Air Fryer Southwestern Chicken Salad

Enjoy a refreshing and healthy Air Fryer Southwestern Chicken Salad packed with bold flavors, crisp veggies, and tender chicken. This easy recipe combines a zesty dressing with your favorite toppings for a satisfying meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.

If you love easy air fryer chicken recipes, try my recipes for Air Fryer Popeyes Fried Chicken Recipe, Air Fryer Chinese Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Whole Chicken with Lemon and Thyme, or Air Fryer KFC Chicken Recipe.

Southwestern Chicken Salad in the air fryer is a great and quick dinner, that the whole family will love.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

• Flavorful Ingredients: This salad is packed with bold flavors from seasoned grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and zesty dressing, making every bite a delicious experience.
• Healthy and Nutritious: Loaded with protein, fiber, and vitamins from ingredients like black beans, corn, and avocados, this salad is a nutritious choice for any meal.
• Quick and Easy Preparation: Using the air fryer, you can cook the chicken quickly and with minimal effort, making this salad a perfect option for busy weeknights.
• Customizable: You can easily adapt this salad to your taste by adding or substituting ingredients, like different proteins, greens, or dressings.
• Great for Meal Prep: This salad keeps well in the fridge, making it an excellent choice for meal prep, so you can enjoy a healthy lunch or dinner throughout the week.

Ingredients Needed

• Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs.
• Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic cloves
• Shallots: Add a lot of flavors and a sweet taste; you can also use sweet onions.
• Bell Peppers: Use any color, diced.
• Mayonnaise: Low Fat or full-fat, you can also use Greek yogurt for a healthier option.
• Seasonings and Spices: Adobo Sauce, Lime Juice, Granulated Sugar, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Cilantro

How To Make Air Fryer Southwestern Chicken Salad

Step One: Marinade Chicken Add all of the ingredients for the chicken marinade to a large mixing bowl. Add your chicken, and marinate the chicken for 2-6 hours.

Step Two: Cook The Chicken Add your chicken to the air fryer basket, single layer, and set the cooking time for 12-15 minutes at 370 degrees F, using the air fryer setting. Remove the chicken when the internal temperature is 165 degrees F, using a meat thermometer.

Step Three: Chop The Chicken Allow the chicken to cool for a few minutes, then dice the chicken into 1-inch pieces; add the diced chicken into a large bowl.

Step Three: Make The Chicken Salad Mince, the garlic and shallots cloves, then add your green pepper and toss well.

Step Four: Prepare The Southwestern Dressing Add the mayo, Adobo Sauce, Lime Juice, and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Mix well, and refrigerate for 10-12 minutes. In a food processor, mince about 1/2 cup of the fresh cilantro, and fold it into the dressing.

Step Five: Assemble The Chicken Salad Pour the chipotle lime dressing over the chicken as much or as little as you like. Stir all of the ingredients together until completely combined. Add the minced cilantro and stir until totally combined.

Air Fryer Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe Notes

• You can add as much or as little of the dressing as you like. Any leftover dressing may be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container. The leftover dressing makes a great dip for veggies or sandwich spread!
• You can adjust the spice level of the dressing if you like. For a less spicy dressing, use 1 Tbsp. Adobo sauce instead of 2. If you like it spicier, use 3 Tbsp. of adobo sauce instead of 2. If the dressing is too spicy, add more sugar until the spice level is balanced.
• This chicken salad can be made the day before and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Be sure not to store chicken salad at room temperature.
• Any leftover chicken salad may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
• This chicken salad should not be frozen as it contains mayo.
• If serving at a picnic or potluck, do not allow the chicken salad to sit in the sun for more than an hour or two as it contains mayo.

Air Fryer Southwestern Chicken Salad Faqs

How long does chicken salad last in the fridge? Chicken salad is a delicious and convenient meal that can easily be made ahead of time. It will last up to four days when stored correctly in the refrigerator. It’s important to remember that if you are using raw ingredients like eggs or other proteins, they should not be left out for more than two hours before being refrigerated.

Air Fryer Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe Faqs

Can I use leftover chicken for this salad? Yes, leftover cooked chicken works perfectly! Just shred or chop it and mix it with the other ingredients.

What vegetables can I add to this salad? Feel free to customize with your favorites! Good options include bell peppers, corn, black beans, diced avocado, and cherry tomatoes.

How can I make this salad spicier? Add jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing or salad for an extra kick.

Can I use a different protein? Absolutely! You can substitute the chicken with grilled shrimp, tofu, or beans for a vegetarian option.

What type of dressing works best? A lime vinaigrette or a creamy dressing like ranch or avocado dressing complements the flavors well.

How do I store leftovers? Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to prevent sogginess.

Can I meal prep this salad? Yes, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time and assemble them when ready to eat. Just keep the dressing separate.

Is this salad gluten-free? Yes, this salad is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free dressing and check that your spices are gluten-free.

Can I make this salad vegan? Yes! Simply replace the chicken with beans or tofu, and use a plant-based dressing.

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• REHEATING SWEET POTATO AIR FRYER
• AIR FRYER MEATLOAF WITH BOURBON GLAZE
• AIR FRYER BROWN BUTTER APPLE BLONDIES

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