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Dressed in ranch and BBQ sauce, this hearty BBQ chicken salad is simple and is packed with loads of flavor!
A Chopped Salad To Love!
We are suckers for a good salad recipe. We make them for lunch and dinner often because they are healthy and filled with flavor.
We love trying new flavor combinations, and this BBQ chicken salad takes a few of my favorite flavors (Homemade Ranch Dressing and Baked BBQ Chicken) and pairs them in one delicious mash-up! It’s a personal favorite of the my teens Lily and Evie.
Why we love it:
- Hearty. This best green salad recipe is packed with protein making it a filling main dish!
- Homemade salad dressing! The combination of ranch and BBQ Sauce is a match made in heaven.
- The flavors of summer. It goes right along with our favorite summer salad recipes and is perfect for BBQs and parties!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 10 minutes
- 6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 2 cups chicken, cooked, cubed – Buy precooked chicken breast, a rotisserie chicken, or make Oven Baked Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Baked BBQ Chicken, or Shredded Chicken.
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed – or pinto beans
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese – or cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, or Mexican cheese blend
- ¼ cup Ranch dressing – store-bought or Homemade Ranch Dressing
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce – store-bought or homemade BBQ Sauce
- ¼ cup tortilla strips – or crushed Homemade Tortilla Chips
How to Make BBQ Chicken Salad
- LARGE SALAD. Assemble in a large bowl as one salad with 6 cups lettuce on the bottom, followed by 2 cups chicken cubes, 1 diced tomato, 1 cup corn, 1 cup black beans, 1 diced avocado, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ¼ cup Homemade Ranch Dressing, ¼ cup BBQ Sauce, and ¼ cup tortilla strips for crunch.
- INDIVIDUAL SERVINGS. Divide this into 4 bowls and assemble them according to Step 1 directions.
Complete the Meal
- Side dishes: Copycat Texas Road House Rolls, Homemade Tortilla Chips, Corn on the Cob on the Grill
- Desserts: S’mores Brownies, Mini Fruit Tarts, Strawberry Icebox Cake
- More salads: Taco Salad, Southwest Salad, Steak and Tortellini Salad
More collections: Summer Recipes, Best Green Salads, Easy Dinner Ideas
BBQ Chicken Salad
Dressed in ranch and BBQ sauce, this hearty BBQ chicken salad is packed with flavor for a yummy summer dish!
Ingredients
- 6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 2 cups chicken, cooked, cubed
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese
- ¼ cup Ranch dressing
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup tortilla strips
Instructions
Large Salad
- Assemble as one large salad with lettuce on bottom, followed by chicken cubes, tomato, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, and tortilla strips.
Individual Servings
- Divide this into 4 bowls and assemble them according to Step 1 directions.
Notes
Make ahead of time. The chicken can be cooked and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before you are ready to serve this salad.
Other ingredients, aside from the avocado, can also be prepped and refrigerated a few days ahead of time. Add the chicken, avocado, tortilla strips, Ranch dressing, and BBQ Sauce to your salad right before serving to avoid any sogginess.
Nutrition
Calories: 408kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 66mg, Sodium: 764mg, Potassium: 981mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 6573IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 161mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Extra Ingredients?
- Swap with your favorite protein such as grilled steak, roasted turkey breast, tofu, or shredded roast beef
- Drizzle with Guacamole, Pico de Gallo Recipe, Homemade Salsa or Sweet Salsa Verde
- queso fresco
- cilantro, jalapeños, red onion, or green onion
- Roasted Chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pepitas (roasted pumpkin seeds)
- add a little bit of salt and black pepper
Serving Suggestions?
- Aside from serving the salad on a plate, you can serve it inside a tortilla shell bowl, make a BBQ chicken salad taco by wrapping the salad in a flour tortilla or corn tortillas, or set all the ingredients out for a build-your-own salad bar.
Can I make BBQ chicken salad ahead of time?
- Cook and store the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before serving this salad.
- Prep other ingredients, aside from the avocado, and refrigerate a few days ahead of time. Add the chicken, avocado, tortilla strips, Ranch Dressing, and BBQ Sauce to your salad right before serving to avoid a soggy salad.
Mine didn’t look as pretty as your photo, but it tasted GREAT! I used left over Grilled BBQ chicken from a previous dinner and have it on the menu again just so I can turn the leftovers another salad
My favorite salad at Cheesecake! I love being able to make it at home. Taste just as good.
Man, I am a sucker for some bbq sauce and a good salad – this hits ALL right notes, YUM!!
Oh so delicious! This is the perfect salad to have for lunch!
I am not usually a bbq flavor person, but I love this salad!! It’s not overpowering with bbq flavor, has lots of yummy textures & crunch, hearty, & delicious!