The Best Southwest Salad Recipe Ever

This Southwest salad is quick, easy, and delicious! It’s loaded with fresh veggies and a hearty drizzle of a delicious creamy homemade dressing that is a McDonald’s copycat!

You Will Love This

• It’s so quick and easy! No fancy kitchen gadgets and barely any prep work are required for this southwestern dressing. If you’re into simple meal prep and effortless lunches, then this recipe is for you! If you loved this southwest salad be sure to check out my Walking Taco Casserole, my 20 Minute Instant Pot Taco Soup, or my Crispy Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas.
• The flavor combo is classic, but the dressing really makes this salad unique. If you’ve ever had the Southwest salad from McDonald’s, you’re going to LOVE LOVE LOVE this dressing. It is a copycat version of Newman’s Own dressing that McDonald’s serves but with a little Midwest Foodie flair.

Dressing Ingredients and Substitutions

• Sour Cream – Don’t use light or fat-free sour cream for this southwest salad dressing recipe. There is no fat in the dressing other than from the sour cream, so you want a regular full fat sour cream or Greek yogurt for the best flavor. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar – The apple cider vinegar in this flavor really adds a distinct tangy flavor that is found in the McDonald’s version of this dressing. You could use white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar in its place, but it will change the flavor slightly. 
• Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice is going to give this dressing its signature lime flavor. Do not omit this ingredient!
• Honey – If you don’t have honey on hand, feel free to use agave or your favorite sweetener in its place. Honey is going to balance out the acidity from the vinegar and lime juice and also add a deliciously sweet note to this dressing. 
• Spices – The ground cumin in this southwest dressing gives it that classic Mexican flavor that ties everything together. Chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder are going to layer more delicious flavors into the dressing.

Salad Ingredients and Substitutions

• Mixed Greens – I like to use mixed spring greens but you could use romaine lettuce or spinach if you like.
• Black Beans – I am obsessed with black beans, but this salad also taste great with pinto beans as well.
• Red Onion – If you don’t have any red onion on hand, try thinly sliced green onion instead.
• Avocado – You can leave the avocado out if you don’t have any on hand, but I love the creamy little bites that it adds.
• Corn – If you can find frozen, fire-roasted corn at your local grocery store, snag a bag of that! You’ll have to cook it from frozen according to package directions, but that extra fire-roasted flavor is worth the effort! Otherwise canned corn or even fresh corn off the cob will work too!
• Tomatoes – I like to use grape or Roma tomatoes for this salad. You could also add diced green or red bell pepper instead of tomatoes too.
• Cotija – I love the salty flavor that crumbled Cotija cheese brings to this salad. If you can’t find Cotija, try using feta in its place.
• Tortilla Strips – My homemade tortilla strips are the tastiest way to add a little crunch to your Southwest salad.
• Cilantro Lime Chicken – This is an optional but very delicious way to turn this into a Southwest chicken salad and add some extra protein. You could also use grilled shrimp or salmon.

Instructions

Add sour cream, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper to a large measuring cup.

Whisk until completely combined.

Add greens, sliced Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken (optional), black beans, red onion, and avocado to a serving platter or large bowl.

Add corn and tomatoes.

Then add homemade tortilla strips, Cotija cheese, and a hearty drizzle of that creamy homemade dressing. Toss and enjoy!

Tips

• This southwestern salad dressing will stay good in the fridge for up to a week so you can prep a batch over the weekend and enjoy it for quick and easy lunches all week! It will separate as it sits in an airtight container in the fridge, so just give it a good stir to combine all the ingredients again and also season to taste with salt and pepper. 
• If you want to add a kick to your southwestern dressing, add a ½ teaspoon of chipotles in adobo, a little extra chili powder, or a couple pinches of cayenne pepper! 

FAQ

Family Favorite Salads

This recipe was originally published in May 2018. It was updated in February 2021 to include process shots, step-by-step instructions, and tips for making the best Southwest salad every single time!