Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Southwest Salad is a deliciously vibrant salad packed with our favorite flavors for an amazing meal!

Perfectly seasoned grilled chicken, corn, avocado, beans, and romaine lettuce are all tossed together in a lime vinaigrette.

I hope to help inspire you guys to create some delicious meals this summer and this Southwest salad is one that the whole family will love!

Overhead shot of Southwest Salad in a wooden bowl

This post has been sponsored by McCormick.

If you asked me for a refreshing summer dish that combines flavors from the grill with the Tex-Mex flavors we know and love, this Southwest Salad would be my number one answer.

Crisp romaine lettuce makes the base of this salad. Next I add in my favorite veggies (grilled corn, tomatoes, avocado to name a few). Finally a handful of black beans and some quinoa to turn this salad into a full meal!

If you want to change things up, try swapping out the lettuce for some cooked and cooled pasta noodles. Southwest pasta salad for everyone!

This Southwest Salad recipe is topped with a simple homemade lime vinaigrette. McCormick® Grill Mates® Mesquite Marinade is the perfect addition to season the dressing and add tons of flavor! The tangy lime goes perfectly with the smoky seasonings and brings all of the flavors in this salad together!

McCormick ingredients needed for Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

The real star of this dish is the grilled chicken we put on top! My daughter Kailey (who isn’t a meat lover), had one bite of the chicken in this Southwest Salad and asked if there was any more of the chicken. Long story short, my daughter has a new ‘fav chicken’. Score one for Mom!

A drizzle of olive oil and McCormick® Grill Mates® Applewood Rub creates the most delicious grilled chicken, perfectly seasoned with a slightly smoky flavor.

Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette served in a wooden bowl

How To Grill Chicken

I used to be pretty nervous around a grill, but realizing how much flavor you can get out of your meat from grilling it really inspired me to learn to use it well! Here are a few of my favorite tips.

Make your chicken even. With a boneless chicken breast, you’ll notice that one end is much thicker than the other. I use a meat mallet to gently pound all of the chicken breasts to an even thickness to allow for even cooking.

Season your chicken before grilling. A dash of olive oil and a deliciously flavorful rub (I used McCormick® Grill Mates® Applewood Rub) means you’ll get loads of flavor.

Use a thermometer. I always use a thermometer to make sure my chicken is perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. You’ll want to cook your chicken to 165 degrees (I usually take it off just before as the temperature will continue to rise a few degrees while it rests).

Rest your chicken. Resting your chicken breasts for about 5-10 minutes to allow the juices to settle before you slice it up. This will help keep your chicken tender and delicious!

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