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southwest pasta salad with chicken in bowl

Easy Southwest Pasta Salad with Chicken

Kitchen Ready Betty
This Southwest Salad with Chicken is a vibrant, protein-packed side-dish and meal featuring tender grilled chicken, crunchy veggies, and a zesty lime dressing. It's a quick and healthy dinner option that brings bold, smoky flavors to your table in minutes.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
rest time (for best flavor) 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 14 minutes
Course Main Dishes, Salads, Salads & Sides, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Servings 8
Calories 395 kcal

Equipment

  • medium saucepan with lid
  • colander
  • chef's knife
  • serrated knife
  • cutting board
  • large salad bowl (4 quart or larger)
  • small mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • citrus juicer 

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Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz rotini noodles dry measurement; can also use cavatappi
  • 2 cups precooked chicken cut into small cubes
  • 2 cups (8 oz) Colby Jack cheese cut into small cubes
  • 1 large red pepper seeded, stemmed, and diced
  • 1 small jalapeño seeded, stemmed, and finely diced
  • ½ cup green onions chopped; can use red onions instead for bolder flavor
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1.5 cups corn defrosted from frozen, from the cob, or canned
  • 1 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
  • ½ cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt OR sour cream
  • 1 small lime juiced
  • 2 tablespoons tajin seasoning may substitute with chili powder

Instructions
 

  • Cook noodles according to package directions for al dente; immediately drain in colander and rinse under cold water; allow to fully cool.
  • To a large salad bowl, add cooled noodles, cubed chicken and cheese, diced pepper, jalapeño, and onions; mix well.
  • Next add drained beans and corn; gently toss.
  • In a small mixing bowl, make the crema dressing by whisking the mayo, yogurt OR sour cream, and lime juice until just blended (do not overmix); stir in tajin seasoning.
  • Add the crema dressing to the large bowl; gently mix until all ingredients are coated.
  • For best flavor and texture, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours.

Notes

Reserve a small amount of the lime crema to stir in just before serving. Pasta naturally absorbs dressing as it sits, so this quick step ensures your Southwest salad stays perfectly creamy and flavorful right when it hits the table.
Southwest pasta salad with chicken stays delicious in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days when kept in a tightly sealed, airtight container. Because pasta acts like a sponge, it will naturally absorb the lime crema dressing as it sits, so keep that extra bit of dressing handy to mix in right before you eat. For the best flavor, let the salad sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving to let the zesty Tajín and lime notes really shine.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 23gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 515mgPotassium: 446mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2037IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 263mgIron: 2mg
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