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Hearty BBQ Chicken Salad is a perfect summer dish! It comes together in minutes, and is packed with the best flavor.

BBQ Chicken Salad is savory and very filling. For more BBQ flavored recipes try BBQ Meatballs, BBQ Pork Chops, or BBQ Chicken Pizza.

Dressed bbq chicken salad recipe in a white bowl.


BBQ Chicken Chopped salad

This BBQ Chicken Salad recipe is so filling. It has protein from the chicken and beans, tons of veggies, and the perfect creamy BBQ ranch dressing.

It can be made as a large salad to serve at parties or BBQ’s, or in individual bowls. This is a top salad for serving at all of our gatherings. The bowl is always wiped clean.

Keep your kitchen cool this summer by serving up a fresh salad! To make it more filling, whip up a soup or some fresh bread.

Ingredients for bbq chicken salad recipe laid out.

Chop + enjoy!!

It’s so quick and easy to put together!

Just follow these simple steps…

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. You can also divide this into 4 bowls and assemble according to Step 1 directions.

Alternative Ingredients

Swap out the chicken for your favorite protein. Grilled steak, roasted turkey breast, tofu, shredded roast beef, roasted chickpeas or even some extra black, pinto, or creamy refried beans would all be fantastic options.

Have fun with the toppings on this salad and add some of your favorites!

Why not make your own delicious BBQ Sauce and Homemade Ranch Dressing to use in this recipe? It’s easier than you might think!

Layering ingredients on bbq chicken salad.

Ways to cook chicken

PRECOOKED. The easiest option is to buy precooked chicken breasts or cut some meat from a rotisserie chicken to use on your salad. There are several options for cooking chicken to be used in this recipe.

OVEN-BAKED. Oven Baked Chicken is a great choice and requires just 5 minutes of prep time and 30 min in the oven.

GRILLED. You can also grill your chicken for about 9-10 minutes, flipping it over halfway through the cooking time. Make sure the internal temperature is 160 F before removing it from the grill and letting it rest for 10 minutes.

STOVE TOP. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and flavor them with bit of salt and black pepper. Add olive oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes. Flip and stir the cubes around for another 4-5 minutes, until all sides are browned.

Bbq chicken salad recipe served in a white bowl

RECIPE FAQ

How to make ahead of time? The chicken can be cooked and stored in the refrigerator up to 2 days before you are ready to serve this salad.

Other ingredients aside from the avocado can also be prepped and kept refrigerated a few days ahead of time. Make sure to wait to add the chicken, avocado, tortilla strips, Ranch dressing, and BBQ sauce to your salad right before serving to avoid any sogginess.

What to serve with?

  • Serve with tortilla chips or add tortilla strips to the top for some extra crunch.
  • Make a BBQ chicken salad taco by wrapping the salad in a flour tortilla or corn tortillas.
  • Serve in a large bowl, individual portions or set all the ingredients out for a build your own salad bar.
Bbq chicken salad topped with ranch and bbq sauce.

for MORE OF OUR FAVORITE SALADS:

Waldorf Salad

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Chicken Caesar Salad

Southwest Chopped Salad

Strawberry Harvest Salad

5 from 4 votes

BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Hearty BBQ Chicken Salad is a perfect summer dish! It comes together in minutes, and is packed with yummy flavor.
Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 6 cup chopped Romaine lettuce
  • 2 cup 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 

  • 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.
  • You can also divide this into 4 bowls and assemble according to Step 1 directions.

Notes

This salad can be assembled ahead of time, but wait to add dressing, BBQ sauce and tortilla strips until right before serving.

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.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
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Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!


About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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

  2. 5 stars
    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!