BBQ Chicken Salad
BBQ chicken salad is a flavorful salad that comes together quickly for an easy healthy meal.
BBQ chicken salad is loaded with good-for-you ingredients, is customizable, and is easy for meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner. I had a BBQ chicken salad at a local restaurant and loved it so much that I started recreating it for lunch. I found it was easy to meal prep and bring to school when I was a teacher. This recipe is one I’ve been making for years and still go back to because it is simple, wholesome, and delicious.
You will love BBQ Chicken Salad because:
- BBQ chicken salad is flavorful and healthy
- Ready in less than 30 minutes and makes the perfect meal prep for the week
- High protein and high-fiber salad that is a filling lunch or dinner
- Customizable topping options
- Gluten-free and dairy-free
BBQ Chicken Salad is made with:
- Romaine lettuce: any green will do but I love the crunch and mild flavor of romaine for this salad
- BBQ chicken: a lean source of protein this shredded BBQ chicken is easy to make in the instant pot or crock pot
- Black Beans: high-fiber plant-based protein
- Corn: fresh or canned corn for extra fiber, potassium, and B vitamins
- Picked red onions: loaded with antioxidants, gut-friendly, and easy to make, use this recipe
- Bell pepper: adds crunch, color, and vitamin C
- Avocado: a great source of omega-3 fatty acids
Recipe Tips:
- This recipe is customizable other toppings that work great are tomatoes, tortilla strips, chickpeas, roasted chickpeas, cucumbers, or feta cheese
- Make sure to use a BBQ sauce you love. I like to use Primal Kitchen Hawaiian BBQ sauce or Stubbs BBQ sauce for a healthy low-sugar option
- Feel free to make your own dressing or buy a ranch, BBQ ranch, cilantro avocado dressing, or Trader Joe’s creamy dill dressing
- BBQ chicken salad doesn’t save well once dressed but can be made ahead of time and you can store the ingredients separately
- To prep for a work lunch layer the toppings at the bottom of a container, add the chicken, and last put the lettuce on top to keep it from getting soggy, save the dressing in another container and mix together when ready to eat
Other Recipe You May Enjoy:
- Pickled Red Onions
- Easy Healthy Balsamic Chicken
- 30 Minute Healthy Sloppy Joes
- Copycat Cava Salad Bowl
- Burger and fries salad
BBQ Chicken Salad
BBQ chicken salad is loaded with good for you ingredients, is customizable, and easy for meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
BBQ Chicken
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins or breast
- 1/2-3/4 cups BBQ sauce
Salad
- 8 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 can of corn drained
- 2 bell peppers chopped (red, orange, or yellow)
- 1 red onion
- 2 avocados
- salad dressing of choice
Instructions
Chicken
- Add chicken tenderloins or chicken breast to an instant pot with 1/2 cup of water or broth
- Cook chicken on high for 10 minutes, natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release
- Drain excess liquid
- Shred chicken with two forks, a mixer, or a hand mixer
- Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce
Pickled red onions
- You can use plain chopped red onions but I suggest making pickled red onions. They are easy to meal prep and last up to two weeks in the fridge.
Salad
- While the chicken is cooking chop romaine lettuce and bell peppers
- Drain the can of corn and drain and rinse the can of black beans
- Add lettuce, corn, black beans, pepper, pickled onion, 1/2 avocado, and shredded chicken to a plate
- Drizzle on dressing of your choice. I suggest a ranch, BBQ ranch, cilantro avocado, or Trader Joe's creamy dill dressing
Notes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review below and don’t forget to tag @lauralivewell
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
