This buffalo chicken salad combines all the things you think of when you think of buffalo chicken wings. Tangy buffalo sauce, carrots celery, blue cheese…. but in salad form. I love a big salad for dinner as long as it has tasty ingredients.
I use marinated and grilled buffalo chicken breasts in this. You could also use fried chicken or rotisserie chicken or another protein like shrimp and just drizzle some buffalo sauce on top with the dressing. If you are doing the marinated chicken, marinate the day before for lots of flavor.
You can also customize what is in the salad. I like bacon, celery, carrot, pepper, cucumber and avocado. You could also add corn or cherry tomatoes or pretty much any veggie you like. Homemade dressing really makes this salad, so if you have time it is worth making. You just throw all the ingredients into the blender and blend, so it comes together pretty quick.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup franks hot sauce or wings sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lime or lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- fresh black pepper
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayo or light mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream or light sour cream
- 3 tbsp blue cheese optional
- 1/4 cup packed cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 tsp salt
- fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried chives
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
For the salad:
- sliced buffalo chicken
- 1 head romaine cleaned and chopped
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 large carrot cut in half and cut into slices on a bias
- 3 stalks celery sliced
- 2 small seedless cucumbers sliced
- 1 avocado pitted and diced
- blue cheese crumbles
- bacon crumbles
Instructions
For the chicken:
- Combine the marinade ingredients and add the chicken. Allow to marinate overnight.
- Heat your grill or broiler and cook the chicken until it is at least 165 degrees in the thickest part, on an instant read thermometer. Cool slightly and slice.
For the dressing:
- Add ingredients to a small blender jar and blend. Add a bit of water or milk to thin if needed. Taste for seasoning and add a bit of salt or white vinegar if needed.
For the salad:
- Layer plates with lettuce and all the toppings and chicken. Drizzle over dressing and a little hot sauce or buffalo sauce as desired.