Description
A flavorful and easy-to-make BBQ Chicken Salad featuring tender shredded chicken cooked low and slow in a crock pot, tossed with barbecue sauce and fresh salad ingredients like romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, and topped with cheese, onions, cilantro, and crunchy tortilla strips. Perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner in just 30 minutes prep and cook time.
Ingredients
Scale
BBQ Chicken
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Salad
- 4 hearts Romaine lettuce, rinsed then chopped
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 bag (10 ounces) frozen corn, cooked
- 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- Tortilla strips, for topping
- Additional barbecue sauce, for drizzling (optional)
- Salad dressing of choice (recommended: ranch dressing)
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a greased insert of a medium to large crock pot. Season them lightly with salt and pepper. Cover with the lid and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shred Chicken: Carefully remove the cooked chicken from the crock pot and transfer to a large bowl. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Pour 1 ½ cups of barbecue sauce over the shredded chicken and toss until well coated.
- Prepare Salad Base: In a very large salad bowl or in individual serving bowls, place the chopped romaine lettuce as the foundation of the salad.
- Assemble Salad: Top the lettuce with shredded BBQ chicken, black beans, cooked corn, sliced cherry tomatoes, shredded Colby Jack cheese, chopped red onion, and chopped cilantro evenly over the salad.
- Add Toppings and Dressings: Sprinkle tortilla strips over the salad for crunch. Drizzle with additional barbecue sauce if desired, and add your favorite salad dressing such as ranch. Gently toss all ingredients together to combine flavors.
- Serve: Serve the BBQ Chicken Salad immediately and enjoy a fresh, hearty, and flavorful meal.
Notes
- The chicken can also be cooked in an Instant Pot or slow cooker with a similar cooking time adjustment.
- For a spicier version, add jalapeños or a spicy barbecue sauce.
- Feel free to substitute Colby Jack cheese with cheddar or a dairy-free alternative.
- Use fresh corn when in season for better flavor instead of frozen.
- Ranch dressing complements the barbecue flavors well, but other dressings like blue cheese or creamy cilantro work too.
- Leftover BBQ chicken is great for sandwiches or wraps the next day.
