Ultimate Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad Copycat Recipe

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Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad

This salad is perfect for any occasion because it tastes amazing, is healthy for you, and is very easy to prepare. Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad copycat recipe is the perfect recipe for lunch or dinner. Check out the instructions on how to make this delicious meal for all the details. 

Wendy's Southwest Avocado Salad

Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad

This recipe allows you to create a delicious copycat salad to Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad. This salad recipe is filling, yet light and healthy for you to enjoy. This salad is also very easy for you to make at home and add any creative twists that you wish. Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad resembles a cobb salad, only Wendy’s changed it up a bit with the tasty south of the boarder salad. 

The History of Cobb Salads

Cobb salad is said to be named after Robert Cobb who owned the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. The story says that he created the salad from kitchen scraps and added hard boiled eggs in 1936 or 1937. The salad has continued to be popular ever since. The main difference between a cobb salad and Wendy’s Southwest salad is the type of cheese, leaving the eggs out, and the type of dressing used. 

What Comes On The Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad?

The salad is made with a mixture of lettuce including romaine and a spring mix. It is topped with shredded pepper jack cheese, diced tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, avocado, and grilled chicken. Since this salad focuses on avocados, let’s focus a little bit more on that specific element. 

Are Avocados Good For You?

Avocados are often referred to as superfoods, because of their great health benefits for you. These fruits contain more potassium than bananas, are a good source of fiber, and are beneficial to your heart health. The fruit is also thought to help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol. In summary, yes, avocados are very good for you. 

Some Avocado Nutrition Facts For Your Reading Pleasure:

Vitamins. A whole avocado is a good source of vitamin K, vitamin c, vitamin e, folate, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid. 

Fat. Most of the calories in an avocado are from fat, however, this is a healthier kind of fat. Because of their fat content, avocados make a great replacement for fat in baked goods. 

Calories. For each avocado, there is an average of 320 calories included in each one.  

Avocado Chicken Salad

Not only is this southwest avocado chicken salad delicious, it is also good for you. To top it off, the recipe for this salad is very easy to make on your own, at home. This salad recipe makes for a delicious, yet healthy lunch or dinner recipe. Learn more about how you can make this copycat salad right at home, with the following directions. 

How To Make Avocado Chicken Salad:

Making an avocado chicken salad at home is quite easy and delicious. The best part is, you can feel free to add any of your favorite ingredients to the recipe, such as black beans, corn, or peppers! Have fun, get creative, and enjoy your delicious creation! 

Gather the ingredients to whip up this Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad copycat recipe

Start off by locating all your ingredients and gathering them together. This way you can whip this salad up easily and quickly. It is very helpful if you have all of your vegetables and other ingredients prepared and ready to go so that you just have to assemble the tasty dish. 

Wendy's Southwest Avocado Salad top view

The Easiest Ways To Cook Chicken Breast

Bake. The hardest part about cooking chicken breast is that they often dry out while cooking. To avoid this, you can try baking them in the oven, while covered, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. 

Stovetop. You might also try cooking chicken breast meat on your stovetop. If you choose to do this, it is a great idea to keep the pan covered and be sure there is enough liquid in your pan as it cooks, to prevent it from drying out. 

Grill. Finally, you can try cooking your chicken breast on a grill. This might be the most difficult way to cook your meat and keep it from drying out. The trick is to not flip the chicken much. It works best to cook your breast meat over medium high heat, for 7-10 minutes before turning, then cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, for it to reach 165°F and be cooked through. 

Prepping Avocado

Be sure you are using an avocado that is ripe. If it is not, you can place it in a paper bag and roll it shut a few hours before you plan to make the salad. Check on it periodically to make sure it has not ripened too much. Once soft, remove it from the bag. This process should take between 2-10 hours. 

To prepare your avocado, slice it in half down the center, being careful to cut around the seed in the center. Then slice your knife into the center and help the two sides to pull apart. Then use your knife to carefully pop the seed out of the center of the fruit. You are now ready to use a scoop and scoop your balls of avocado out and place it onto your salad.  

To Make Avocado Salad

To make the salad, combine your cut ingredients, starting with your lettuce, add this to your bowl first. Top it off with a section of shredded pepper jack cheese, diced tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, scoops of avocado, and grilled chicken that is sliced. Just like that, you have your very own copycat salad. 

Make The Dressing, Then Dress The Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad Copycat

To make your dressing combine, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, honey, cumin, lime juice, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer, you can also use southwest dressing that you have purchased to speed things up. 

How Long Will it Last in the Fridge?

