By Krista Teigen
Published Apr 10, 2024
It’s barbecue season, and I’m obsessed with slathering homemade BBQ sauce on anything and everything I can get my hands on. This BBQ chicken salad is chock full of all of my barbecue favorites and topped with a mix of creamy ranch and BBQ sauce for a tangy and fresh take on a chopped salad. Loaded with beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, avocado, and more, it’s the hearty salad I’ve been craving.
What’s in This BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe?
This is the ultimate take on a chopped salad . With so many delicious toppings (beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, cheese, avocado… the list goes on!), juicy seasoned chicken, and a tangy dressing, this barbecue chicken salad is my favorite summertime lunch.
- Spices : Kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder create a BBQ-inspired seasoning for the chicken.
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the healthiest choice for this hearty salad.
- Olive Oil: Helps the chicken sear without sticking or burning.
- Lettuce: Crunchy romaine lettuce is my favorite for this type of salad. Iceberg also works well– you want something super crunchy and fresh!
- Black Beans: Drained canned black beans are an easy way to add protein and creaminess to this salad.
- Tomatoes: Chopped Roma tomatoes are my number one choice, but halved cherry or grape tomatoes would also work.
- Corn: You can use fresh, canned, or frozen corn. Just be sure to drain if canned and thaw if frozen.
- Red Onion : Adds a bit of bite to the salad to balance the richness.
- Cheese: Mozzarella or gouda cheese adds creaminess to this salad. The gouda works well if you like a bit of a smoky flavor.
- Avocado: Adds richness and creaminess to the salad.
- Tortilla Strips: Add a bit of crunch! You can also crush up regular tortilla chips if that’s what you have on hand.
- BBQ Sauce : Adds tanginess, smokiness, and classic BBQ flavor to this salad. Use your favorite brand, or make your own using my recipe!
- Ranch Dressing : The perfect creamy and tangy dressing to bring everything together.
What Else Can I Add?
This is a great fridge-cleanout recipe. Any leftover grilled veggies would fit right in on this salad. I love to toss in avocado corn salsa or confetti corn salad when I have them left over.
How to Store and Reheat
As with any salad, I recommend storing the components and the dressing separately to preserve the textures. This BBQ chicken salad will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge– just toss everything together before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This barbecue chicken salad is such a hearty meal all on its own. Some simple cornbread muffins would make the perfect side slathered with sweet honey butter !
Notes from the Test Kitchen
It’s grilling season! Whenever I have the chance, I like to grill the chicken breasts rather than searing them in a pan.
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Chicken
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ▢ 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Salad
- ▢ 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- ▢ 15 ounces canned black beans drained (1 can)
- ▢ 2 roma tomatoes diced
- ▢ 1½ cups corn off the cob, canned, or frozen
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped red onion
- ▢ 1 cup shredded mozzarella or gouda cheese
- ▢ 1 avocado sliced
- ▢ 1 cup tortilla strips
For the Dressing
- ▢ ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- ▢ ¾ cup ranch dressing
Video
Instructions
- Combine the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder in a small dish. Then, sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken. ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon chili powder, 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add in the chicken and cook for a few minutes per side until cooked through. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Place the lettuce in a large bowl. 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- Arrange the chicken, black beans, tomatoes, corn, red onion, cheese, avocado slices, and tortilla strips on top. 15 ounces canned black beans, 2 roma tomatoes, 1½ cups corn, ¼ cup chopped red onion, 1 cup shredded mozzarella or gouda cheese, 1 avocado, 1 cup tortilla strips
- Drizzle the BBQ sauce and ranch dressing over the top. ¼ cup BBQ sauce, ¾ cup ranch dressing
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make a BBQ Chicken Salad Step by Step
Season the Chicken: Combine ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika, and ¼ teaspoon of chili powder in a small dish. Then, sprinkle the seasoning over 1½ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Cook the Chicken: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add in the chicken and cook for a few minutes per side until cooked through.
More Salad Recipes To Try
- Cucumber Salad
- Peruvian Chopped Salad
- Caprese Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Southwest Chicken Salad
- Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Salad
- 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 15 ounces canned black beans drained (1 can)
- 2 roma tomatoes diced
- 1½ cups corn off the cob, canned, or frozen
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or gouda cheese
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup tortilla strips
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- ¾ cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- Combine the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder in a small dish. Then, sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken. ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon chili powder, 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add in the chicken and cook for a few minutes per side until cooked through. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Place the lettuce in a large bowl. 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- Arrange the chicken, black beans, tomatoes, corn, red onion, cheese, avocado slices, and tortilla strips on top. 15 ounces canned black beans, 2 roma tomatoes, 1½ cups corn, ¼ cup chopped red onion, 1 cup shredded mozzarella or gouda cheese, 1 avocado, 1 cup tortilla strips
- Drizzle the BBQ sauce and ranch dressing over the top. ¼ cup BBQ sauce, ¾ cup ranch dressing
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
