Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad (Print Version)

Vibrant chopped salad with spicy buffalo chicken, crisp vegetables, and blue cheese. Quick, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Buffalo Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (14 oz)
02 - 1/4 cup hot sauce
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
05 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Salad

06 - 2 large hearts of romaine lettuce, finely chopped
07 - 2 celery stalks, diced
08 - 1/4 small red onion, finely diced
09 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
11 - 1/4 cup shredded carrots

→ Dressing

12 - 1/3 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
13 - 1 tbsp hot sauce

# Cooking Directions:

01 - Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add chicken and cook 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and rest 5 minutes. Cut into bite-sized pieces and toss with hot sauce until evenly coated.
02 - In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, celery, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and shredded carrots. Add buffalo chicken and gently toss. Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese over the top.
03 - Drizzle salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Add extra hot sauce if desired. Toss lightly and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It delivers all the indulgent flavor of buffalo wings without the mess or the guilt.
  • The creamy blue cheese and crisp vegetables balance the heat in a way that feels just right.
  • You can have it on the table in 30 minutes, even on your most chaotic weeknights.
  • It's hearty enough to be dinner but light enough that you won't feel weighed down.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time for the chicken or you'll lose all that flavorful juice to your cutting board.
  • Toss the salad right before serving, not ahead of time, or the lettuce will wilt and lose its crunch.
  • Taste your hot sauce first, brands vary wildly in heat, and you can always add more but you can't take it back.
03 -
  • Use kitchen shears to chop the romaine directly into the bowl, it's faster and creates perfectly bite-sized pieces.
  • Warm your buffalo chicken slightly before adding it to the salad, the temperature contrast makes every bite more interesting.
  • If you want extra crunch, toss in some sliced radishes or chopped cucumber right before serving.
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