A light, healthy and delicious southwest chicken ramen salad that's perfect for picnics, lunches or a make-ahead dinner.
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:
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Southwestern Chicken Ramen Salad
A light, healthy and delicious southwest chicken ramen salad that's perfect for picnics, lunches or a make-ahead dinner.
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
- 1/8 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.
Recipe 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!
I’ve never had a ramen salad before, but I’m loving the looks of it! Even better that it has a southwestern kick. So pretty and perfect for picnics and the summer!
Thanks, Gayle! You’ve got to try it! The pasta adds such nice crunch!
I do love anything with the word ramen in it – and this looks like the perfect summer salad with just the right amount of kick! Yum!
Exactly, Kate! It has so much flavor — no boring veggies here!
Whats the serving size? 1 cup?
Hey, Cheyenne! I honestly don’t know — the calculator just divided the full ingredient list by 16 and that’s the info that you get. If you need an exact measurement for 1/16 of the recipe, you’ll just need to prepare the dish and then see how many total cups it yields. Sorry I can’t be more helpful there!
Love that you used ramen in this pasta salad!
Thanks, Marla! I appreciate you sharing the recipe on your site, too! You’re the best!
Wow this looks like just what I need, can’t wait to try it!
Great I love it to eat very tasty