Southwestern Chipotle Ranch Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad

This is weeknight assembly at its easiest: a hearty Southwest salad that comes together in about 15 minutes, mostly from things you can grab ready to go. The only cooking is a quick steam of a Southwest vegetable blend.

The real trick is the dressing, and it’s barely a recipe. Creamy ranch dressing gets mixed right into the salad along with a sweet-and-spicy chipotle BBQ sauce, and together they make a tangy, smoky, mildly fiery dressing with zero measuring. The ranch cools things down while the chipotle BBQ brings sweet heat.

Pile crisp lettuce with the steamed veggies, southwestern chicken, and a handful of Mexican-blend cheese, then toss with the two sauces to taste. Start light on the dressing and add more as you go, so the greens stay crisp instead of drowned. Fast, filling, and full of southwest flavor.

Kitchen Tips

• Mix the ranch and chipotle BBQ together for an instant creamy, smoky, sweet-spicy dressing, no measuring needed.
• Dress it lightly at first and add more to taste, so the lettuce stays crisp instead of soggy.
• Let the steamed vegetables cool a bit before tossing, so they don’t wilt the greens.

Variations

• Use leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken in place of deli chicken.
• Add black beans, corn, avocado, or crushed tortilla chips for more texture and a heartier bowl.