This BBQ chicken salad is restaurant-quality with the best flavors and textures from the BBQ chicken, black beans, crunchy veggies, tortilla strips and creamy cilantro lime dressing!

Pouring cilantro lime dressing on top of bbq chicken salad.

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Why I Love This Recipe

  • Flavorful: I have been told that this BBQ chicken salad reminds people of Panera’s BBQ chicken salad.
  • Healthier. It’s a deconstructed version of my favorite BBQ chicken tacos and BBQ chicken pizza but served over fresh greens makes it lighter!
  • Full of texture and color: It’s made with crunchy lettuce, sweet BBQ chicken, fresh black bean salsa and topped with a creamy cilantro lime dressing. It will turn any into into a salad lover!

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients on a cutting board for BBQ chicken salad.

Substitutions and Variations

How to Make BBQ Chicken Salad

Combine chicken and BBQ sauce in a crockpot. Cook 6 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high. Shred the chicken.

Bbq chicken in a slow cooker.

Make the dressing by blending ranch dressing, cilantro, lime and a tomatillo in a blender or food processor. Chill at least 30 minutes.

cilantro lime crema ingredients in food processor

Place lettuce on a plate and top with chicken and black bean salsa. Drizzle with dressing and top with tortilla strips.

Bbq chicken salad recipe on a white plate.

Other main dish salad recipes we love include balsamic Mediterranean salad and this classic cobb salad!

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bbq chicken salad

BBQ Chicken Salad

4.91 from 11 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Refrigerate dressing: 30 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6
This BBQ chicken salad is restaurant-quality with the best flavors and textures from the BBQ chicken, black beans, crunchy veggies, tortilla strips and creamy cilantro lime dressing!
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Ingredients 

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 ½ cups ranch dressing
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 1 lime , juiced
  • 1 tomatillo , small
  • ½ jalapeno , optional
  • 5 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce , or spinach
  • 2 cups black bean salsa , see link below for recipe
  • Tortilla strips , for topping

Instructions

  • Place chicken breasts in a crockpot. Pour BBQ sauce over the chicken. If I have onions on hand, I will put a few slices on top of the chicken. Cook 6 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high, or until the chicken shreds easily. Shred chicken and drain any fat.
  • In the base of a blender or food processor, blend ranch dressing, cilantro, lime juice, and tomatillo. If you like it spicy, add jalapeno. Chill at least 30 minutes.
  • Place desired amount of lettuce on your plate. Add a few spoonfuls of chicken and black bean salsa. Drizzle with dressing and top with tortilla strips.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Black bean salsa: This is my favorite black bean salsa recipe. If you want to make this salad without the black bean salsa, add your favorite toppings such as tomatoes, avocado, corn, red bell peppers, cheese, etc.
Chicken: You can also make this easy baked BBQ chicken for a quicker alternative. Or shred a rotisserie chicken and mix with your favorite BBQ sauce. 
Dressing: This salad also tastes delicious with ranch dressing.
Tortilla strips: These homemade tortilla strips are give the salad the best crunch. 

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 1694mg, Potassium: 772mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 984IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 76mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.