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BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad Recipe

BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad Recipe – Easy and Flavorful

This BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad is packed with juicy BBQ chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, sweet corn, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and a creamy BBQ ranch dressing. It’s an easy, flavorful meal that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, summer gatherings, or meal prep.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lb chicken breasts – Boneless and skinless
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce – Divided for the chicken and salad
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce – Chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes – Halved
  • 1 cup corn – Fresh canned, or thawed
  • 1 cup black beans – Drained and rinsed
  • ½ medium red onion – Finely diced
  • 1 avocado – Diced
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese – Shredded
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro – Chopped
  • ¼ cup green onions – Sliced
  • ½ cup ranch dressing – For the creamy dressing
  • 1 tbsp lime juice – Freshly squeezed
  • ½ tsp salt – Adjust to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper – Adjust to taste

Instructions
 

  • Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat a skillet or grill over medium heat and cook the chicken until golden on the outside and fully cooked in the center.
  • Brush the chicken generously with BBQ sauce during the final few minutes of cooking. Continue cooking until the sauce becomes slightly caramelized and coats the chicken.
  • Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for a few minutes. Chop the chicken into small, bite-sized pieces.
  • Wash and dry the romaine lettuce, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. Prepare the cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado, cilantro, and green onions.
  • Add the ranch dressing, remaining BBQ sauce, and fresh lime juice to a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
  • Add the chopped romaine lettuce to a large serving bowl. Add the tomatoes, corn, black beans, red onion, avocado, cheddar cheese, cilantro, and green onions.
  • Add the chopped BBQ chicken to the salad and gently toss the ingredients together.
  • Drizzle the BBQ ranch dressing over the salad. Toss gently until everything is lightly coated. Serve immediately with an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce or a squeeze of fresh lime, if desired.

Notes

 
For the best texture, add the dressing just before serving. If preparing the salad ahead of time, store the chicken, vegetables, avocado, and dressing separately and assemble when ready to eat. The chicken can also be grilled instead of cooked in a skillet for extra smoky BBQ flavor.
 

Nutrition Facts

 
  • Calories: 520 kcal
  • Total Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 105 mg
  • Sodium: 1,050 mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 39 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 9 g
  • Total Sugars: 17 g
  • Protein: 43 g
  • Calcium: 220 mg
  • Iron: 3 mg
  • Potassium: 1,050 mg
These are estimated values per serving and can vary depending on the BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, chicken size, and other brands/ingredients used.