Dense Southwestern Bean Salad (Print)

A hearty blend of black beans, corn, chicken, and vibrant Southwestern flavors ready in 30 minutes.

# Ingredients:

→ Protein & Beans

01 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (rotisserie or poached)
02 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup canned or frozen sweet corn, drained and thawed
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
07 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
08 - 1 avocado, diced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
12 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
14 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
17 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
18 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Instructions:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, red wine vinegar, honey, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
02 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño if used, and cilantro evenly.
03 - Pour the dressing over the combined ingredients and toss thoroughly to coat all components.
04 - Carefully fold diced avocado into the salad to avoid mashing.
05 - Adjust seasoning to taste, then refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
06 - Present as a salad, a dip paired with tortilla chips, or use as a filling for wraps.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in thirty minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon on it.
  • One bowl holds enough protein and color that you feel like you're eating something real, not just rabbit food.
  • The avocado stays creamy, the beans stay firm, and every bite tastes different depending on what fork-load you grab.
02 -
  • The avocado will darken if it sits too long, so add it right before serving if you're not eating immediately.
  • If your salad tastes flat, it's almost always because you underseasoned the dressing before it went into the bowl—taste it on its own and adjust there.
03 -
  • Rinse your canned beans thoroughly or the starch will make the salad taste thick and starchy instead of fresh.
  • If you can't find smoked paprika, regular paprika works, but smoked paprika is the ingredient that makes people ask for the recipe.
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