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    Home » Real Food » Salads » BBQ Chicken Salad

    BBQ Chicken Salad

    By Kristen Chidsey | 14 Comments | Published April 29, 2019 | Updated July 9, 2021 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    This BBQ Chicken Salad is one of the BEST salads ever! Grilled BBQ Chicken is tossed with crunchy romaine, sweet corn, sharp red onions, juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumber, shredded cheese, crunchy tortilla chips and a barbecue ranch dressing. BBQ Chicken Salad is fresh, filling, creamy, tangy, and just down right delicious. #bbqchicken #salad

    This BBQ Chicken Salad is one of the BEST salads ever! Grilled BBQ Chicken is tossed with crunchy romaine, sweet corn, sharp red onions, juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumber, shredded cheese, crunchy tortilla chips, and a barbecue ranch dressing.

    BBQ Chicken Salad is fresh, filling, creamy, tangy, and just downright delicious. It is the perfect summer meal to enjoy--and this homemade version is much tastier and less expensive than Panera's BBQ Chicken Salad.

    Bowl of BBQ Chicken Salad topped with tortilla chips

    BBQ Chicken Salad

    Do you love Panera's Barbecue Chicken Salad?

    Long before Panera's BBQ Chicken Salad came into existence, there was Bob Evan's Wildfire Chicken Salad.

    Wildfire Chicken Salad is made with grilled or fried barbecue chicken and topped with tomatoes, corn, onions, cheese, tortilla strips, and a spicy ranch dressing. And my favorite salad of all time!

    Now I make my own version of BBQ Chicken Salad that is a little bit like Panera's, a bit like Bob Evan's, and a WHOLE lot of delicious.

    My version of this recipe is fresh, filling, creamy, tangy, and incredibly simple to make. And not only do you save money by making this salad at home, but you can also change it up to suit your family's tastes or dietary preferences.

    Ingredients Needed

    The basics of this salad are the dressing, the chicken, and the lettuce--from there you can build your BBQ Chicken Salad HOWEVER your heart desires.

    • Chicken: I use my recipe for grilled barbecue chicken. You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs. In fact, you can even make this salad using leftover cooked chicken tossed with BBQ Sauce for a quicker version of this salad.
    • Lettuce: I recommend using hearts of romaine, but a head of iceberg or any green leaf lettuce will work as the base.
    • Dressing: The dressing is made by combining ranch dressing with BBQ sauce. Use your favorite store-bought variety or my homemade versions.
    • Toppings: I add sweet corn, sharp red onions, juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumber, shredded cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips to this BBQ Chicken Salad, but feel free to use what your family likes.

    How To Make BBQ Chicken Salad

    Step One: Grill Chicken

    • Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
    • Season boneless, skinless chicken breasts with seasoned salt.
    • Grill chicken for 5 minutes, flip and grill another 4 minutes.
    • Brush with BBQ Sauce and continue cooking for 2 more minutes.
    • Flip chicken and brush opposite side with BBQ sauce.
    • Cook for 2-4 more minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
    • Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
    Grilled BBQ Chicken Sliced on Cutting Board

    Step Two: Make the BBQ Ranch Salad Dressing

    • Mix ½ cup ranch dressing with 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce.

    Step Three: Assemble the Salad

    • Toss lettuce with tomatoes, corn, onions, cheese, and cucumbers.
    • Top salad with sliced BBQ chicken and tortilla strips.
    • Drizzle with BBQ Ranch Dressing and serve.
    Bowl of Chicken Salad with BBQ Sauce

    Tips and Modifications

    • If you happen to have fresh corn on the cob, throw your corn on the grill while you grill the chicken for an additional layer of flavor.
    • If you can't find tortilla strips, replace them with crushed tortilla chips.
    • I love using shredded Colby Cheese, but cheddar or mozzarella work as well.
    • Feel free to leave out the onions, cucumber, corn, or tomatoes based on your family's preferences.
    • Panera's BBQ Chicken Salad has black beans, and my recipe does not call for them but feel free to add them if desired.
    • If you use my homemade ranch dressing, this salad can be egg-free as well as nut-free and gluten-free.

    More Delicious Entree Salad Recipes

    • Southwest Chicken Salad
    • Buffalo Chicken Salad
    • Taco Salad
    • Caribbean Salad

    If you enjoyed this BBQ Chicken Salad, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below. I love hearing from you!

