A satisfying salad featuring smoky BBQ chicken, crisp vegetables, creamy avocado, and a tangy BBQ ranch dressing. Perfect for summer cookouts or meal prep!
Author:Ranime
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:35 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Main Course Salad
Method:Grilling
Cuisine:American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
1 lb (450g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup BBQ sauce (plus extra for serving)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
For the Salad:
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup corn kernels (grilled or canned)
1 avocado, diced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
For the Dressing:
1/3 cup ranch dressing
2 tbsp BBQ sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp honey
Instructions
Marinate Chicken: Coat chicken with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let sit 15 minutes.
Grill Chicken: Grill over medium-high heat for 6-7 minutes per side, brushing with BBQ sauce during last 2 minutes. Rest 5 minutes then slice.
Make Dressing: Whisk together ranch, BBQ sauce, lime juice, and honey.
Assemble Salad: Arrange lettuce in bowls. Top with tomatoes, corn, avocado, onion, black beans, and cheese.
Add Chicken: Place sliced chicken on top. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with cilantro.
Serve: Offer extra BBQ sauce on the side.
Notes
Meal prep tip: Store components separately and assemble when ready to eat.
For extra crunch: Add crushed tortilla chips or toasted pepitas.
Substitute options: Use grilled shrimp or pulled pork instead of chicken.
Make it spicy: Add pickled jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to dressing.