This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, crisp corn, and black beans combine with an easy BBQ Ranch Dressing in one of our favorite salads.
This Southwest Chicken Salad with Spicy Ranch is a great way to get a light, fresh, and filling meal on the table in just a few minutes. My family has been enjoying this salad for lunch and dinner for several years now.
With the convenience of pre-cooked slow cooker chicken that you can make ahead of time and stash in the fridge, the Southwest Chicken Salad comes together in about fifteen minutes. Alternatively, you can simply pick up a rotisserie chicken for an extra simple meal.
Want an alternative to chicken? You can use the Best Ever Taco Meat, Pulled Pork, or Steak Bites as the protein for this salad. Not a meat eater? Try hard boiled eggs on this salad!
If you’re looking for more great options for summer salads, don’t miss my eBook for How To Eat A Salad Everyday.
Spicy BBQ Ranch Dressing
We especially like the spicy ranch dressing with this salad. It is made simply by combining Ranch Dressing and Spicy Barbecue Sauce; the Spicy BBQ Ranch Dressing is a family favorite that is served regularly in our home.
My friend, Sandra, introduced me to her version of this salad shortly after we moved to Phoenix. It became a family favorite from that first meal.
How To Make Southwest Chicken Salad
The ingredients are simple and are always on hand in my house. When it gets hot outside, this is a quick and easy dinner that doesn’t require any time spent in a hot kitchen.
All of the ingredients are easily adjusted for each member of the family. If I’m serving a large number of people; I often set out each of the salad ingredients in separate bowls and let people build their own salads that way.
Otherwise, layer ingredients onto plates and drizzle with the dressing right before serving. Alternatively, you can layer all of the salad ingredients in a bowl or on a large platter as pictured.
Southwest Chicken Salad Recipe
- Layer lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, corn, beans, and chicken on a large platter or in a bowl.
- Top with cheese, pine nuts, and tortilla strips.
- Combine 1 cup of ranch dressing with approx 2 -3 tbsp of barbeque sauce in a small jar. Whisk or shake well and chill until ready to serve.
- Drizzle the salad with Spicy BBQ Ranch Dressing.
- Toss well and serve immediately.
Salad Recipes
For more great salad recipes, check out How To Eat A Salad Everyday, this Avocado Chicken Salad, and the amazing Bacon, Bleu Cheese, Shrimp, and Bacon Salad.
This Make Ahead Eight Layer Salad by Wishes and Dishes is loaded with meat and pasta, making it a hearty meal for lunch or dinner. And this Tortellini Pasta Salad by Rachel Cooks is loaded with great flavor and a great make-ahead meal too.
The ingredients for this recipe are adjustable for one serving or for a crowd. I’ve written the measurements for a large single serving, but it can be multiplied as needed.
Southwest Chicken Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 16 cups green leaf, romaine, and/or spring mix lettuce chopped into 1-inch or smaller pieces
- 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 English cucumber halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced thin, about 2 cups
- 1 red bell pepper cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 can corn, drained, OR 2 ears of corn, kernels removed, about 1½ cups
- 1 can black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups cooked chicken cut into bite size pieces
- 1 cup cheddar cheese cut into matchsticks or shredded
- ½ cup toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds
- 2 cups tortilla strips or corn chips
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 cups ranch dressing
- ⅓ cup spicy barbecue sauce
Instructions
Dressing Instructions
- Combine the ranch dressing and spicy barbecue ranch in a medium bowl or jar. Whisk well to combine and refrigerate until ready to use. Leftover dressing will keep nicely in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Salad Instructions
- Layer the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, corn, beans, and chicken on a large platter or in a bowl. Toss to combine. Top with cheese, pine nuts, and tortilla strips. Drizzle the salad with the prepared dressing. Toss well and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 5/24/11 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/5/20}
Sounds like an easy to make and delicious salad. Got to try making this.
Mary, what does it mean to 'seed' your cucumbers?
Even though, cucumber seeds are edible, I still like to remove the seeds from certain types of cucumbers. To do that, I slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and then in half lengthwise once more. Then it is very easy to just scoop out or slice out the seeds. I rarely remove seeds from European, Persian and Japanese cucumbers. Those varieties tend to be slightly sweeter with much less noticeable seeds.
You are then salad master! Looks amazing!
Giving this 5 Stars on how pretty it looks and how good it sounds! My husband is not a fan of ranch or any creamy dressing. What other dressings would you suggest for this salad? Made the mistake of letting hubby go to Sam’s alone and now we have tons of chicken in the freezer, so I can’t wait to make this. Wish I had seen your Beer and Garlic Grilled Chicken recipe before we froze all the chicken. It would be great to have the chicken frozen in the marinade. Oh, well, there’s always the next time he goes to Sam’s!
I hope you love the salad, Linda! There are a LOT of salad dressings here on the site. You can check them all out here: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/category/condiments/salad-dressings/
I’ve actually made this, many times, and it’s delicious and very adaptable. The dressing is really good. This is one of my go-to meals when I take dinner to families for illnesses, surgeries, new baby, condolences, etc. I layer it like the pictures and send the dressing on the side. It’s really easy to make gluten free, healthy, and beautiful to look at. I pair it with whole grain dinner rolls.
I’m so glad it’s a favorite!