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Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken

Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken layers crisp lettuce, sweet charred corn, and crunchy cabbage with creamy avocado and tangy cotija. Juicy, Cajun-seasoned chicken adds gentle heat, while a bright tomatillo-cilantro salsa verde ties everything together with fresh, citrusy bite. Serve it for a vibrant weeknight dinner or a lively weekend lunch when you want bold flavor and satisfying textures.

  • Prep45 mins
  • Cook30 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyMedium
Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

58 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
57 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
36 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
92 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

30
Heart Health
89
Metabolic
57
Digestive
32
Inflammatory
64
Performance
59
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil; add corn. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Move the corn to a work surface; let it cool until easy to handle. Cut the kernels off the cobs; put the kernels in a large bowl. Discard the cobs.

  2. 2

    Meanwhile, put tomatillos, cilantro, onion, 4 teaspoons lime juice, jalapeño, garlic, and salt in a blender; blend until finely chopped. Transfer the salsa verde to a bowl; set aside.

  3. 3

    Stir black beans, bell pepper, and cabbage into the corn. Toss the avocado with the remaining 1 teaspoon lime juice in a separate bowl; stir it into the corn mixture.

  4. 4

    Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high and lightly oil the grate. Season the chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning.

  5. 5

    Grill the chicken on the preheated grill until the centers are no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 6 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Set the breasts aside until cool enough to handle; cut into bite-sized pieces.

  6. 6

    Divide lettuce leaves among four plates; mound the corn-avocado mixture on top, then add the chicken. Sprinkle with cotija cheese. Serve with salsa verde and lime wedges.

About This Recipe

Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken is a Cajun and Creole dinner recipe made with 17 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 15 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Avocado, Black Beans, Cajun Seasoning, and Chicken Breast. Each serving provides about 623.29 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken?
It is a Cajun and Creole salad recipe made with 17 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or salad.
What is Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken made of?
The main ingredients are Avocado, Black Beans, Cajun Seasoning, Chicken Breast, Corn. The full list of 17 is above.
What goes well with Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken?
Explore these Cajun and Creole side-dish recipes.
How long does it take to make Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken?
About 1 hr 15 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 623.29 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 6 steps.
Is Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken healthy?
Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde and Spicy Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 58/100. Per serving, it provides 623.29 calories and 49.13 g of protein, or 98% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1375.24 mg (60% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 10.92 g (55% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Corn, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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