Description
This Buffalo Chicken Salad is the perfect combination of spicy, tangy, and fresh. Featuring juicy buffalo-seasoned chicken, crisp greens, crunchy veggies, and a drizzle of creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing, it’s a versatile dish that works as a light lunch, a hearty dinner, or even meal prep for the week.
Ingredients
For the Buffalo Chicken:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works great!)
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional, for extra richness)
For the salad base:
- 6 cups mixed salad greens (e.g., romaine, spinach, arugula, or a mix)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup cucumber, sliced (optional)
For the toppings:
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (or shredded cheddar, if you prefer)
- 1/2 avocado, sliced (optional)
- 1/4 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing (or more, to taste)
- Tortilla strips or croutons for crunch (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Buffalo chicken:
In a bowl, mix the cooked chicken with the buffalo sauce and melted butter (if using). Stir until the chicken is well coated. If the chicken is cold, you can warm it in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or microwave it briefly before mixing with the sauce.Assemble the salad:
In a large serving bowl or on individual plates, arrange the salad greens as the base. Layer on the cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, celery, red onion, and cucumber.Add the Buffalo chicken:
Spoon the saucy Buffalo chicken over the top of the salad.Top it off:
Sprinkle the salad with crumbled blue cheese (or cheddar), add avocado slices, and top with tortilla strips or croutons, if desired.Dress and serve:
Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Serve immediately and enjoy the bold flavors of this spicy and refreshing dish!
Notes
- Make it lighter: Use grilled or baked chicken breast instead of shredded chicken for a lower-calorie option. You can also opt for a light dressing.
- Spice level: Adjust the heat by adding more or less buffalo sauce to the chicken. For extra spice, sprinkle a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
- Meal prep tip: Store the salad ingredients and Buffalo chicken separately in airtight containers. Assemble the salad just before serving to keep everything fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (if warming chicken)
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Tossing and Assembly
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the salad
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Buffalo Chicken Salad, Spicy Chicken Salad, Healthy Lunch Recipe, Low-Carb Salad