The awesome thing about this salad is it’s hearty enough for dinner and perfect to eat in the sunshine 😋 Follow me…
Buffalo Chicken Breast
Whilst the rest of the salad is delicious, the main event here is the chicken. As such, we want to treat it right to make it shine!
Slicing the chicken
Today we’re using a couple of chicken breasts, which we’re going to horizontally slice right through the centre to create 4 even-sized breasts. This will not only ensure the chicken cooks quicker but also more evenly too.
Chicken seasoning
Before we cook the chicken, we’re going to coat it in a simple concoction of smoked paprika, onion & garlic powder and salt & black pepper. Just mix in some olive oil to help it cling to the chicken and prepare it for frying. You could at this point leave the chicken to marinate in the fridge until it’s needed, but I tend to just crack on right away. Process shots: lay chicken on chopping board (photo 1), slice (photo 2), add seasoning and oil to bowl (photo 3), whisk (photo 4), add chicken (photo 5), mix (photo 6).
Saucy Buffalo Chicken
The chicken will be pretty tasty as it is, but it’s by no means buffalo chicken at this point. As such, you’ll want to baste the living daylights out of it with some good old Buffalo Sauce. I tend to fry the chicken, then flip and baste the cooked side, then once it’s cooked place it sauce-side-down to one side and baste the other side. That way you avoid the sauce having direct contact with the pan, which usually results in it burning or sticking to the pan.
Where can I find Buffalo Sauce?
You find Frank’s Buffalo Sauce in most supermarkets (I always find it in Morrisons). Just make sure you pick up Buffalo Sauce NOT Hot Sauce (much spicier). You could also try your hand at Homemade Buffalo Sauce too.
Resting the chicken
Once the chicken has been fried and basted, let it rest for 5 or so minutes, just to allow the chicken to retain its juices. If you slice straight in the juices are going to pour straight out and leave the chicken dry. Process shots: add chicken to pan (photo 1), fry then flip (photo 2), baste in buffalo sauce (photo 3), remove and baste other side with buffalo sauce (photo 4).
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Okay, chicken done and dusted, let’s talk salad. For the base, we’re going with iceberg lettuce, white cabbage, carrot, cucumber and spring onion. It makes for a really nice crispy, crunchy base which takes on the Buffalo flavour so well. A neat little trick is pouring in any leftover oil from the pan, alongside any resting juices from the chicken. This is bonus flavour, so don’t waste it! Alongside the salad and chicken I love finishing with some crispy bacon and avocado too. Process shots: add salad ingredients to bowl (photo 1), toss (photo 2), serve individual portions (photo 3), add chicken, bacon and avocado (photo 4).
Can I use chicken thigh?
You can use 4 large boneless skinless thighs if you’d prefer. I recommend pounding them to even-thickness beforehand, just to make sure they cook through quicker and more evenly (not crucial!). They’ll take a little longer to cook through than breast.
How spicy is this salad?
Buffalo sauce has a definite kick, but once it’s mixed in with everything and served with a dressing, it’s fairly tame. If you want it even spicer, drizzle over some more buffalo sauce at the end.
What other toppings could I add?
Corn, celery, cherry tomatoes and crumbled blue cheese all work well!
Serving Buffalo Chicken Salad
Once you’ve served the salad, it’s time to drizzle over some Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing (I love them equally as much). This makes the salad, so don’t skip the final drizzle! Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this buffalo chicken salad shall we?!
How to make Buffalo Chicken Salad (Full Recipe & Video)
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