Southwest Chicken Chipotle Lime (Printable)
Grilled chicken and fresh vegetables tossed with smoky chipotle lime dressing for a flavorful meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Salad
09 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
10 - 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
11 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
13 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
14 - 1 avocado, sliced
15 - ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
16 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
→ Chipotle Lime Dressing
17 - ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
18 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
19 - 1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
21 - 1 tablespoon honey
22 - 1 garlic clove, minced
23 - ½ teaspoon salt
24 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
25 - 2 tablespoons water (to thin, as needed)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
05 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, minced chipotle peppers, lime juice, honey, garlic, salt, olive oil, and water until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional water if necessary.
06 - Arrange sliced chicken over the salad, drizzle with chipotle lime dressing, and gently toss to combine or serve the dressing on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The chipotle lime dressing is addictive—it transforms ordinary lettuce into something you genuinely crave.
- Everything comes together in about 35 minutes, and most of that is just grilling chicken.
- It's naturally gluten-free and protein-packed, so you feel good eating it without any fuss.
02 -
- Don't skip the resting time after grilling—those five minutes let the chicken redistribute its juices, so it stays moist instead of drying out on the plate.
- Add the avocado right before serving, or it will turn that sad brown color that makes everything look less appetizing than it tastes.
- The chipotle peppers vary in heat depending on their size and how long they've been sitting in the adobo—start with one and taste, then add more if you want more smoke.
03 -
- Pat your chicken dry before seasoning so the spice rub actually sticks instead of sliding off in the heat.
- If chipotle peppers intimidate you, start with just the adobo sauce minus the peppers—you still get smokiness without the heat.