This Southwest Steak Salad has been a favorite for years! I mean, it’s hard not to love a salad with steak involved 😉 I recently realized how horrific the old blog photos were so decided this recipe deserved an update. I am also including my favorite homemade ranch recipe, but you can totally use store-bought yogurt ranch if you prefer.
Did you know? Grass-fed beef has up to five times as much anti-inflammatory omega-3 compared to conventional grain-fed beef (source).
So yes, I used lean grass-fed beef! I recommend sirloin tip, skirt steak, top sirloin, top or bottom round. You’re going to marinate it in lime juice, minced garlic, chili powder, and salt for at least half an hour or overnight. Then either grill it outside or use a cast iron pan to get a nice sear.
For the salad, I used organic romaine lettuce (feel free to switch it up), black beans, sweet corn, mini sweet peppers, green onion, and avocado. Be sure to add the avocado just before serving so it doesn’t turn brown!
For the dressing, I used a nonfat plain Greek yogurt base, but you can totally use plain dairy-free yogurt if needed, or use full fat Greek yogurt for a creamier dressing. Again, store-bought works too but typically has a lot of artificial additives I’m not fond of.
I often meal prep these salads by separating all the ingredients (except the avocado and dressing) into sealable containers. When it’s time to eat, I just add my avocado and dressing! You can also wash and cut the veggies for quicker prep on the spot.
Here’s the printable recipe for this favorite Southwest Steak Salad recipe! I hope you’ll rate and comment below if you try it 🙂
This Southwest Steak Salad is a favorite meal prep option! Gluten-free and easily made dairy-free with a homemade ranch dressing recipe.
Ingredients
Southwest steak:
24 oz. raw lean top round beef
1/4 cup lime juice
4 tsp. garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Salad:
6 cups romaine lettuce*
1 1/2 cup sweet corn drained
1 1/2 cup black beans drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cup mini sweet peppers chopped
1 1/2 cup avocado cubed
6 tbsp. green onion chopped
Ranch dressing:
3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt*
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
*See blog above for substitutions.
Directions
Marinate steak in lime juice, garlic, chili, and salt for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Either grill until cooked to desired doneness and then slice thin; or sear in a cast iron skillet for 2-3 minutes per side.
Wash and cut vegetables, then divide between six meal prep containers using 1 cup lettuce, ¼ cup each sweet corn, black beans, and peppers; then top each with 1 tbsp. green onion.
Combine ingredients for ranch dressing (or use store-bought) and store separately in fridge in an airtight container.
When ready to eat, top salad with ¼ cup cubed avocado and 2 tbsp. + 2 tsp. dressing. Enjoy!
Still on that soup kick and this one's a goodie! I made this Chicken Wild Rice Soup dairy free, gluten-free, macro-friendly, and loaded with flavor. It took several tries to perfect this soup, and it's a winner! It's got hearty wild rice, tender shredded chicken, delicious mushrooms and fresh herbs all in a thicker cream broth.
I am feeling in the Valentine's Day spirit a little already (and always craving chocolate) so I made some vegan Protein Ferrero Rochers! They have a chocolate hazelnut filling with a roasted hazelnut in the center, surrounded by crushed vanilla wafer and coated in vegan milk chocolate. You can also roll them in crushed hazelnut like I did for extra crunch! While these aren't super high in protein, they offer a little boost. These chocolates are also lower in sugar, higher in fiber, and overall BIGGER than the world-famous Ferrero Rochers.
I just love a good minestrone soup. However, minestrone is lacking in protein, at least not enough to make a balanced meal... so this High Protein Minestrone Soup was born! It's got Italian spices like basil and oregano, diced tomatoes in flavorful broth, tender pasta, kidney beans, chickpeas, carrots, celery, onion, fresh garlic, and Italian seasoned ground turkey for some extra protein. This soup is comforting, nourishing, and very filling! Bonus - it's also gluten free, dairy free, and macro-friendly.
