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A close-up of a bowl of Copycat McDonald's Southwest Salad with a fork in it.
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4.82 from 32 votes

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
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: tex mex
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 431kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  • 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!

Video

Notes

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.

Nutrition

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