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    Home » Mains » Chicken

    Buffalo Chicken Salad - Quick and Easy!

    Originally Published: Jan 16, 2020 · Last Updated: Jul 3, 2020 by Ann · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    A bowl of buffalo chicken salad with steps for making it
    A bowl of buffalo chicken salad

    Juicy chicken breast pieces tossed in spicy homemade buffalo sauce top this crunchy and refreshing buffalo chicken salad. If you love buffalo wings, but your waistline loves them less, this is the perfect way to get all the flavor with way fewer calories.

    A bowl of buffalo chicken salad topped with ranch dressing

    *This is an updated recipe from the early days of the blog! It's still a family favorite, so I've updated the crappy photos, recipe and the post itself.

    Back when my metabolism could handle it (a long time ago!), I used to spend way too much time in those nondescript chicken wing places that you usually find in strip malls.

    You know, the kind with sports on a big screen TV , a few rickety tables, and not much else? Except the wings, of course.

    There were always a dozen or so varieties of wings, but for me, it was all about the classic buffalo sauce. Not the crazy blazing hot stuff, but the tamer “medium” version.

    With blue cheese dressing for dipping of course, and the obvious carrot and celery sticks on the side (healthy!).

    So those days are gone. But my love of buffalo sauce is here to stay, and this salad is the perfect way for me to get my fix without the guilt.

    It's also a super simple weeknight recipe.

    Here's how I make it!

    How to make a buffalo chicken salad step-by-step

    1. On a cutting board, place a piece of plastic wrap over the chicken breasts and pound them down with a meat mallet or any heavy object, to an even thickness. This will help them cook faster and more evenly, so they don't dry out.
    2. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken breasts just until no longer pink in the center (about 6 minutes per side). Let the cooked chicken rest on the cutting board for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

    chicken breasts being prepared to be cooked

    3. While the chicken is cooking, chop up 2 hearts of romaine, shred the carrot, and chop the celery.

    lettuce carrots and celery chopped on a cutting board

    4. Slice the chicken crosswise into ¼ inch thick pieces.

    5. Combine the hot sauce, butter and garlic powder in a large bowl and whisk to combine. I would put this buffalo sauce at about a medium heat level. If you prefer a milder sauce, add a little extra melted butter, or use less if you want to kick it up (I sometimes skip the butter altogether!)

    steps for making buffalo chicken salad

    6. Toss the chicken pieces in the buffalo sauce.

    7. Combine the romaine, carrots and celery in a large bowl.

    Steps for making a buffalo chicken salad

    8. Divide the salad between four plates and top with chicken and ranch or blue cheese dressing.

    A bowl of buffalo chicken salad with ranch dressing

    Do you love buffalo chicken too? Try these recipes!

    Buffalo Chicken Pizza

    Buffalo Chicken Breast Burgers

    And if you’re looking for more easy dinner inspiration, follow me on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK or TWITTER!

    A bowl of buffalo chicken salad topped with ranch dressing

    Buffalo Chicken Salad

    Juicy chicken breast pieces tossed in spicy homemade buffalo sauce top this crunchy and refreshing buffalo chicken salad.
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    Course: Main Dish, Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 486kcal
    Author: Ann Otis

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 lb skinless boneless chicken breast 2 large or 3 smaller breasts
    • 2 hearts of romaine washed and chopped
    • 1 carrot shredded
    • 1 celery stalk thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup cayenne pepper hot sauce such as Frank's Red Hot
    • 1 tablespoon melted butter *see note
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • salt and black pepper
    • 1 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the chicken breasts and pound to an even thickness using a meat mallet or other heavy object. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides.
    • Heat the olive oil in a medium size frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook about 5-6 minutes on each side, until fully cooked. Remove to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.
    • In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine with carrots and celery.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the hot sauce, melted butter, and garlic powder.
    • Slice the chicken breast into ¼" thick pieces and toss with the buffalo sauce until well coated.
    • Plate the salad and place chicken pieces on top. Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing, and additional hot sauce if desired.

    Notes

    *This buffalo sauce is at about a medium heat level. If you want a milder sauce, add an extra tablespoon of butter. If you prefer a spicier sauce, decrease the butter or eliminate it altogether.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 1279mg | Potassium: 596mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5113IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
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    322 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karly

      March 06, 2017 at 12:38 pm

      A low carb lunch-er's dreeeam! The spice, the simplicity and the flavor... Love everything about this!!

      Reply
      • annotis1980

        March 06, 2017 at 1:09 pm

        Those are exactly the things I love about it!
        Thanks Karly 🙂

        Reply

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    Ann from Our Happy Mess

    I'm Ann and I believe in balanced eating, homemade foods, and DESSERT. I love to cook, but I can't spend all day in the kitchen anymore, so what you'll mostly find here are simple, family-friendly recipes. I'm really happy you're here!
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