Southwestern Chicken Ramen Salad

This light, healthy, and fresh Southwestern Chicken Ramen Salad is an easy side dish for cookouts or picnics, a simple make-ahead dinner, or an easy lunch to keep on hand. Loaded with veggies and dressed in a homemade Southwestern Lime Vinaigrette, it's a flavorful dish that's full of satisfying tastes and textures!

Have you guys ever tried that Asian-flavored ramen coleslaw that seems to be pretty popular? I first had it at a church potluck about 10 years ago, and I've been making my own version ever since. It's really good, but I don't love the fact that the dressing is made with the weird ingredients from the Ramen Noodle seasoning packet -- homemade dressing is always BEST.

That's why I decided to change up the recipe and give it some Southwestern flair -- which is always a popular way to go, right? Best of all, this recipe uses my own Southwestern Lime Vinaigrette (which is just as easy as using the seasoning packet...minus any MSG!), and it's a total crowd-pleaser!

Top Tip For Making This Ramen Salad

Adding chicken to the dish is totally optional, but it gives a nice protein boost and makes the salad feel more like a total meal rather than just a side option. I live with 4 carnivorous boys, though, so take that with a grain of salt. If you don't do meat as much as my family does, some extra beans would be a perfect substitute!

You're going to love the crunch of the ramen noodles and the almonds, mixed with the creamy avocado and the fresh, crisp veggies! I took this to a recent cookout with friends and it was definitely a hit!

Happy picnicking, friends!

Looking for other great picnic dishes for the season? Try these favorites:

• Chicken Taco Mason Jar Salads
• Light and Creamy Greek Pasta Salad
• Strawberry Pretzel Fluff
• Tomato Pie

If you’ve tried this Southwest Chicken Ramen Salad or any other recipe on The Seasoned Mom then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what I’m getting up to.

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5 from 2 votes

Southwestern Chicken Ramen Salad

A light, healthy and delicious southwest chicken ramen salad that's perfect for picnics, lunches or a make-ahead dinner.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Japanese

Keyword Chicken Salad, ramen salad

Prep Time 25 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 16 servings

Calories 165kcal

Author The Seasoned Mom

Ingredients

• 2 packages 14 ounces each coleslaw mix
• 1 cup diced cooked chicken
• ½ cup corn kernels frozen, canned, or fresh
• ½ cup black beans rinsed and drained
• 1 avocado diced
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 6 green onions chopped
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon pepper
• 2 packages 3 ounces each ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded
• ½ cup slivered almonds toasted

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine coleslaw mix, chicken, corn, black beans, avocado, bell pepper, and green onions.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
• Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Crumble ramen noodles (uncooked) into small crunchy pieces. Discard ramen seasoning packet.
• Just before serving, stir in noodles and almonds.

Notes

*This dish feeds a very large crowd! If you’re making it for a family dinner or for a smaller group, you can definitely cut the ingredients in half!

Nutrition

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 21.5mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.9mg