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BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 102 reviews

A flavorful and hearty BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad featuring tender BBQ chicken, fresh romaine lettuce, black beans, crisp cucumber, creamy avocado, and a zesty combination of ranch and BBQ sauce. This salad is topped with shredded cheddar cheese and crunchy French fried onions for added texture and taste, making a perfect easy meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Base

  • 1 head romaine lettuce (or 2 hearts of romaine), chopped
  • 1 cup black beans, prepared, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup pico de gallo
  • 1 cup diced cucumber
  • 1 avocado, sliced

Protein

  • 2 cups diced BBQ chicken

Toppings and Dressing

  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup French fried onions
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing (or more to taste)
  • ¼ cup BBQ sauce (or more to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the lettuce: Chop the romaine lettuce finely and place it evenly in the base of a large salad bowl to create the foundation of the salad.
  2. Add protein and vegetables: Layer the diced BBQ chicken evenly over the lettuce base, then add the black beans, pico de gallo, diced cucumber, and sliced avocado on top to build flavor and texture.
  3. Top and dress the salad: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and French fried onions over the salad for richness and crunch, then drizzle ranch dressing and BBQ sauce over everything to tie all the flavors together.

Notes

  • Use freshly cooked or store-bought BBQ chicken for convenience.
  • Pico de gallo can be substituted with chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro if unavailable.
  • Add more or less ranch and BBQ sauce depending on your desired level of dressing and flavor intensity.
  • For added texture, consider adding tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips.
  • This salad is best served immediately to maintain freshness of the avocado and crispness of the lettuce.
  • To make it gluten free, verify that the French fried onions and BBQ sauce are gluten free.

Keywords: BBQ chicken salad, ranch chicken salad, BBQ ranch salad, easy chicken salad, healthy salad, summer salad

Find it online: https://spatulaqueen.com/bbq-ranch-chicken-salad-recipe/