How to Make the Perfect BBQ Chicken Salad
American · Easy · 15 min · 4 servings
This smoky and satisfying BBQ chicken salad uses rotisserie chicken for a genuinely quick 15 minute meal with bold barbecue flavor. Loaded with corn, black beans, crunchy tortilla strips, and ranch dressing, it tastes like your favorite restaurant salad without the wait.
Why this recipe works
This BBQ Chicken Salad recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 15 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 440 calories with 34g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken shredded
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn thawed
- 0.25 cup ranch dressing
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Toss Chicken with BBQ Sauce
Shred rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss thoroughly with BBQ sauce in a bowl until every piece is well coated. Add more sauce to taste.
Step 2: Prep the Base
Chop romaine into bite-sized pieces and divide evenly among four bowls or arrange on a large platter for family-style serving.
Step 3: Add Toppings
Scatter drained black beans and thawed corn over the romaine, then pile BBQ chicken generously on top of each serving.
Step 4: Dress and Serve
Drizzle ranch dressing over each salad and add any optional toppings such as tortilla strips, shredded cheese, or pickled red onion. Serve immediately.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- rotisserie chicken → canned chicken breast drained and mixed with BBQ sauce
- ranch dressing → blue cheese dressing for a bolder smokier flavor combination
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Using too little BBQ sauce on the chicken which results in dry flavorless bites throughout the salad
- Dressing the full salad with ranch in advance which makes the romaine soggy before serving
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 440 calories, 34g protein, 38g carbs, 18g fat, 7g fiber.
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