Ingredients

Scale

(Serves 4)

Chipotle-lime chicken:

1½ lbs boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp chipotle powder (or 1–2 minced chipotles in adobo)
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper

Salad base:

8 cups chopped romaine or mixed greens
1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed (or omit for lower carb)
1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or fire-roasted)
1 ripe avocado, diced
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced (soak in water 10 min to mellow)

Creamy cilantro-lime dressing:

½ cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat—you love high-protein!)
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt & pepper to taste

Crunchy topping:

1 cup baked tortilla strips (or pork rinds for keto)
Optional: Crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese

Instructions

1. Cook chicken:

Toss chicken with olive oil, lime juice, chipotle powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Grill or pan-sear over medium-high heat 6–7 minutes per side until 165°F. Rest 5 minutes; slice thinly.

2. Make dressing:

Whisk Greek yogurt, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.

3. Assemble salad:

In a large bowl, combine greens, black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, and drained red onion.
Top with sliced chicken and tortilla strips.
Drizzle with dressing just before serving; toss gently.

💡 Pro Tips for Perfection:
✅ Soak red onion—reduces sharpness for balanced flavor.
✅ Low-sodium mastery (you love this!):
→ Use no-salt-added beans + skip added salt in seasoning
→ Boost flavor with extra lime zest, cumin, and garlic
✅ Blood sugar friendly (you love this!):
→ Reduce corn to ½ cup + increase non-starchy veggies
→ Add 1 tbsp chia seeds to dressing for fiber + glycemic control
→ Net carbs: ~16g/serving
✅ Low-carb/keto option (you love this!):
→ Skip black beans and corn entirely
→ Use pork rinds instead of tortilla strips
→ Increase avocado to 2 whole
→ Net carbs drop to ~8g/serving
✅ High-protein boost (you love this!):
→ Add ¼ cup hemp seeds (+10g protein total)
→ Use 2 lbs chicken for +10g protein/serving
✅ Make ahead:
→ Cook chicken and chop veggies 2 days ahead
→ Store dressing separately
→ Assemble within 30 minutes of serving to prevent sogginess

Prep Time & Nutrition (per serving):