Buffalo Chicken Salad

One of my all-time favorites, this buffalo chicken salad combines chicken, bacon, and plenty of veggies with creamy ranch and spicy buffalo wing sauce for a salad full of flavor!

To me, there’s no such thing as a “salad recipe,” which makes today’s post stranger than it already feels.

I’m very much the toss-it-in, see-what-else-it-needs, and like-it-or-make-dinner-yourself kinda gal.

But I am aware that there are a lot of people who like to follow recipes – even the small ones that I often take for granted!

So, I dedicate today’s post to all those who need recipes. Who appreciate recipes.

Allow me to share with you the official recipe for one of the best salads you’ll ever make: Buffalo Chicken Salad.

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD

Let’s start by talking about the two things that make this buffalo chicken salad absolutely amazing: Buffalo sauce and bacon. Need I say more? No. But I will…It’s also amazing because it’s:

• Quick and easy. This buffalo chicken salad recipe isn’t complicated at all and comes together in 10 minutes!
• Healthy. With tons of veggies and plenty of protein, you can’t beat this salad – for lunch or for dinner!
• Versatile. If you don’t have gorgonzola, but you have crumbled blue cheese, switch it! If you don’t like ranch dressing, use blue cheese dressing instead (even though my Homemade Ranch Dressing is awesome). You have lots of substitution options to use what you have.
• So yummy! A bit of a kick, plenty of creaminess, and loads of flavor.

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• Lettuce. Romaine lettuce, iceberg, spring, or Bibb are all great choices.
• Greens. Add baby kale, spinach, or arugula. Or grab a tub of mixed greens and use those as your salad base.
• Chopped Chicken. Instant Pot Chicken Breast, leftover All-Purpose Chicken, Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts, or rotisserie chicken…any cooked chicken will work here. (Even canned chicken if you’re in a pinch!)
• Bell Pepper. I like red bell peppers, but whatever color is the best deal at the supermarket works.
• Shredded Carrots. Use a box grater or food processor to quickly shred a carrot and add extra color to your buffalo chicken salad recipe.
• Bacon. Cook a few pieces in a skillet or make a big batch in the oven and have the rest with breakfast or in Chicken Caesar Wraps.
• Gorgonzola Cheese. Feta or blue cheese is also delicious in this chicken buffalo salad.
• Green Onions. Use both the white and green parts, sliced thinly.
• Homemade Ranch Dressing. Or try my Dairy Free Ranch Dressing.
• Buffalo Sauce. Homemade Buffalo Wings Sauce is my all-time favorite sauce ever. But if you are short on time, storebought buffalo hot sauce just so happens to be one of the few sauces that don’t contain fake ingredients or weird additives.

Extra fresh vegetables like chopped celery, chopped cucumbers, diced avocado, red onion, or halved grape tomatoes make a great addition to this salad if you have them, but they’re not necessary.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN BUFFALO SALAD

Step 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the salad ingredients and top with chopped chicken. I like bite-sized pieces, but shredded chicken works too.

Step 2. Toss with ½ cup of Homemade Ranch Dressing.

Step 3. Drizzle Buffalo Sauce on top of the salad, as desired.

If you’d like, season the chicken buffalo salad with salt and black pepper and a little garlic powder (but I don’t think it needs it)!

Store the salad components separately from the dressings in airtight containers for up to 3 days and toss before serving.

TIPS FOR SALAD WITH BUFFALO CHICKEN

I wrote this recipe to accommodate families with kids who aren’t fans of spicy foods. If this doesn’t apply to you, toss the buffalo sauce directly in with the Homemade Ranch Dressing and spice it up!

You can’t tell by the picture, but the chicken in this recipe was actually leftover from a few different taco nights! When there’s leftover chicken at a meal, I dice it up and put it in a freezer-safe bag. I add to it when I can, and when there’s a full cup, I either make Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas or this salad with buffalo chicken.

We don’t have leftover bacon often, but you can still save up to $2 per pound by buying “ends and pieces” instead of full strips! If you go this route, cook up the whole package and measure out ¼ – ⅓ cup for this salad. Freeze the rest for a different meal.

One of the keys to enjoying fun things like bacon, chicken, and cheese on a salad is keeping the portion control under control. When you have several toppings (there are six in this salad, including the green onions), a little bit of each really goes a long way. Add any more than a cup and you’ll be taking bites wondering if there’s any lettuce in that salad after all.

MORE BUFFALO SAUCE GOODNESS

If you’re a huge fan of buffalo sauce like I am, try another chicken recipe with buffalo chicken dip with your extra Homemade Buffalo Sauce:

• Crispy Chicken Wings
• Buffalo Chicken Potato Nachos
• Buffalo Chicken Pizza

BUFFALO CHICKEN CHICKEN SALAD FAQS

MORE EASY SALAD RECIPES

• Kale Salad with Blueberries, Walnuts, and Feta
• Cranberry Apple Spinach Salad
• The Best Kale Salad Recipe
• Chicken Southwest Salad
• Wedge Salad

WATCH HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD