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Chipotle Lime Chicken Salad Recipe

4.7 from 56 reviews

This smoky, zesty Chipotle Lime Chicken Salad combines tender shredded chicken with black beans, sweet corn, and colorful bell peppers, all tossed in a creamy, tangy chipotle yogurt dressing. Perfect for easy lunches, meal prep, or light dinners, this flavorful salad offers a satisfying balance of heat, creaminess, and freshness.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dressing:

  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (optional, or add more yogurt)
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder

For the Salad:

  • 4 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • ½ cup canned sweet corn, drained
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 orange bell pepper, finely diced
  • ¼ cup romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dressing: Add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise (if using), lime juice, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, kosher salt, minced garlic, and chipotle chili powder to a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend everything together until the dressing is smooth and creamy, ensuring all the smoky flavors are well combined.
  2. Combine the Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded cooked chicken, rinsed black beans, drained sweet corn, finely diced red and orange bell peppers, thinly sliced romaine lettuce, finely diced red onion, roughly chopped cilantro, and freshly cracked black pepper. Gently toss the ingredients to mix evenly.
  3. Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared chipotle dressing over the salad mixture. Toss thoroughly until every ingredient is evenly coated with the creamy, spicy dressing. Taste the salad, then adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  4. Serve: Serve the salad immediately for the freshest texture and flavor. You can enjoy it with romaine lettuce leaves, tortilla chips, or stuffed into halved bell peppers for a lighter option.

Notes

  • Adjust the heat level by varying the number of chipotle peppers from 1 (mild) to 3 (spicy) based on your preference.
  • If the dressing or salad feels too thick, add extra lime juice a little at a time to loosen it.
  • Finely dice vegetables to ensure easy biting and balanced flavors in each mouthful.
  • Taste the dressing before tossing it with the salad to customize spice and seasoning levels.
  • This salad tastes even better after chilling for 30 minutes or more, allowing flavors to meld.

Keywords: chipotle lime chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, smoky chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, meal prep salad, spicy chicken salad, Greek yogurt dressing, black bean salad