I’ve got a must-try salad recipe for you: BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad! This filling entree salad combines crisp romaine lettuce with BBQ chicken, grilled corn, black beans, fresh tomatoes, crushed tortilla chips (my favorite part) and red onions, drizzled with the can’t-miss combo of Ranch dressing and smoky BBQ sauce.
It is bold, zesty, fresh, quick, and easy. A party on a plate!
Sometimes eating salads can get boring and repetitive, but this is one fresh chicken salad you’ll be dreaming about making over and over and over again. It’s the fresh, summery toppings, for me.
Make/chop everything once, then toss together for salads all week long. Again, do not forget the crushed tortilla chips!
Start by brushing 2 chicken breasts that have been pounded thin with extra virgin olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Grill for 3-4 minutes a side over medium-high heat, brushing the grilled side with BBQ sauce after flipping once. Put the lid down then let the BBQ sauce sizzle and caramelize as the second side cooks.
Pop 2 ears sweet corn on the grill next door then rotate occasionally until all sides are evenly charred.
Pull the chicken and corn off the grill, let cool slightly, then chop the chicken and slice the kernels off the corn and set aside.
Next get the rest of the chopped salad ingredients ready, starting with the salad base – romaine lettuce. For 4 people you’ll want 2-10oz bags of chopped romaine lettuce.
Place the lettuce into a huge bowl (might want to do this in a few batches,) then use a pizza cutter to chop it up into small, bite-sized pieces.
To the chopped lettuce add 2 chopped vine-ripened tomatoes, 1/2 small chopped red onion,Â
1 cup black beans, and the kernels from the grilled corn.Â
Finally, add a big handful of crushed tortilla chips (however many you want) and 1/2 cup each shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese. These two ingredients are my secret salad weapons. The chips add an awesome, unexpected crunch, and the mixture of cheeses is just right.
Add the chopped chicken then, using a pair of tongs, toss the salad ingredients together.
I like to dress my salad with a mixture of Ranch dressing and BBQ sauce, which really drives the flavor of the smokey-sweet BBQ chicken home, but use whatever your heart desires. Dress then toss again to combine, plate, and serve!
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
Description
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad is a party on a plate! This filling entree salad is full of bold, BBQ flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, pounded thin
- extra virgin olive oil, salt & pepper
- 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 ears sweet corn
- 2-10oz bags chopped romaine lettuce
- 2 vine ripened tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup black beans
- 1/2 small red onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- crushed tortilla chips
- Ranch dressing
- BBQ sauce
Directions
- Brush chicken breasts with extra virgin olive oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes a side, brushing grilled side with BBQ sauce after flipping once. Grill ears of corn, rotating occasionally, until evenly charred. Remove chicken and corn, let cool slightly, then chop chicken and slice corn kernels off cob and set aside.
- In a very large bowl add lettuce (may need to do this in a couple batches.) Use a pizza cutter to evenly chop lettuce into small pieces then toss with tomatoes, black beans, red onion, cheeses, tortilla chips, chicken, and corn. Drizzle with ranch dressing and bbq sauce (or your favorite dressing) then toss and serve immediately.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Debtgirl 07.18.2013
Oh you sneaky! You made a chopped salad not a ceasar! Lol My world caved at the thought of maters in a ceasar!
Debtgirl 07.18.2013
That looks delish!!! But I have never ever never seen a ceasar salad with tomatoes!!! Is that a midwest thing? I am west coast girl! :-)
Iowa Girl Eats 07.18.2013
I think it’s just a “me” thing. I always feel like Caesar Salads are so bare and lonely!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 07.18.2013
I always use the pizza cutter trick to chop my salads ever since reading about it on your blog. It is the best! :)
Jamie @lifelovelemons 07.18.2013
Another perfect summer salad! Thanks for sharing!
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance 07.18.2013
I love hearing about the difference in yours and Ben’s eating habits. Hilarious! My husband and I have really similar likes and dislikes, which means he just eats all my food! Although we both can generally pick out exactly what the other is going order on a menu.
Sara 07.18.2013
You are freaking me out this week! For my Bistro this week I put S’more Rice Krispie Treats and BBQ Chicken Salad…great minds think alike! :)
I bet you are going to have your baby on July 23rd-which is both my daughter, brother and several friends’ birthdays. Good luck to you and Ben!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch 07.18.2013
Looks wonderful! Maybe you’ve just inspired him to like new things, I’m sure!!!
Faith@The Stirring Place 07.18.2013
I want that for dinner tonight! Looks amazing
Melissa 07.18.2013
The corn looks great and in my opinion, this time of year, BBQ sauce makes everything better!
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 07.18.2013
This looks super yummy! What brand of light ranch do you prefer?
Iowa Girl Eats 07.19.2013
I like Hidden Valley!
Aggie 07.18.2013
I’m in a salad rut, but only because I’m feeling sooooo lazy! This is exactly the salad I want. Like for lunch. Today. Looks amazing!
Gwen 07.18.2013
I will preface this with saying I do NOT sell Pampered Chef, just a happy customer. I have their gadget for chopping salad and it’s one of my favorite purchases. I use it all the time. It sort of looks like a scissors but has one side that is more scooped for picking up a bunch of greens with every chop-right in the bowl.
Gwen 07.18.2013
oh…and I am in love with this salad!
Stephanie Hanson 07.18.2013
This looks really similar to one that I make all the time – only I add avocado and bacon :-) I am sure that could be easily added for your eating pleasure! One question I have – I am having a hard time pinning the image. I get an error saying that it isn’t a valid image. I couldn’t do it with the s’mores krispie treats yesterday either…oh the HUMANITY! I just wasn’t sure if you were aware of the issue and if it was something that could be fixed so I can make sure I stuff my face with these recipes ASAP :-)
Iowa Girl Eats 07.18.2013
So sad, some other people were telling me the same thing on Facebook just now! I’m having my developer look into it right now so hopefully we can have a fix in place soon!
Iowa Girl Eats 07.18.2013
Ok we *may* have fixed the problem. Would you be able to clear your browser’s cache then try again? Thanks again for letting me know!
Stephanie Hanson 07.18.2013
The pinning issues is fixed!! Thank you!!
Iowa Girl Eats 07.18.2013
Wohoo!!
erin @hooleywithaz 07.18.2013
this looks refreshing somehow, even though it’s got the grilled chicken and BBQ sauce on it. i think this might be friday’s dinner for me…too bad the hubs will be out of town.
Becky 07.18.2013
Caesar salad is the only kind of salad my husband will eat…but, I bet he’d try this one! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Bonnie 07.18.2013
I think I just decided what’s for dinner tonight! I might even guild the lily by tossing some crumbled bacon on top!
Ashleigh 07.18.2013
I am just like Ben! Yogurt is disgusting. Sour cream makes me gag. Anything thick and creamy is strictly forbidden in my house. The only exception is Caesar dressing! Good to know there are others that share my foibles. The salad looks delicious.
Jackie 07.18.2013
Silly question. .. is the Corn cooked ir soaked at all before it’s grilled?
Iowa Girl Eats 07.18.2013
No just shucked and thrown right on the grill!
Sally 07.18.2013
Looks delicious! Any excuse to eat corn in the summer :)
Kristi 07.18.2013
Chopped salad is my favorite! I’ve never tried using a pizza cutter though. I’ll have to try it out next time I make a chopped salad.