BBQ Chicken Salad – Super healthy kids

Enjoy the smoky and spicy flavors of a BBQ Chicken Salad with tender grilled chicken, crispy lettuce, sweetcorn, creamy avocado and juicy cherry tomatoes drizzled with a tangy barbecue ranch dressing.

The Best BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe

For me, there is no meal more filling and delicious in warm weather than a hearty salad. It’s fresh and healthy, made with summer produce, and is a quick and easy meal that doesn’t heat up the kitchen. We have a few favorite main course salads that we take turns trying (occasionally throwing in a new one here and there), but this BBQ Chicken Salad is an all-time favorite.

As an appetizer, the smoky, grilled BBQ chicken just screams summer. You can sprinkle it on just about anything and it’ll taste delicious, but it definitely takes center stage in this salad. Second, it’s packed with delicious, nutrient-dense ingredients. Last but not least: It is simple and extremely tasty. The BBQ ranch dressing is simple and very flavorful. Trust me, this is a salad you will use again and again.

Ingredients you will need to make a BBQ Chicken Salad:

• romaine lettuce– Hearty, crunchy romaine lettuce pairs perfectly with this salad.
• cherry tomatoes– We like to use cherry tomatoes, but you can also use diced Roma tomatoes.
• Corn– Fresh, frozen or canned. We used frozen corn.
• Black beans– A can, rinsed and drained.
• Red onion– We love the color and the spicy bite of red onions. Spring onions or roasted onions also taste delicious.
• avocado– Creamy and so delicious.
• Monterey Jack Cheese– Mild and creamy Monterey Jack cheese is delicious here. We also used Pepper Jack and Cheddar.
• ranch dressing– We used our homemade ranch dressing.
• barbecue sauce– Make sure you use a brand you’ve tried and loved! We like Sweet Baby Ray’s.

BBQ chicken

• Chicken breast– We used boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• olive oil– Any oil with a neutral taste is suitable here.
• paprika– Adds an extra smoky flavor.
• Cold water & Sea-salt– To make the brine.
• barbecue sauce– Again, easy. Make sure you use a brand you like as that will be the predominant flavor.

How to Prepare a BBQ Chicken Salad:

1. Grill the chicken. We used our favorite BBQ chicken breast recipe. If you’re short on time, you can also use roast chicken with BBQ sauce!
2. Make the dressing. This might be the easiest dressing in the world. Simply stir together the BBQ sauce and ranch dressing. We almost always have our homemade ranch dressing on hand, so we used it here. Add a few tablespoons of BBQ sauce and mix everything together. Taste and add more if needed.
3. Prepare the other ingredients. Slice the avocado and tomatoes, dice the red onion, wash and tear the lettuce, grate the cheese and drain the black beans.
4. Assemble your salad. Arrange all salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. Slice the BBQ chicken and add to the salad. Drizzle with the dressing and serve immediately.

Tips and Suggestions:

BBQ Chicken Salad Wrap

This salad makes an incredibly delicious (and wearable!) wrap! Use large tortillas, add some lettuce, sliced ​​chicken, and whatever toppings you like. Drizzle with dressing and wrap tightly.

BBQ Chicken Salad Meal Prep

If you put a lot of work into preparing a meal, it’s a good idea to prepare additional ingredients for future meals throughout the week. It only takes a few extra minutes but saves a lot of time later. Store ingredients separately to keep them fresh until ready to serve. All you have to do is assemble it!

variations

• Replace the red onion with French fried onions.
• Top with shredded tortilla chips.
• Replace the sliced ​​avocado with a scoop of guacamole.
• Throw corn on the cob on the grill while you cook the chicken. Cut the seeds off the cob and add them to the salad for another delicious layer of smoky flavor.
• Add spinach to your veggies.

What should I serve with the BBQ chicken salad?

This hearty salad makes a great meal on its own, but I often serve it with one of these salads:

Looking for more delicious salad recipes?