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.
- 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.
- 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.
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!
- 2 thin chicken breasts about 4-5 ounces
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2-4 TBS olive oil
- 10 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- ⅓ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup chopped celery (about 3 stalks)
- ½ cup chopped tomato
- 4 TBS blue cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup buffalo wing sauce (or more if you like it more spicy)
- 4 TBS ranch or blue cheese dressing
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Mix the seasonings in a small bowl, then generously sprinkle over the chicken. Flip the chicken over and season the other side.
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Using a medium sized skillet, add oil to have a thin layer in the skillet (2-4 TBS depending on the size of your skillet). Heat for 1 minute over medium heat, then add the chicken breasts. Cook for 5 minutes, then flip, cooking 4-5 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove from skillet and set aside.
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Using 2 bowls, place 5 cups of lettuce in each bowl. Divide the rest of the vegetables in half, then add carrots, celery, and tomatoes to the bowls. Add blue cheese crumbles.
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Slide the chicken breast into ½ inch slices, then set on top of the salad.
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Drizzle with buffalo sauce and ranch or blue cheese dressing over the top. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Video
- Other options for cooking chicken:
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- 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.
- 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.
Alicia
This salad was perfect! All the flavors of my favorite sandwich but healthier and filling! I left the carrots out to reduce the carbs and it was still tasty!
Kristyn
This is one great way to enjoy buffalo chicken!! It definitely adds some zing to a salad. We will be making this again for sure!
Beth
What a lovely and delicious salad! I'm so excited to make this for lunch tomorrow for my daughter and I! So excited to give this a try!
Erik
Big fan of buffalo flavor, so this is perfect!
Natasha
This is an awesome salad! I never expected me to love a salad this much, it is so full of flavor and it is so filling. I will definitely be making this recipe again.
Catalina
What a great idea for a summer dish! I go crazy over the buffalo chicken!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
I love easy meals like this Buffalo Chicken Salad for busy weeknights!
Sandra
This salad was a huge hit at my house!