Salad typically has a limited life span, even if it is stored in the fridge without dressing. If your dressing has been added to the entire salad, most likely your salad will only be good that day, and it will need to go out after enjoying it. However, if your remaining salad does not include dressing, it may be stored in the fridge for up to two to three days. If your lettuce begins to turn brown, then it is time to part with the salad. Now that you know all the details of this salad, let’s take a walk-through on how to create it yourself. 

Wendy's Avocado salad close up

Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad Copycat Recipe

Serves: 2 people
Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

3 cups chopped lettuce
8 cherry tomatoes
¼ cup shredded pepper jack cheese
2 small chicken breasts
4 slices bacon, cooked
1 ripe avocado

Southwest Dressing

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 ½ Tbsp lime juice
8 oz sour cream
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp onion powder
¾ tsp garlic powder
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Cook Your Meat

If you are using raw chicken and bacon, be sure to cook it until it is completely cooked through. For your chicken, be sure your chicken breast meat is cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from heat and allow both types of meat to cool before you slice them up. 

Step 2: Chop Vegetables

Prepare your vegetables by washing them, drying them, and chopping them as you desire. Set each one to the side until you are finished. 

Step 3: Assemble Salad

Now that your meat and vegetables are prepared, you can assemble your salad. Start by adding your lettuce topped with your remaining vegetables. Add your chopped meat as well. 

Step 4: Dressing

Now it is time for your dressing. You can either use a bottle of your choosing for dressing or follow these steps to make your own dressing. In a mixing bowl, combine apple cider vinegar, lime juice, sour cream, honey, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine. Serve alongside salad and enjoy! 

Wendy’s Full Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad Nutrition Facts

Nutrition

Calories 485
Total Fat 36g
Carbohydrate 7.5g
Protein 32g
Salt 2.2g

Calories

Wendy’s salad contains 485 calories. 

How long would it take to burn off 420 KCal?

Walking (3mph)113 minutes
Running (6mph)40 minutes
Bicycling (10mph)58 minutes

Weight Watchers Points

Weight Watchers Freestyle Points: 13
Weight Watchers SmartPoints: 15
Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 13

Copycat Recipe Nutrition Facts

The above copycat recipe for Wendy’s southwest avocado salad is estimated to contain the following nutritional facts. 

Calories534
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32.2g41%
Saturated Fat 7.5g37%
Cholesterol 88mg29%
Sodium 559mg24%
Total Carbohydrate 30.7g11%
Dietary Fiber 13.2g47%
Total Sugars 14.3g 
Protein 35.6g 
Vitamin D 0mcg0%
Calcium 95mg7%
Iron 5mg27%
Potassium 2247mg48%

Nutrition summary:

Calories534
Total Fat32.2g
Total Carbohydrate 30.7g

Allergens

Dairy products are contained in both the salad and the salad dressing recipe. If you have any dairy allergies, please substitute the cheese and sour cream with dairy-free products. 

Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad from Wendy’s – a new Paleo-diet and keto approved

The delicious copycat recipe for Wendy’s southwest avocado salad is great for anyone sticking to a keto or paleo diet. Because of its low carbs, and high fat it is the perfect recipe for either of those diets. This recipe is also naturally gluten-free, for those who have those dietary restrictions. 

Wendy’s new Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad & Sandwich Delivers All the Flavor You’ve Avo’ Wanted and More

This delicious copycat recipe is full of delicious flavor combinations that will make your taste buds thank you. From the tasty chicken to the crunchy greens, to the savory bacon topped with cheese and tomato, alongside avocado, you will enjoy a flavor explosion with every bit. 

Wendy's copycat salad

FAQs

How many calories in Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad with Dressing?

It is estimated that one serving contains 73 calories in our copycat recipe for Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad dressing. 

Carbs in Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad With Dressing

It is estimated that our dressing copycat recipe contains 4g total carbohydrates per serving. 

What Comes On The Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad?

Lettuce, tomato, shredded pepper jack cheese, bacon, chicken, and avocado. 

What are other great toppings?

Black beans, corn, peas, goat cheese, black olives, peppers, sour cream, and onions would all be great toppings to add to this already delicious salad. 

Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad

This delicious copycat recipe for Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad is a delicious recipe that is full of different flavors that will make your mouth water. A great thing about this salad is that not only does it taste great, but it is also very good for you to enjoy as well. Be sure to try making your own copycat recipe! Feel free to spice it up a little bit by adding more vegetables of your choosing too. 

Have you tried this recipe yet? What do you think about it?

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This is a recipe I came up with to replicate the real thing.

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Faith
Faith Has been cooking and baking for many years! she loves to share her recipes with the world, and hopes you will enjoy them too!

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