and sliced
- 4 sweet mini peppers (120 g), deseeded and sliced
- 1 small cucumber (220 g), sliced
- 1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced, to serve
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped, to serve
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Lime wedges, to garnish
If You Want An Advance Level of Premium Keto Diet Recipes (100+ Healthy & Tasty) Then Join – Our 21-Days Keto Diet Challenge
Join The 21 Days Keto Diet Challenge for Weight Loss Here
Instructions
- Blend all dressing ingredients until smooth, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper and brush with 1 tablespoon avocado oil. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and grill the chicken tenders until fully cooked, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, let rest for a few minutes, and slice. Set aside.
- Add zucchini, yellow squash, and asparagus to a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of oil; toss to coat. Grill the zucchini, yellow squash, and asparagus until just tender.
- Assemble the salads by layering the lettuce, chicken, grilled vegetables, and remaining ingredients into 4 salad bowls. Pour over the dressing and add cilantro and scallions if desired. Garnish with lime wedges.
Join The 21 Days Keto Diet Challenge for Weight Loss Here
Notes
- The salad will keep in the fridge without the dressing for up to 2 days.
- All nutritional data are estimated and based on per serving amounts.
- Net Carbs: 6 g
Variations
- Add taco seasoning to your chicken for extra flavor!
- Include cherry tomatoes for color and a nutrient boost.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Try chopped romaine lettuce instead of iceberg.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice on top for a burst of acidity.
- Top with avocado for a tasty, healthy fat!
FAQs
What is a Southwest salad made of?
A traditional Southwest salad usually consists of grilled chicken, greens, sweet corn, black beans, cheese, and a creamy Southwest dressing. My keto version swaps out the beans and sweet corn for extra vegetables to keep the carb count low.
What is Southwest dressing made of?
Southwest dressing varies but typically includes ingredients like apple cider vinegar, lime juice, sour cream, and an abundance of spices. For my keto Southwest Chicken Salad, I use a homemade ranch dressing and let the grilled chicken speak for itself!
