Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad (Printable)

Zesty chopped salad featuring spicy buffalo chicken, crisp vegetables, creamy blue cheese, and homemade dressing. Quick and flavorful.

# Ingredient List:

→ Buffalo Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (14 oz)
02 - 1/4 cup hot sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 1/2 teaspoon 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 tablespoon hot sauce, optional for extra heat

# How-To Steps:

01 - Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, add chicken and cook 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and let rest 5 minutes, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
02 - Place cooked chicken pieces in a bowl and toss with hot sauce until evenly coated.
03 - In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, diced celery, red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, and shredded carrots.
04 - Add buffalo chicken to the salad base and gently toss to combine.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese over the salad, drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing, and add additional hot sauce if desired. Toss lightly and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between cool crisp vegetables and warm spicy chicken creates that perfect bite every single time
  • Everything gets chopped into bite-sized pieces so you get all the flavors in one forkful
  • Ready in thirty minutes but tastes like something you would order at a polished gastropub
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest before cutting is absolutely non-negotiable unless you want dry, tough meat instead of juicy bites
  • Add the blue cheese last so it stays in distinct crumbles instead of melting into the dressing
  • Leftovers do not store well because the lettuce wilts, so plan to enjoy this all in one sitting
03 -
  • Chill your serving bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes before assembling to keep everything crisp longer
  • If making ahead, keep dressing on the side and toss right before serving to prevent soggy lettuce
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