BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad Recipe
This BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad Recipe is a hearty, colorful, and fresh salad featuring juicy grilled barbecue chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, black beans, sweet corn, fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese, and a smoky BBQ ranch dressing. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep, it delivers a satisfying balance of smoky, savory, fresh, and creamy flavors in every bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Salad
- 5 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ cup crushed tortilla strips or tortilla chips
BBQ Ranch Dressing
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
- 1 tsp fresh lime juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken Seasoning: Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil, then season evenly with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste, ensuring full coverage for smoky flavor.
- Grill the Chicken: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts and cook for 5–6 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring they are cooked through and juicy.
- Apply BBQ Sauce: During the last 2 minutes of grilling, brush the chicken with BBQ sauce on both sides to impart a sweet, smoky glaze. Once done, remove the chicken and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices.
- Chop the Chicken: After resting, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces suitable for salad.
- Make the BBQ Ranch Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, fresh lime juice, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Salad Base: In a large serving bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, shredded red cabbage, sweet corn kernels, rinsed black beans, halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, diced red bell pepper, finely diced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro. Toss gently to mix.
- Add the Chicken: Place the chopped BBQ chicken on top of the mixed salad ingredients evenly.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the prepared BBQ ranch dressing over the salad and sprinkle with crushed tortilla strips or chips for crunchy texture.
- Serve: Toss the salad just before serving to evenly coat all ingredients and enjoy immediately for the freshest flavor and texture.
Notes
- For best texture, store salad and dressing separately if preparing ahead.
- Keep lettuce dry to maintain crispness when storing.
- Add crushed tortilla strips just before serving to prevent sogginess.
- Do not freeze the salad as vegetables will lose their texture.
- Chicken can be grilled on a grill pan, outdoor grill, or skillet if a grill is unavailable.
- Feel free to customize with jalapeños, cucumbers, or green onions for added flavor.
- This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Keywords: BBQ Chicken Salad, Grilled Chicken Salad, Chopped Salad, BBQ Ranch Dressing, Healthy BBQ Salad, High Protein Salad
Find it online: https://lucabites.com/bbq-chicken-chopped-salad-recipe/
