Description
A flavorful and hearty Buffalo Chicken Salad combining spicy buffalo chicken with fresh mixed greens, crunchy celery, sharp red onion, and a blend of cheddar and blue cheese. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner and offers a delicious balance of heat and creaminess.
Ingredients
Scale
Buffalo Chicken
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Preheat Skillet: Preheat a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Heat Oil: Add the tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and allow it to heat up for about 1 minute until hot.
- Cook Chicken: Add the shredded cooked chicken to the skillet, stirring occasionally to heat through evenly for about 3-4 minutes.
- Mix Sauce: In a small bowl, combine buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir well until smooth and blended.
- Coat Chicken: Pour the sauce mixture over the heated chicken and stir well to coat all the chicken pieces evenly.
- Simmer Chicken: Reduce heat to low and cook the chicken in the sauce for another 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare Salad Base: Remove skillet from heat. In a large salad bowl, place the mixed greens as the foundation of the salad.
- Add Vegetables: Top the greens with chopped celery and thinly sliced red onion for crunch and flavor.
- Add Cheeses: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and blue cheese crumbles evenly over the salad ingredients.
- Add Buffalo Chicken: Evenly distribute the buffalo chicken mixture over the salad.
- Season: Season with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting to preference.
- Toss Salad: Gently toss all ingredients together to combine flavors evenly.
- Serve: Serve immediately on its own or with extra dressing if desired.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more buffalo sauce to the chicken before cooking.
- Serve with extra ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.
- Use freshly cooked chicken if available for better texture and flavor.
- Can be made ahead by preparing chicken and salad separately, then combining before serving.
- Add avocado or cucumber for a fresher crunch variation.
- Adjust salt and pepper at the end to keep flavors balanced.
