McDonald's Southwest Salad {Copycat Recipe}
This McDonald's Southwest Salad is a delicious copycat, right down to the homemade southwest salad dressing and healthier crispy chicken!
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: tex mex
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 431kcal
Crispy chicken
- 1/2 lb chicken tenders
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup regular breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray & salt to taste (optional)
Salad fillings
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- Black beans
- Corn
- Tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- Tortilla strips
- Cilantro, chopped
Southwest salad dressing
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
Preheat oven to 425 F. Crack egg into a large bowl, then coat chicken in it. Mix panko and regular breadcrumbs in a large bowl, then coat chicken in the mixture.
Place chicken tenders on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spray with cooking spray then season with salt if desired. Bake for 6-7 minutes per side until chicken is fully cooked.
Meanwhile, mix ingredients together for salad dressing and assemble ingredients for salads while chicken is cooking.
When chicken is done, remove from oven and let cool. Slice into strips then top each salad with chicken and toss in 2 tbsp of dressing (or less) per salad. Serve and enjoy!
You can grill the chicken instead of breading it and leave off the black beans and corn for a low-carb option.
Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tortilla strips for a gluten-free option.
If you’re in a hurry, use the Newman’s Own Southwest bottled dressing that McDonald’s uses.
Meal prep your salads in mason jars. Layer using the instructions above so they stay fresh for up to 4 days.
Freeze any leftover chicken for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen or thaw then microwave.
Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 645mg | Potassium: 989mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 14635IU | Vitamin C: 11.7mg | Calcium: 260mg | Iron: 4.5mg