What’s on a barbecue chicken salad?

A barbecue chicken salad typically features grilled chicken tossed or drizzled with BBQ sauce, served over a base of fresh romaine or mixed greens. It’s topped with ingredients like black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado, shredded cheese, and sometimes crushed tortilla chips. Ranch dressing is the classic finishing touch, but variations may include chipotle crema or smoky vinaigrette.

How to make a barbecue salad?

To make a barbecue salad, start by grilling or prepping your chicken and chopping fresh ingredients like romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and avocado. Arrange the greens in a bowl, then layer the chicken and toppings like corn, black beans, and cheese. Drizzle with BBQ sauce and your choice of dressing, usually ranch. Finish with a sprinkle of crunchy toppings like tortilla chips, then serve immediately. For added flavor, you can mix BBQ sauce into the dressing itself.

What normally goes in chicken salad?

Traditionally, chicken salad includes cooked chicken, mayonnaise or another creamy dressing, and add-ins like celery, onion, grapes, or nuts. But in the case of BBQ Chicken Salad, it takes a savory spin — combining grilled chicken with fresh vegetables, beans, cheese, BBQ sauce, and ranch dressing over leafy greens for a meal-style version of the classic.

What are the 4 ingredients in chicken salad?

The simplest chicken salad can be made with just four ingredients: cooked chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and onion. However, modern variations like BBQ Chicken Salad expand on this with bold flavors and colorful toppings, turning a basic dish into a complete and crave-worthy meal.

BBQ Chicken Salad – 1 Power Bowl That’s Fresh & Flavorful

Description

BBQ Chicken Salad with smoky grilled chicken, ranch, and bold toppings—fast, fresh, and protein-packed.

Ingredients

2–3 grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn (frozen and thawed, or freshly grilled)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
½ cup red onion, diced
1–2 avocados, sliced
½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
½ cup crushed tortilla chips (optional)
BBQ sauce (for drizzling)
Ranch dressing (for serving)

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Instructions

If not already prepared, grill the chicken breasts and chop into bite-sized pieces.
In three serving bowls, layer the chopped romaine lettuce.
Top each salad with equal portions of grilled chicken, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado slices, and shredded cheese.
Drizzle with ranch dressing and a small amount of BBQ sauce to taste.
Sprinkle with crushed tortilla chips if desired and serve immediately.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Protein-Packed Salads
Method: Grilling, Assembling
Cuisine: American