Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe
This Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad recipe is inspired by traditional picnic-style salads but is given a boost of savory flavor! Cooked chicken and fresh veggies combine with a creamy BBQ sauce for a quick salad perfect for meal prep, packed lunches, and parties!
Not Your Average BBQ Chicken Salad!
Most chicken salad recipes feature cooked barbecue chicken over a bed of green with other ingredients like bacon, tomatoes, and salad dressing. However, our picky eaters won’t touch a salad with a ten-inch pole.
So, we tossed all the ingredients with a creamy BBQ sauce. Tangy, savory, and oh-so-tasty, it’s unbelievably easy to make. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftovers you have on hand!
With just 15 minutes of prep time, you can easily make a large batch for a weekend cookout. Or, keep it on hand for meal prep. Either way, you’ll have a quick meal the whole family will look forward to eating. Mix and match how you serve it with our suggestions below, and you’ll never get bored!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Chicken – We use cooked chicken breast for this recipe. It’s a great way to use up leftover baked or grilled BBQ chicken! Or, use rotisserie chicken or canned chicken. Just make sure to drain the excess liquid.
- Veggies – Grape tomatoes, red onions, green onions, and corn add lots of texture, nutrients, and flavor, making this BBQ chicken salad super filling.
- Mayonnaise – Use any mayo you like best for the base of the “dressing.”
- Plain Greek Yogurt – This helps lower the fat content while keeping the creamy consistency and tangy flavor of the mayo.
- BBQ Sauce – We love this Primal Kitchen Hawaiian-Style BBQ Sauce for a sweet and tangy flavor, but any barbecue sauce you like best will work.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and BBQ seasoning combine to give the recipe a little extra oomph.
Flavor Variations
One of the best things about this recipe for barbecue chicken salad is that there’s no right or wrong way to make it. Feel free to mix and match different ingredients and flavor combinations to make it your own!
- Pasta – Make a BBQ chicken pasta salad recipe by boiling your favorite pasta, and tossing it with the ingredients.
- Salad – Serve the salad over a bed of greens. Add extras like crushed tortilla chips and bacon for a spin on BBQ chicken chopped salad.
- Veggies – Incorporate extra veggies like sliced bell peppers and celery for added crunch and even more nutrients.
- Protein – Not a fan of chicken? Use turkey, tuna, or cooked shrimp instead!
- Beans – Fold in black beans for added fiber and protein.
- Ranch – Make a BBQ Ranch chicken salad by swapping the mayo with Ranch dressing. Or, add Ranch seasoning to the dressing. Just combine the mayo, yogurt, BBQ sauce, and Ranch seasoning in a small bowl before tossing it with the salad.
How to Make a Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe
- Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir to combine and coat, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
We love to serve this recipe in a tortilla as a wrap. Add a little lettuce, and you can’t go wrong!
Or, if you need something a little lighter in carbs, opt for lettuce wraps instead. It’s also great over a bed of greens, as a dip with crackers, with baked potatoes, or stuffed in between slices of bread for a sandwich.
Make Ahead and Storage Options
This is a great meal prep recipe! Not only does it stay fresh for days, but it also tastes better the longer it sits.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Just give the salad a good toss to redistribute the ingredients before serving.
Unfortunately, this recipe doesn’t freeze well. Luckily, it’s quick to make!
Common Questions About This Easy Summer BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe
In our opinion, there’s not much that doesn’t go well with BBQ chicken salad. However, if you’re looking for ways to turn this recipe into a complete meal, try serving it with sides like fries, roasted potatoes, cheesy jalapeño cornbread, and fruit salad!
Keep leftovers on hand, and serve them any way you enjoy this recipe fresh.
Use it to add flavor to all your meals. Or, incorporate it into recipes like BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potatoes and BBQ chicken tacos!
More Delicious Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
Did you enjoy this Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad recipe? We’d love it if you left a rating and review to let us know, and don’t forget to tag us in your recreations on Instagram!
Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 3/4 cup halved or quartered grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon BBQ seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients until combined.2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded, 3/4 cup halved or quartered grape tomatoes, 1/2 cup corn, 1/4 cup diced red onion, 2 green onions, thinly sliced, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, 3/4 teaspoon BBQ seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Serve the chicken salad in a lettuce leaf, wrapped in a tortilla, on a bed of greens or on crackers.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Where has this salad been all my life? So good!