Raise your hand if you are ready for some non-comfort food? Today I'm sharing this SW Chicken Chopped Salad with a tangy Creamy Jalapeno dressing. Your winter taste buds will come alive!
This past weekend we were visiting our little grandbaby Emily and on our drive back home (about 90 minutes away) we called ahead and stopped at Applebee's car side to go. I ordered the SW Chicken Chopped Salad and The DIY Guy opted for the Chicken Oriental (my other favorite).
I thought, hmmmm I could do this! I had most of the ingredients on hand but was then stuck on the salad dressing.
I knew it had some cilantro and jalapeno so after some looking around, I found some recipes that had all the ingredients I thought it had and tweaked in into my own version.
I'm thinking it gives Applebees a run for their money!
This would be a great salad to bring to work, picnic, pot luck, etc. Just combine the salad ingredients and right before eating toss in the dressing.
It did have a bit of a spicy bite so I was glad I decided to only use half the jalapeno. Now I wish I could find those cute colored tortilla chips that all the restaurants seem to have. Any clue on where to find them??
Hope you enjoy this salad! I might have a few more up my sleeve this spring!
Enjoy this collection of salads too!
Get the Recipe
Southwest Chicken Chopped Salad
Loads of flavor in the SW salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon mayo
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (loosely packed)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (I only used half and it was plenty spicy)
- ½ clove garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Salad
- one bag chopped romaine lettuce (chopped even finer)
- ¾ cup black beans rinsed and drained
- ¾ cup frozen corn thawed
- 2 tablespoons minced red onion (or more to taste)
- 1 cup diced cook chicken breast (or more if desired)
- ½ cup shredded monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- In a food processor combine all the dressing ingredients and process until well combined; set aside
- In a large bowl combine all the salad ingredients and toss with dressing
- Divide into 2 salad bowls
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 500Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 831mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 15gSugar: 11gProtein: 41g
Nutritional information provided is computer-generated and only an estimate. You may want to do your own research with the ingredients listed if you have concerns about health or specific diets.
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BecHeflin says
This looks flippin' fantastic, Deb! I don't know what it is, but I'm twice as addicted to salads that are uniformly chopped. Strange, I know. I Pinned and Stumbled this recipe!
Marcie FlavortheMoments says
That is one salad I'd be more than happy to finish off! I love the looks of that dressing, too. Non-comfort food never looked so good. 🙂
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
Dannnnggg. Thank dressing looks great, Deb! I love jalapenos. And the salad, I'd love a big ole bowl of that. Pinned! Hope you are having a great week, my friend. 🙂
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
This looks delicious, Deb! I love it when you can make your own version of your restaurant favorites. I bet yours is better! 🙂
Jamie Sherman says
My hands are raised!! Looks great and I bet that dressing is the bomb!
Kelly LifemadeSweeter says
This salad looks amazing Deb! The cilantro and jalapeno sound fantastic in the dressing. Love that you made your own version and I'll bet so much better than Applebees - pinning 🙂
Gloria @ Simply Gloria says
Deb, loving how refreshing this looks... I've got to fit into my bikinis this summer! 😉
Cindy says
Wow this looks delicious Deb--it combines all of my favorite flavors. It will be on the menu soon.
Ann Jones says
Your salad looks great! It so bright and vibrant!
Emily Dicks says
Deb you are killing it with these salads lately, I can't wait to try this one soon, pinning 🙂
Dawn Yucuis says
I love the salad and the dressing. I love the combination of ingredients for the dressing. I have a feeling that this would be so much better than what you would get from Applebees!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Looks delicious and filling. Beautiful. Pinning! 🙂
BecHeflin says
SO gorgeous, Deb! Pinned and Stumbled!
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Giant salads like this are my comfort food. I can't get enough of them once the snow melts. This looks fantastic!
Visiting from Saturday Night Fever
Classy and Crafty says
Deb, I love going somewhere and thinking the same thing... I could so do this recipe! Looks like you nailed it WAYYY out of the park. I bet this is better made at home than having it in the restaurant. You always get me at the dressings part... oh, so good!
Diane Balch says
So glad you shared a dressing recipe with us on Foodie Friday... I am a good cook, but I make the worst dressing... so I need this, thanks.
Angela Paris says
This looks fabulous! I'm pinning it to a bunch of my boards over the next few days 🙂
Rachel Kathy G @ onlinesisterhood says
This salad looks so tasty (wow, that dressing looks just uh-mazing). can't wait to try it. Pinned it.Have a great week. found you at lbccastpartywed
Christina Nee says
Wow! I'm always looking for new dressings for my boring lunch salads...this one looks perfect!
Jen Nikolaus says
Oh, this sounds so delicious. I love homemade dressing! Thanks for sharing on Saturday Night Fever! Hope to see you again this weekend! 🙂
Homemade for Elle says
Yum, this looks amazing! I'm adding the ingredients to my shopping list so I can try it out next week!
cooking with curls says
I love these types of salads! It looks amazing Deb. 🙂
EZPZ Mealz says
This is a great looking salad. there is just something about chopped salads I love. I especially love the dressing. mmmm
Cathy Trochelman says
Gosh does this salad look tasty!!!
Dara Brewton says
Sounds super delicious. I like to eat the SW salad at Chick-fil-a, so I am sure I would love this one too.
Ambient Wares says
Sounds & looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday!