I love adding chicken to salad recipes, from green goddess salad and grilled chicken salad to a loaded cobb salad. After trying barbecue chicken on stuffed sweet potatoes, I knew it needed to go on a healthy salad, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for copycat Panera BBQ chicken salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Bacon – For easy cleanup, I like to make bacon in the oven. You could also make air fryer bacon or faster bacon in the microwave as well. Corn Tortillas – I made my own crunchy tortilla chips using corn tortillas, but you could easily use crushed tortilla chips for convenience, make healthier almond flour tortilla chips, or omit the chips altogether. Cooking Spray – For making the tortilla strips crispy. Avocado oil spray is my favorite, but olive oil and coconut oil sprays also work well. Romaine Lettuce – Use any greens you like! Iceberg lettuce, kale, arugula and spinach can make excellent substitutes. Cherry Tomatoes – You could also slice regular tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or even add sun-dried tomatoes. Hard Boiled Eggs – I use this method for easy peel eggs, but you could also make boiled eggs in the air fryer or even boiled eggs in the oven. Of course, if you have any on hand then use them up! Cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – I like to use up leftover chicken in this BBQ chicken salad recipe, cut into cubes or shredded. If you don’t have any, store-bought rotisserie chicken is the fastest and Instant Pot shredded chicken is the next best thing. You can also opt to pan sear chicken breast, grill chicken if it’s nice outside, or bake chicken breast. Cheese – I used cubed Colby Jack cheese, but you can swap in any kind you like. Monterey Jack, mozzarella, feta, blue cheese, or cheddar cheese would all work well. Corn Kernels – These are optional, but add a little crunch and subtle sweetness to smoky flavors in the salad. I used canned corn for convenience, but you can also throw in leftover corn on the cob. Black Beans – For extra texture and protein. You can substitute a different type of beans if you prefer, or omit altogether. Avocado – I pretty much add these to salads every chance I get! Make sure it’s nice and ripe. BBQ Ranch Dressing – I think this salad tastes best with a combination of both ranch and barbecue sauce. I used homemade ranch dressing and sugar-free BBQ sauce I had on hand (both are quick to make with clean ingredients!), but of course your favorite BBQ sauce and ranch from the store would work as well. Fresh Chives – These are optional, but I think fresh herbs add a nice touch. You could also sprinkle this barbecue chicken salad with chopped green onions, red onion, fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, or omit.
How To Make BBQ Chicken Salad
This section shows how to make the best BBQ chicken salad recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftover BBQ ranch chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. It will last a couple days longer if you don’t add the dressing. For best results, store the tortilla chips separately. Meal prep: Cut veggies, prepare hard boiled eggs, and cook and chop meats ahead of time. Store separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
What To Serve With BBQ Chicken Salad
BBQ chicken salad is filling all on its own, so you don’t have to serve anything with it! But if you want to add a little something, here are some ideas: Simply layer the ingredients in a mason jar in this order: Ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, cooked chicken, beans, corn, boiled eggs, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, chives, and tortilla chips. They will keep this way for up to 5 days! Add the avocado fresh right before serving.
Soup – Skip Panera or Olive Garden and have soup, salad and cauliflower breadsticks right at home. Creamy soups like corn chowder, potato soup, or roasted cauliflower soup pair well with this salad. Rice – Serve some white rice or brown rice on the side for a filling and satisfying addition to the meal. For a lighter option, try riced cauliflower.
More Chicken Meal Salad Recipes
Chicken and salad belong together! Try even more ways to serve them with these easy dishes: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. Nutrition info does not include optional ingredients. 📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Freezer Meal System!
