Buffalo Chicken Salad

This easy Buffalo Chicken Salad is done in less than 15 minutes and so delicious! Full of fresh ingredients, spicy buffalo sauce, and creamy ranch, this will be a favorite lunch or dinner recipe!

A buffalo chicken salad is such an easy salad to make, and also so delicious! It only takes a handful of ingredients and comes together really quickly. With lots of options on how to cook the chicken, it's very simple. You can also use homemade buffalo sauce or homemade blue cheese dressing for this delicious salad!

I shared how to make a buffalo chicken sandwich with you, and this is essentially the same, but in salad form. Buffalo chicken is one of those foods that mostly everyone loves. It is a staple at American restaurants and bars, and there are tons of versions.

I’ve shared so many Buffalo recipes including Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip, Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mini Peppers, and even Homemade Buffalo Sauce!

This salad is so simple to throw together. You can even meal prep by cooking a bunch of chicken in the beginning of the week, then using it for salads or sandwiches through the week! Easy!

How to make a Buffalo Chicken Salad:

**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**

• Start by prepping the chicken, then seasoning it and cooking it. I cook mine in the air fryer or in a skillet because it's the quickest. You could also grill the chicken or bake it.
  • Skip the skillet and make these Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders in no time!

• Next, prep all the vegetables. Chop the lettuce, chop the celery, slice and chop the tomatoes, shred the carrots. Make sure everything is rinsed and dried. If you have a salad spinner, use that, if not, just toss in a colander.

• I like using blue cheese crumbles for this salad, but if you aren't a fan, just leave it out. Make the buffalo sauce or use store bought buffalo wing sauce.
• Decide on either blue cheese dressing (I have the BEST EVER recipe here) or ranch! Both are delicious!
• Slice the chicken breast, then assemble the buffalo chicken salad and enjoy!

Can I cook the chicken breast on the grill, in the air fryer, or in the oven?

Yes to all! If you don’t want to cook the chicken breast in a skillet go ahead and try one of these other cooking methods. Season the chicken as instructed, then cook as follows:

• On the grill: Heat the grill to about 400 degrees F, then add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Baste the chicken with the buffalo sauce while cooking if desired.
• In the air fryer: Set chicken breasts inside the basket, then set to 350 degrees and cook for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 7-8 more minutes, or internal temperature is 165 degrees. You can also make these smaller Air Fryer Chicken Tenders and they will cook faster.
• In the oven: Set the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish or on a cookie sheet. Cook for 15 minutes and check the internal temperature (165 degrees). Cook for 5 more minutes if needed.

We love eating the buffalo chicken salad for dinner, and serving it alongside a healthy side dish makes the perfect meal! Here are some great options for side dishes:

• Serve with a side of corn on the cob – Instant Pot Corn on the Cob or Air Fryer Corn on the Cob is always a hit!
• Use the air fryer to make Frozen French Fries or Tater Tots or Air Fryer Zucchini Fries (no oil).
• A hearty scoop of Creamy Mac and Cheese also gos VERY WELL alongside this salad.