Crisp, fresh, and colorful, BBQ Chicken Salad has layers of flavor – sweet and tangy BBQ chicken, crushed tortilla chips, crisp vegetables, and creamy Ranch dressing.

This is a dinner salad – serve it all on its own for a light but satisfying meal that is a hit with absolutely everyone I serve it to!

This BBQ Chicken salad is fresh and satisfying, packed with colorful ingredients, and finished with a creamy dressing (homemade or store-bought). In addition to layers of fresh romaine, corn, and cheese, it’s finished with bite-size pieces of sweet and tangy tender chicken. Pile it all together in a large bowl and enjoy.

Is This Healthy?

Homemade is almost always healthier than the BBQ Chicken Salad you might pick up from your favorite restaurant. But this salad has a few healthier twists to keep it light and still delicious (similar to how my version of the Crispy Chicken Salad is lighter than most restaurant versions). Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are low in calories and can be cooked without added oil in the slow cooker or Instant Pot (see below). Creamy dressing can easily weigh down a fresh salad, but in this case the use of Greek yogurt in the dressing makes it lighter without sacrificing flavor or texture.

BBQ Chicken Salad Ingredients

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast – Sliced into cubes, boneless, skinless chicken breast is the hearty base of a bbq / barbecue chicken salad recipe.
• BBQ Sauce – I live in Kansas City, so we always have 2 or 3 local varieties of BBQ sauce in our fridge and have a hard time picking favorites. Use your favorite BBQ sauce here, but I think a sweet and tangy tomato-based version works best.
• Romaine Lettuce – The crisp, cool leaves of romaine lettuce work really well here, but it’s also great with baby spinach or any mixed greens.
• Corn – Frozen corn holds its flavor and crisp texture a bit better than canned, but either work. If using frozen, defrost it in the microwave. If using canned, drain and rinse it first.
• Avocado – Adds cream texture to the salad.
• Red Bell Pepper -Diced red bell peppers give the salad great crunch, but if tomatoes are in season, those work well too.
• Cheese – Shredded Colby Jack, shredded cheddar, or a shredded Mexican blend all work well.
• Tortilla Chips – Crush up your favorite tortilla chips or use store-bought tortilla strips from the salad dressing aisle at the grocery store. If you’re feeling ambitious, these homemade tortilla strips are pretty easy to make and really good.

Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing

The BBQ chicken salad recipe below includes an easy and healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing that’s as good (or better) than anything store-bought. It’s great in the summer if you have fresh herbs on hand or it can be made with dried herbs.

But if you’re in a rush, store-bought dressing works just fine!

How to Cook BBQ Chicken for Salad

When I want a big, fresh salad, I’m usually looking for something that’s fast, so the recipe below includes the shortest, quickest route – cooking the chicken in a wok or skillet on the stovetop. But here are some other ideas:

• Grill – Keep the chicken breasts whole and sear them on the grill. Brush them with some BBQ sauce near the end of cooking. Then let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before chopping it and tossing it with the full amount of BBQ sauce. You’ll get all that great smoky flavor from the grill.
• Slow Cooker – I make big batches of Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken throughout the year. We’ll use some in sandwiches, but the leftovers are great in this barbecue chicken salad recipe.
• Instant Pot – I cook cubed chicken in the Instant Pot in 6 minutes (with 10 minute natural release) using my latest kitchen companion – this Mix and Match Guide to 6-Minute Instant Pot Meals. (The chicken photographed below was made using instructions in that 6-Minute guide.)

The Best Way to Store Leftover BBQ Chicken Salad

Store each component of the salad separately for best results. The fresh ingredients can all be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just before serving, reheat the chicken. Assemble the salad and enjoy! If the salad ingredients have all been combined, it’s best to eat it within a day. It starts to loose texture and wilt right after it is tossed.

More Colorful Salads

Green Bean and Red Potato Salad

Easy Cucumber Salad

Napa Cabbage Salad

Butter Lettuce Salad

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