If you’re looking for a salad that actually keeps you full, this Grilled Chicken Salad is it. Tender grilled chicken, creamy avocado, sweet grilled corn, crunchy roasted chickpeas, and queso fresco are tossed together with a zesty homemade southwest ranch dressing for a salad that’s hearty enough to be dinner.

It’s fresh, colorful, packed with protein, and loaded with bold Southwest flavors in every bite. Whether you’re meal prepping lunches or serving dinner on a warm summer night, this is one of those salads everyone gets excited to eat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Don’t let the ingredient list fool you—everything in this southwest salad with roasted chickpeas is easy to find and worth every bite.

Roasted Chickpeas

• Chickpeas: Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas become wonderfully crispy in the oven and add protein, fiber, and crunch to the salad.
• Olive Oil: Helps the chickpeas crisp up while adding rich flavor and helping the seasonings adhere.
• Paprika: Adds a mild smoky sweetness and beautiful color to the roasted chickpeas.
• Ground Cumin: Brings warm, earthy Southwest flavor that pairs perfectly with the chicken and corn.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances all the flavors and helps season the chickpeas from the inside out.

Southwest Ranch Dressing

• Sour Cream: Creates a creamy, tangy base for the dressing.
• Mayonnaise: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, classic ranch texture.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the dressing and balances the richness with fresh acidity.
• Fresh Dill: Gives the dressing that signature ranch flavor and fresh herbaceous taste.
• Garlic Powder: Adds savory depth without overpowering the dressing.
• Chili Powder: Brings mild heat and smoky Southwest flavor.
• Taco Seasoning: Adds extra layers of spices and enhances the Southwestern flavor profile.
  • PRO TIP: This is the key to this salad!

For the Salad

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If you’re looking for the best cilantro lime dressing, this creamy version is fresh, tangy, and packed with flavor. Made with avocado, fresh lime juice, cilantro, and garlic, this cilantro lime salad dressing blends up in just minutes and works on almost everything. Drizzle it over salads, tacos, burrito bowls, grilled chicken, or use it as a dip for veggies.

The avocado gives the dressing a naturally creamy texture without any dairy, while the lime and cilantro add that bright, zesty flavor that makes everything taste better. Basically, once you make this cilantro lime dressing recipe, you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge at all times.

Salad Dressing Recipes

I’m slowly but surely gathering up all of my favorite salad dressing recipes… for my mom. Haha! I mean, I’m doing it for all of you as well, but this stems from a comment my mom made that I’m not completely ruminating on. 🙂 She said she doesn’t know how to make a good salad. AND, FURTHERMORE, she doesn’t really eat salad in the winter because she associates it with summer. 

Oh heck no. 

Salad is one of the greatest things of my life, so I absolutely have to help her out! Salads are the easiest recipe because literally anything goes. You wanna add roasted sweet potatoes? DO IT! You want to mix cottage cheese in? IT’S DELICIOUS!

So, first up, Cilantro Lime Avocado Dressing because it’s healthy, and so bright and zesty! And look at that green color! All the heart eyes!

Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Dressing

• Ready in 5 minutes
• Naturally creamy from avocado
• Fresh and tangy flavor
• Great for salads, tacos, bowls, and wraps
• Gluten-free and dairy-free

Ingredients You’ll Need

This creamy cilantro lime dressing uses simple fresh ingredients that blend into a bright and flavorful sauce.