Grilling and salad season is here and this 5-ingredient healthy buffalo chicken salad is not only simple to make but also packed with flavor. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch, a protein-packed snack, or a light dinner, this recipe has got you covered.
I love a good salad and eat them at least once a day....even in the winter! For some variety in the summer I may do a light watermelon feta pasta salad. Or to change things up you could do a chicken salad sandwich. For a quick and easy meal, a lemon zucchini ribbon salad is refreshing!
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Why Enjoy a Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad?
Why not? This recipe has the classic flavors of a true buffalo chicken salad but with the added benefits of substituting some healthier ingredients. And it's only around 300 calories per serving.
Ingredients
For this recipe you will need:
- iceberg lettuce
- shredded chicken
- peas or diced celery
- bleu cheese
- buffalo ranch dressing
Instructions
It's time to get started making your salad.
- Step 1: Arrange lettuce in bowl or on a plate.
- Step 2: Top the lettuce with chicken, peas or celery and bleu cheese.
- Step 3: Drizzle the salad with dressing
- Step 4: Serve.
Substitutions
This recipe can be made with just a few substitutions if you would like:
- Gluten free: This recipe is naturally gluten free.
- Dairy free and Vegan: I was super excited to find that there are vegan bleu cheese varieties available now! For a vegan variety, you can cut up vegan chicken breasts. You can also use a vegan buffalo ranch dressing. Primal Kitchen offers a vegan dressing you can purchase or you can make your buffalo ranch dressing too!
Variations
You can make a few variations to making this healthy buffalo chicken salad if you would like:
- Protein: You can change up the protein in the recipe by using turkey, tofu or chickpeas. You can also substitute vegan chicken breasts if you would like.
- Cheese: Bleu cheese is just the best for completing anything with buffalo. But you can substitute other cheeses if you'd like.
Storage
This recipe is best served fresh. You can store the ingredients separately and then assemble the salad a few hours prior to serving.
Top tip
Saving your dressing until it's time to serve your salad with help keep your lettuce from getting soggy!
FAQ
To add more heat to the buffalo chicken salad, increase the amount of buffalo sauce or mix in a pinch of cayenne pepper. You can also add finely chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
Absolutely! This buffalo chicken salad is low in carbs, especially if you serve it on a bed of lettuce or in lettuce wraps.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
5 Ingredient Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad
Equipment
- salad bowl
Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 2 cups shredded chicken breast
- ½ cup peas can substitute chopped celery
- ½ cup bleu cheese
- ½ cup buffalo ranch dressing
Instructions
- Take the head of the iceberg lettuce and remove the core. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Arrange the lettuce pieces on a serving plate. Add the chicken, peas or celery, and bleu cheese on top of the lettuce. Drizzle the dressing over the salad.
burntapple
Simple and easy salad that tasted amazing!