    Bowl of BBQ Chicken Salad

    BBQ chicken salad

    BBQ Chicken Salad, made with crunchy romaine, sweet corn, sharp red onions, juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumber, shredded cheese, crunchy tortilla chips and a barbecue ranch dressing is fresh, filling, creamy, tangy, and just down right delicious.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 470kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    Chicken

    • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
    • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
    • ½ cup BBQ sauce

    BBQ chicken salad

    • 3 heads of hearts of romaine chopped
    • 1 seedless cucumber diced
    • 1 small red onion minced
    • 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced
    • 1 cup corn kernels
    • ½ cup shredded Colby jack cheese
    • ½ cup tortilla strips

    BBQ Ranch Dressing

    • 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
    • ½ cup ranch dressing
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    Grill Chicken

    • Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
    • Season boneless, skinless chicken breasts with seasoned salt.
    • Grill chicken for 5 minutes on first side, flip and grill another 4 minutes.
    • Brush with BBQ Sauce and continue cooking for 2 more minutes. Flip chicken and brush the opposite side with BBQ sauce. Cook for 2-4 more minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
    • Remove chicken from grill and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

    Make the BBQ Ranch Salad Dressing

    • Mix ½ cup ranch dressing with 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce.

    Assemble the Salad

    • Toss lettuce with tomatoes, corn, onions, cheese, and cucumbers. Top salad with sliced BBQ chicken and tortilla strips. Drizzle with BBQ Ranch Dressing and serve.

    Notes

    • If you happen to have fresh corn on the cob, throw your corn on the grill while you grill the chicken for an additional layer of flavor.
    • Use your family's favorite barbecue sauce for the dressing and the chicken. I love using one without high fructose corn syrup.
    • If you can't find tortilla strips, replace with crushed tortilla chips.
    • I love using shredded Colby Cheese, but cheddar or mozzarella work as well. 
    • Feel free to leave out the onions, cucumber, corn, or tomatoes based on your family's preferences.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 890mg | Potassium: 1207mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 8627IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 3mg
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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ashley Jones

      September 09, 2021 at 3:13 am

      5 stars
      These meatballs are so good. My family loves them…kids included. They’ve become my “go to” turkey meatball recipe. I’ve made them quite a few times and finally decided I should say thank you for a good recipe. Thank you 🙂

      Reply
    2. Catie

      July 13, 2021 at 8:38 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and perfect for a hot summer night! I will be adding this to the salad rotation from now on!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 14, 2021 at 6:57 am

        It is on rotation here in the summer as well. I am so glad you enjoyed!

        Reply
    3. Ashley Jones

      June 22, 2021 at 10:57 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this post. I’ve always believed that chicken had to be cooked to 180 using an instant read thermometer to be safe. Always dry. I do more grilling outdoors, but I’ll definitely have to look for one of those pans. Should be good for any type of meat.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        June 23, 2021 at 6:42 am

        Hi Ashley! I am so glad you found this recipe and tips for cooking chicken. Your chicken will be so much juicier when cooked to 165 degrees.

        Reply
    4. Alana

      August 24, 2020 at 8:27 pm

      I have a hard time figuring out a salad my husband likes, but both of us loved this one! I've also added black beans and bacon if I have them, and skipped cucumber when I don't have it. Always good, and will appear often in our rotation!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 25, 2020 at 7:41 am

        I am so glad that you both enjoyed this meal Alana!

        Reply
    5. Ann

      July 31, 2020 at 2:49 pm

      Is the nutritional info for the entire salad or by servings? Thanks. I’m making this tomorrow!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 31, 2020 at 3:04 pm

        I hope you enjoy Ann! The nutritional info is per serving.

        Reply
    6. austin

      September 20, 2019 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      this is so so so so good

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        September 20, 2019 at 1:19 pm

        YAY!!! I am so glad you enjoyed Austin!

        Reply
    7. Noelle

      May 09, 2019 at 1:57 am

      5 stars
      This had the exact flavors I was looking for, great salad! Thank you

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 09, 2019 at 6:20 am

        I am so happy this salad hit the spot for you Noelle!

        Reply
    8. Carrie

      May 09, 2019 at 1:08 am

      5 stars
      This was delicious!

      Reply

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