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!
Looking for more salads? Try our lemon chicken and rice salad and Greek mason jar salad, too.
Not Your Average BBQ Chicken Salad!
Most chicken salad recipes feature cooked barbecue chicken over a bed of greens 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 that 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 sweet 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 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
- 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, celery, or cherry tomatoes 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.
2. Stir to combine and coat, and enjoy!
Tip: Use extra BBQ sauce with recipes like our BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potatoes and BBQ chicken tacos!
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
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!
Ways to Serve
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!
More Delicious Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Where has this salad been all my life? So good!