As the weather starts to warm up, we keep reaching for recipes that remind us of summer. One of those has been our favorite BBQ Chicken Salad. We love how fresh it is and how quickly it comes together. Our BBQ Chicken Salad sits on a base of romaine lettuce and includes BBQ chicken (of course), black beans, corn, diced red onion, grape tomatoes, and avocado. We make a creamy, BBQ ranch dressing and love to top the salad with cilantro as well as tortilla strips for some extra crunch and saltiness. Find the how-to below!
What ingredients do you need?
Shredded or chopped chicken
Feel free to prepare your chicken following your preferred cooking method. We like to use grilled chicken. You can also use the chicken from a rotisserie chicken.
BBQ Sauce
You will need BBQ sauce for both the chicken and the salad dressing. You can use any BBQ sauce you prefer here, but if you are looking for a few ideas, we have liked both Stubbs and Primal Kitchen.
Chopped romaine lettuce
You can wash and chop your own romaine lettuce (this is typically cheaper), but if you are looking for a faster option, you can purchase prechopped lettuce at most grocery stores.
Black beans
Any can of black beans will do! We like to rinse the beans under cool water prior to adding them to the salad.
Corn
You can use canned, frozen, or fresh corn here depending on your preference, the time of year, and what is available in your area. All are great options! If you choose to use frozen corn, you can simply warm it up in the microwave. Add to the salad once it has cooled down to prevent the lettuce from becoming wilted.
Red onion
Not too much to say here! We like to finely dice our red onions so they are not too pungent.
Grape tomatoes
We like to halve our grape tomatoes to create bite-size pieces that you’ll find in most bites while eating this yummy salad.
Optional toppings:
Diced Avocado, Shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, tortilla strips
All optional, but all delicious! You can also crush up tortilla chips if you do not have the strips on hand.
For the dressing:
BBQ Sauce, Ranch Dressing, and Apple Cider Vinegar
The BBQ ranch is an absolute must for this recipe! It makes the recipe. For a dairy-free ranch option, we prefer Primal Kitchen or Chosen Foods. You can also find a greek yogurt ranch in the refrigerated aisle. Feel free to substitute apple cider vinegar with white vinegar as well.
What equipment do you need?
- A medium bowl
- A large bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A Mason jar or salad dressing container
- Salad tongs
- A can opener
- A knife and cutting board
How do I make this BBQ Chicken Salad?
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped or shredded chicken and 2 tbsp of bbq sauce.
- In a large bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, red onion, and grape tomatoes. Toss the ingredients until well combined. Add the bbq chicken you prepared and toss the salad again.
- In a small jar, add the bbq sauce, lime juice or apple cider vinegar, and light ranch dressing. Shake until well combined.
- Toss the salad with the desired amount of dressing. If you are planning to have leftovers, we recommend tossing each individual salad to prevent the salad from getting soggy. Top the salad with shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, and tortilla strips if desired.
Anything else to consider?
As mentioned above, to prevent the salad from becoming soggy, you can add the dressing to individual portions. If you know you’ll be eating it all at once, go ahead and toss the dressing with the entire salad!
Is it (GF/DF)?
This recipe is gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free by choosing a dairy-free ranch dressing and dairy-free toppings.
What other recipes should I try?
If you’re a fan of BBQ chicken, give our BBQ Chicken Flatbreads a try!
If you make this BBQ Chicken Salad, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
BBQ Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups shredded or chopped chicken
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
- 6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Optional Toppings:
- Diced avocado, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, tortilla strips
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup of ranch dressing (dairy-free if needed)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped or shredded chicken and 2 tbsp of bbq sauce.
- In a large bowl, add the romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, red onion, and grape tomatoes. Toss the ingredients until well combined. Add the bbq chicken you prepared and toss the salad again.
- In a small jar, add the bbq sauce, lime juice or apple cider vinegar, and light ranch dressing. Shake until well combined.
- Toss the salad with the desired amount of dressing. If you are planning to have leftovers, we recommend tossing each individual salad to prevent the salad from getting soggy. Top the salad with shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, and tortilla strips if desired.
Notes
The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB BBQ Chicken Salad" and "BWB BBQ Ranch Dressing".
The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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