BBQ Chicken Salad

You are looking for a delicious and satisfying Salad that’s perfect for summer, look no further than this Bbq Chicken Salad. It’s loaded with tender grilled chicken, crisp lettuce, crunchy jicama, sweet corn, black beans, cheese and creamy BBQ ranch dressing. It’s easy to make, flavorful, and great for meal prep or potlucks.

What is Jicama?

Jicama is root vegetable with crisp and juicy texture and mild and sweet flavor. It’s also known as Mexican yam or Mexican turnip. You can find it in most grocery stores’ produce sections or Latin markets. Peel off the brown skin and chop it into bite sized pieces to prepare it. You can eat it raw or cooked, but we’re using it raw for this turkey salad to add some crunch and freshness.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Salad

These are following the below explain make BBQ Chicken Salad

1. Grill Chicken

To make the grilled chicken for this salad, you’ll need some boneless, skinless chicken breasts, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and your favorite BBQ sauce. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder on both sides. Then grill it over medium high heat for about 15 minutes, flipping once, until cooked through and juicy. Brush some BBQ sauce over chicken during last few minutes of grilling to add extra flavor and caramelization. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before cut.

2. Make the BBQ Ranch Salad Dressing

You’ll need some mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, BBQ sauce and water to make BBQ ranch salad dressing. Whisk everything together in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. You can adjust the consistency by adding more or less water as needed. You can also adjust flavor by adding more or less BBQ sauce or ranch seasoning to your liking.

3. Assemble the Salad

To assemble the salad, chopped romaine lettuce, jicama, corn kernels (fresh or frozen), black beans (drained and rinsed), shredded cheddar cheese and chopped fresh cilantro. Toss everything together in a large salad bowl until well combined. You can either drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat or serve it on the side and let everyone add their amount. Top salad with sliced grilled chicken and enjoy!

Do I have to use my stovetop to cook the chicken?

No, you don’t have to use your stovetop to cook chicken for this salad. You can also bake it in the oven at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes or cook it in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Just season it well and brush some BBQ sauce over it before cooking.

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe

There are so many reasons to love this BBQ chicken salad recipe. These are some of them:

• It’s easy to make with simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry or fridge.
• It’s full of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will keep you full and nourished.
• It’s versatile and customizable. You can use any lettuce you like, swap out cheese for another kind, add more or fewer veggies or beans or use a different dressing if you’re not a fan of BBQ ranch chicken salad.
• It’s great for meal prep or potlucks. You can make it and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. keep dressing separate until start to serve. You can also double or triple recipe if you’re feeding a crowd.

To Meal Prep

If you want to meal prep this salad for easy lunches or dinners throughout week, here’s what you need to do:

• Cook chicken and slice it. Store it in an airtight container in fridge.
• Make dressing and store it in jar or bottle in fridge.
• Chop lettuce and jicama and store them in separate ziplock bags or containers in fridge.
• Drain and rinse black beans and store them in container in fridge.
• Thaw corn if using frozen and store it in container in fridge.
• Shred cheese and store it in a ziplock bag or container in fridge.
• Chop cilantro and store it in damp paper towel in ziplock bag or container in fridge.

When you’re ready to eat, toss everything together in bowl and add some dressing.

Variations

You can customize this salad to suit your taste buds or dietary needs. These are some ideas for variations:

• Use different lettuce, such as iceberg, spinach, kale or mixed greens.
• Use another type of cheese, such as mozzarella, Monterey jack, feta or blue cheese.
• Use different beans, such as kidney, pinto or garbanzo beans.
• Add more veggies, such as cherry tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, bell pepper or red onion.
• Use different dressings, such as honey mustard, cilantro lime or chipotle ranch.

Storage Tips

This salad is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just make sure to keep dressing separate until ready to serve. You can freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months and thaw it in the fridge overnight.

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken Salad

This salad is hearty and filling enough for a meal, but you can also serve it with some sides. Here are some suggestions:

• Cornbread or biscuits
• Potato salad or coleslaw
• Macaroni and cheese or baked beans
• Fruit salad or watermelon
• Lemonade or iced tea

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

This BBQ chicken salad is delicious and satisfying summer dish that’s easy to make and great for meal prep or potlucks. It’s loaded with tender grilled chicken, crisp lettuce, crunchy jicama, sweet corn, black beans, cheese and creamy BBQ ranch chicken salad dressing. It’s full of flavor and nutrition and can be customized. Try it today and enjoy!