Description
This BBQ chicken salad packs bold flavor into every single bite. Smoky barbecue chicken sits on top of crisp romaine, sweet corn, black beans, and creamy avocado. A tangy cilantro-lime dressing pulls the whole bowl together. Serve it for a quick weeknight dinner or meal-prep it for lunches all week.
Ingredients
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- 1 lb chicken tenderloins (or rotisserie chicken)
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- ½ cup BBQ sauce
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- 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
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- ¾ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
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- ¾ cup corn kernels
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- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
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- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
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- 1 large avocado, diced
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- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
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- ½ cup fresh cilantro
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- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
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- ¼ cup olive oil
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- 2 garlic cloves
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- ½ tsp cumin
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- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F and season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Brush both sides generously with BBQ sauce and bake 15-18 minutes until cooked through. Let cool completely then chop into bite-sized pieces.
Combine Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper in food processor. Blend until completely smooth and bright green. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Chop romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and add to large bowl. Halve cherry tomatoes, slice red onion paper-thin, and dice avocado. Drain and rinse black beans thoroughly.
Add black beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, and avocado to lettuce. Drizzle desired amount of cilantro dressing over everything and toss gently until well combined.
Arrange chopped BBQ chicken over top of dressed salad. Add extra BBQ sauce drizzle if desired. Serve immediately with tortilla chips for scooping.
Notes
Use rotisserie chicken as a shortcut — just shred and toss with BBQ sauce.
Grill chicken thighs at medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting with BBQ sauce in the last few minutes.
Make the dressing up to 3 days ahead and store covered in the refrigerator. Store all components separately for meal prep. Assemble just before eating to keep everything crisp.
Add shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips right before serving for extra texture. Swap cilantro for fresh parsley if you prefer a milder herb flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large bowl
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg