BBQ Chicken Salad
A delicious, flavorful ultimate BBQ Chicken Salad recipe that is the perfect summer salad to serve up for dinner tonight!
Ingredients
BBQ Chicken:
- 2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup bbq sauce more for serving
Salad:
- 4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/2 cup corn kernels cooked & cut off the cob
- 4 bacon slices cooked and chopped
- 1/3 cup monterey jack cheese shredded (or pepper jack cheese)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- 1/4 cup red onion sliced
- 1/2 cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped (more or less, as desired)
- 1/4 cup tortilla strips
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- optional jalapeño, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken + Grill: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Ensure grill grates are clean and heat grill to medium-high heat (approx. 450 degrees F.).
- Grill Chicken: Place chicken breasts on direct heat (direct flame) and cook for 4-5 minutes per side. Move chicken away from the direct heat (direct flame) so that it is cooking on indirect heat (maintaining the same grill temp) and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes (you don't need to flip at this point because the chicken will cook as if it is in an oven) or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reads 160 degrees F. on your meat thermometer.
- Sauce + Rest: Brush BBQ sauce on to the chicken and close the grill lid. Remove from grill when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. and let rest at least 5 minutes, so the juices can redistribute (the chicken will continue to cook during this time and the internal temp will continue to rise 5 additional degrees). Cut chicken into bite-sized cubes.
- Assemble Salad: Divide lettuce between two bowls. Top with chicken, avocado, corn, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, onion, black beans, cilantro and tortilla strips.
- Top Salad: Top salad with additional BBQ sauce, ranch dressing and jalapeño slices.
Notes
- Chicken: you can use chicken thighs, if you prefer - we have a tutorial on how to grill chicken thighs too.
- Corn: for best results use grilled sweet corn, but feel free to use frozen too, whatever you prefer/works best.
- Dairy-Free: feel free to use a dairy-free ranch dressing.
- Storage: any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just make sure you keep the chicken, dressing, and fresh ingredients in separate containers. This is also perfect for meal prep!
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