Quick Meals: Chicken and Black Bean Salad

Spend less time cooking and more time with loved ones with this quick and delicious salad

A chicken and black bean salad is a nutritious and satisfying meal that can be created in very little time. This salad is bursting with flavor as well as beneficial nutrients. Chicken and black beans are both lean proteins that are low in fat. Black beans are also packed with folate, iron, potassium, magnesium, healthy fats, and fiber. Tossed into a fresh mixture of greens and vegetables they transform into a healthy and flavorful meal that will be sure to delight the taste buds. Does this Spark an idea?

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1 pound chicken tenders
1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt and pepper
6 cups lettuce, washed, dried and torn
15 oz. cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup sliced red onion
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
Medium pan
Knife
Cutting board
Large salad bowl
Salad tongs

Instructions

Prepare Chicken
- 1
  
  Place the pan over medium heat and pour in 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil. When the oil is hot, place the chicken tenders in the pan.
- 2
  
  Cook the chicken tenders for two minutes on each side, using the fork to flip tenders over once. They should cook for a total of four to five minutes.
- 3
  
  Turn off the heat and remove tenders from pan. Place cooked tenders onto a clean plate to allow them to cool. They can also be placed in the refrigerator to cool faster.
- 4
  
  Place lettuce, tomatoes, green pepper, red onion and cilantro into a large salad bowl and toss together with salad tongs.
- 5
  
  Cut cooled chicken tenders into cubes. Add chicken and black beans to the salad. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt and pepper. Top with shredded cheese and toss again.

Tips & Warnings

Serve with a side of tortilla chips to add crunch.
To save time, you can use leftover cooked chicken, and prepare the vegetables ahead of time.
Rinse all vegetables and drain well to prevent sogginess in the salad. Always wash hands and surfaces thoroughly when in they have come into contact with raw chicken to prevent cross contamination of harmful bacteria such as salmonella. Make sure that the chicken tenders are fully cooked by checking that the centers of the tenders are no longer pink.