Description
Zesty Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad merges spicy grilled chicken with crisp romaine and tangy blue cheese dressing. Cool ranch crumbles and fresh herbs provide perfect balance for hearty summer meals.
Ingredients
- 2 (907 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce (Franks RedHot or your favorite brand)
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- ½ cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup celery, diced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp buffalo sauce (optional, for extra spice)
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles or shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Protein Preparation: Season chicken breasts with a robust spice blend, ensuring maximum flavor infusion.
- Chicken Cooking: Grill or pan-sear chicken at medium heat until internal temperature reaches 165°F, maintaining juicy texture and preventing moisture loss.
- Buffalo Transformation: Shred or slice cooked chicken and coat thoroughly with zesty hot sauce, allowing complete flavor absorption.
- Salad Foundation: Chop romaine lettuce and combine with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, celery, and red onion to create a vibrant vegetable base.
- Assembly: Artfully arrange buffalo-glazed chicken over vegetable mixture, ensuring even distribution and visual appeal.
- Cheese Enhancement: Generously sprinkle crumbled blue cheese or shredded cheddar across the salad, adding creamy and tangy dimensions.
- Dressing Finale: Drizzle ranch or blue cheese dressing over the entire dish, optional extra buffalo sauce for heat enthusiasts, and gently toss to integrate all components.
Notes
Select Top-Quality Chicken: Choose fresh, organic chicken breasts with uniform thickness to ensure even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
Manage Spice Intensity: Adjust buffalo sauce quantity based on personal heat tolerance, starting with moderate amounts and gradually increasing for desired spiciness.
Prevent Chicken Dryness: Use meat thermometer to check internal temperature (165°F), letting chicken rest 3-5 minutes after cooking to retain moistness and prevent toughness.
Customize for Dietary Needs: Swap blue cheese with dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast for vegan version, or use Greek yogurt ranch for lower-fat dressing option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg