Buffalo Chicken Salad

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This hearty entrée salad is loaded with bold Buffalo flavor, crisp vegetables, and plenty of protein. It’s tossed with my homemade Buffalo Ranch dressing — the recipe makes extra, so you’ll have enough for another salad or for dipping fresh veggies. Nutrition information for the dressing alone is included in the recipe notes.

Prep Time20

Cook Time0

Total Time20

Course: Entree, main, Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 390kcal

Author: Sally Cameron

Equipment

salad spinner

Ingredients

Buffalo salad

1 pound cooked chicken, chopped grilled, rotisserie, roast
12 ounces hearts of romaine lettuce
1 cup grated carrots 2-3 large
1 cup chopped cucumber ½ of 1 english
1 cup chopped celery 2-3 large stalks
16 cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes halve
6 ounces crumbled blue cheese
½ cup shredded or chopped red cabbage
¼ cup chopped scallions

Buffalo ranch dressing (makes extra)

½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
3-4 tablespoons Franks RedHot original or similar hot sauce
2 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs combination parsley, chives, dill
1 tablespoons buttermilk powder or buttermilk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice optional
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Chop and wash romaine

Chop romaine crosswise into thin ribbons, wash with produce wash, and spin dry in a salad spinner. Place lettuce in a large salad bowl or on a platter.

Arrange salad and dress

Arrange chicken, carrots, celery, tomatoes, red cabbage, and blue cheese on top. Drizzle with Buffalo Ranch Dressing, tossing lightly if desired. Serve immediately, with extra dressing on the side.

Buffalo ranch

In a medium bowl, add the sour cream, mayonnaise, Frank’s RedHot, herbs, buttermilk powder or buttermilk, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (if using), Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Whisk until well blended and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Rest and adjust

Let the dressing sit for 5–10 minutes before serving. This not only allows the flavors to blend, but also gives the buttermilk powder and seasonings time to hydrate, which naturally thickens the dressing.
If the dressing thickens too much for your purpose, thin with a little milk.

Notes

Buttermilk powder is a terrific alternative to using liquid buttermilk. You don't waste a carton not knowing what else to do with it, and the powder helps thicken the dressing, plus it is pantry friendly and always available. Buy it online or at many markets.

For the nutrition numbers on the Buffalo Ranch dressing, find the numbers at this link as it is not included in the salad numbers (because it's optional).

Here is the link to my Grilled Buffalo Chicken recipe.

Nutrition