Description
BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe is a vibrant, smoky, and refreshing meal featuring grilled barbecue chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, sweet corn, black beans, avocado, and crunchy tortilla strips topped with creamy ranch dressing. This easy salad combines bold barbecue flavor with fresh vegetables to create a balanced and satisfying dish perfect for weeknight dinners, summer gatherings, and meal prep.
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup sweet corn
- 3/4 cup black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 large avocado diced
- 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup tortilla strips
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
2. Rub the chicken with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
3. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
4. Grill the chicken for about 5–6 minutes on each side until cooked through.
5. Brush the chicken with barbecue sauce during the final minutes of cooking to create a sticky glaze.
6. Remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
7. Slice the chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces.
8. In a large bowl combine chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, black beans, and sliced red onion.
9. Top the salad with sliced BBQ chicken, diced avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, and tortilla strips.
10. Drizzle ranch dressing and lime juice over the salad, sprinkle with fresh cilantro, and serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra smoky flavor, grill the corn before adding it to the salad.
- Store leftover grilled chicken in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
- Add avocado just before serving to keep it fresh.
- You can substitute ranch dressing with chipotle ranch or avocado dressing.
- This salad works well for meal prep when ingredients are stored separately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 95mg