BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad

File this salad under can’t wait to eat! One of the best BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad recipes, this summer salad has gone viral a multitude of times.

Worthy of the hype, this trendy, refreshing summer salad choice includes a simple homemade dressing, pre-made Rotisserie chicken (for ease), and a spattering of some of the best summer vegetables. Honestly, this recipe is gonna check mark every box. 

Salad Ingredients:

• Rotisserie chicken
• Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce
• Canned – black beans & whole corn, drained well.
• Vegetables – Diced tomatoes, avocados, and sliced romaine heart lettuce.
• Herbs & Seasoning – fresh cilantro & fresh dill, kosher salt and pepper.
• Buttermilk and store bought or homemade ranch dressing.

How to make BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad

You will love this one even more than the Cheesecake Factory’s BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad Recipe!

1. Mix store bought Rotisserie shredded chicken and 1/4 cup sweet barbecue sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s. Set BBQ chicken aside.
2. In a larger salad bowl, combine a drained can of corn, drained and rinsed black beans, tomatoes, chopped avocados, shredded or chopped romaine hearts, and fresh cilantro leaves. Mix all ingredients well.

4. In a separate small bowl, combine smooth buttermilk, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, and fresh dill. Whisk homemade dressing well until smooth. Season the entire thing with salt and black pepper.
5. Pour BBQ Ranch dressing onto the romaine lettuce and salad ingredients and mix it. Serve salad immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Easy BBQ Chicken Salad Variations

• I love experimenting with my BBQ salads. One of my go-to combinations includes fresh corn, sliced pepperoncini peppers, chopped green bell pepper, and chunks of hard-boiled egg. It’s hard to go wrong with these delicious ingredients!
• Whenever I have leftovers, I wrap them up in a tortilla for a quick and tasty lunch the next day. It’s such a convenient way to enjoy the salad again.
• To give the shredded chicken some extra flavor, I like to mix it with a packet of taco seasoning or add some Frank’s Red Hot sauce. And for the dressing, instead of the usual BBQ ranch as listed, I like to make a creamy dressing with sour cream, ranch dressing, and another packet of taco seasoning. There really is no wrong way.

How to store BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad – You can store leftovers in mason jars for a quick grab and go for lunch, or put in a Tupperware container, well sealed, for up to 2 days. While the ingredients wont go bad so to speak, the lettuce will really soak up the dressing and get soggy. This salad is best made and eaten quickly due to the fresh veggies.

Ready for a few more salad options? My current top recommendation for a savory lunch salad is this newly published cucumber pepper salad recipe. It hits all the right colors, textures, and flavors of the summer. Or try one of the suggestions below!