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Wendy’s New Salad: The Southwest Avocado Salad
It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Wendy’s salads – I have written about them here and here. So when I was told that there was a new salad on the lineup, I knew that I needed to try it. One thing that I love about Wendy’s salads is that the full-size versions are hearty enough to satisfy me.
The Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
The Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad is made with freshly chopped lettuce which is topped with warm, hand-sliced grilled chicken breast meat, creamy guacamole (made with Hass avocados, lime juice, and salt), diced tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, shredded pepper Jack cheese, and served with southwest ranch salad dressing.
The full-sized salad has 600 calories and the half has only 300.
Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad – it’s like Wendy’s took a Cobb salad and kicked it up a notch or two.
The History of Cobb Salads
Cobb salads have been around for nearly 100 years. There’s no definitive source pointing back to its official origin, but it appears that there are two possibilities:
- It originated at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant in 1936 or 1937 and was named for the restaurant’s owner, Robert Cobb. It went on to become the restaurant’s signature dish.
- Robert Kreis was the executive chef at the Hollywood Brown Derby and created the salad in 1929 and named it in honor of Robert Cobb.
Legend has it that the salad was created when Cobb mixed together leftovers he found in the kitchen, along with some bacon, and tossed it with French dressing. Nowadays, traditional Cobb salads are made with iceberg, watercress, endives and romaine lettuces, and topped with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs.
The new Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad joins the regular salad line up at Wendy’s which includes the Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad, Power Mediterranean Chicken Salad, the Apple Pecan Chicken Salad, and Taco Salad.
Dear Wendy’s Peeps – if you read this, please bring back your BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad – it’s the best!
Sincerely,
A Salad Loving Customer
Wanda
Tuesday 8th of October 2019
I tried the Southwestern Avocado Salad for the first time. The tomatoes were clear from being frozen or old, lettuce mix not chopped very well, bacon tasted burnt so, most of my salad was croutons! If that was a whole salad, I would never want the half. Definitely not my monies worth!!
Kaitlin
Wednesday 3rd of April 2019
Do you know if the 300 calories for the half salad the southwest avocado includes the dressing if so, how many packets. I was given 2 but didn't know if that was a mistake and should only have 1. I used only 1.
Lynda
Thursday 4th of April 2019
Hi Kaitlin,
I reached out to Wendy's via Twitter and here is your answer:
Hey there! Half salads should come with one packet of salad dressing, and the one packet of salad dressing is included in the calories listed on the website (310 for a half Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad).
Hope that helps! Lynda
Avocado Lover
Wednesday 6th of February 2019
How do you eat it? I don’t get dressing. Do you smush the guacamole all over the salad? I just want to know if there’s a better way!!
Lynda
Thursday 7th of February 2019
I just get a little bit of guac on my fork along with a bite of lettuce and other salad goodness.
Deb
Tuesday 21st of August 2018
I just had the Southwest Chicken salad with quacamole. I ordered it without the cheese or salad dressing, however. Is there a way to find out how many total carbs are in the salad the way I ordered it? It was delish, btw!
Lynda
Tuesday 21st of August 2018
Hi there!
I used Wendy's app and the nutrition information on Wendy's website and was not able to check WITHOUT the cheese. The carb count WITH cheese should be 18 grams with 7 grams being sugar. From what I can tell, that very well might include the dressing. (The dressing is included in the ingredient list on the Wendy's website.) I will try to reach out to Wendy's for further clarification.
Libby
Sunday 29th of July 2018
Discontinue the greatest salad you have ever had???? Southwest Avacado!! Please bring it back!