This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Salad is a perfect combination of spicy Buffalo Chicken and a healthy, crisp salad. With this salad you will get all the flavors of a plate of Buffalo Chicken Wings with ranch, celery, and carrots, but without any deep frying or eating with your fingers! With a generous drizzle of ranch dressing, you will likely decide that this is the best spicy chicken salad ever! Cool lettuce and veggies are the perfect contrast to spicy hot chicken in this salad recipe, and you’ll find that it’s super simple to make with boneless chicken thighs. You can enjoy your favorite burger as a salad too, with my Big Mac Salad Recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make Buffalo Chicken Thighs:
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: 2 pounds of this inexpensive protein source will cook quickly on the stove, or check the recipe card for oven instructions as well. Seasonings: A marinade of homemade Buffalo sauce, herbs, and spices gives the chicken the perfect amount of spicy flavor.
And these are the ingredients for the chicken buffalo salad:
Lettuce: I prefer Romaine lettuce for this recipe, but Iceberg or your favorite salad greens can also be used. Veggies: Choose your favorite salad vegetables, or go with what I’m using, which is red onion, shredded carrot, diced celery, and halved cherry tomatoes. Salad Dressing: My homemade ranch dressing is absolutely perfect for Buffalo Chicken Salad! You can also try this with creamy blue cheese dressing for an authentically Buffalonian experience.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Salad
Recipe Tips
For more details on how to make marinated buffalo chicken thighs, see my recipe! You can use this chicken to make a salad, add it to sandwiches, or wraps, or enjoy it as a simple dinner with your favorite sides. Instead of ranch, try this salad with my creamy blue cheese dressing instead. You can also add crumbly blue cheese to the salad for even more flavor. If you like extra spice, add up to 2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce to the ranch dressing. Make this salad with chicken breast or chicken tenders. Marinate the chicken as directed, and cook using your favorite method. Cooking time will be different depending on the cut of meat you use, so be sure to use a thermometer to check for doneness. To make things super simple, use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Simply toss the chicken with the marinade before adding it to your salad. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
Storing Tips
Once dressed, Buffalo chicken salad should be eaten right away. Leftovers can technically be stored for a day or so, but the salad will get soggy with time. Feel free to cook the chicken and prep the veggies and dressing up to 2 days ahead of time. Store them separately, in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. There’s no need to reheat the chicken when you prepare the salad ahead of time. It’s delicious cold, and I actually think I prefer it that way!
What To Serve With Buffalo Chicken Salad
This spicy chicken salad is already a full meal, with lots of protein and fresh vegetables, but you can serve it with your favorite side dishes too! Buffalo chicken always pairs well with pizza. Try my Pepperoni Pizza recipe, or make a batch of bread machine pizza dough and add your own pizza toppings. You can also try my Pizza Sliders or Pizza casserole! Spicy chicken adds so much flavor to this tasty and healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad! Feel free to double the recipe if you’re making this for a party, it’s always the first dish to disappear. © Little Sunny Kitchen
