Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad (Print Version)

Finely chopped romaine with spicy buffalo chicken, crisp celery, and creamy blue cheese in a zesty, satisfying salad.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The temperature contrast alone is worth it, that hit of warm spiced chicken against cold crunchy lettuce creates this incredibly satisfying eating experience
  • Its basically a deconstructed wing experience without the mess or the guilt, hitting all those same flavor notes but feeling somehow lighter and fresher
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest before cutting into it, otherwise all those juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying where they belong, inside the meat
  • The temperature contrast is what makes this special, so dont let the chicken cool completely before assembling or you lose that magic warm element
03 -
  • Chill your salad bowl for 10 minutes before assembling, this keeps everything crisp and refreshing longer
  • Double the chicken portion and save half for meal prep, it reheats beautifully and transforms a boring weekday lunch instantly
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