Description
A quick and flavorful BBQ chicken salad with creamy ranch dressing, ready in about 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual lunches, combining smoky, tangy, and creamy flavors with fresh greens.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (about 300g)
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (120ml)
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped (about 120g)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (about 150g)
- 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced (about 30g)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (50g)
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped (optional)
- For the Creamy Ranch Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (120ml)
- 1/4 cup sour cream (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk (30ml) (or 2 tablespoons milk + 1 teaspoon lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooked chicken.
- Pour in the BBQ sauce and toss until the chicken is heated through and evenly coated, about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.
- Chop the romaine lettuce, slice the red onion thinly, halve the cherry tomatoes, and chop the cilantro.
- In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, garlic powder, dried dill, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Add the warm BBQ chicken to the salad bowl.
- Drizzle the creamy ranch dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra cheese, cilantro, or a wedge of lime.
Notes
Use leftover or rotisserie chicken to save time. Warm the chicken with BBQ sauce to get a sticky, flavorful coating. Homemade ranch dressing tastes better but store-bought can be thinned with buttermilk or milk. Prepare chicken and dressing ahead and store separately for meal prep. Avoid freezing due to lettuce wilting and dressing separation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad bowl serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: BBQ chicken salad, creamy ranch dressing, quick dinner, easy salad, healthy chicken recipe, weeknight meal