Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad
This Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad is packed with fresh greens, tender chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, and avocado. It’s tossed with a creamy barbecue ranch dressing and is full of flavor. Better than the restaurant version and so easy to make, you’ll love the fresh ingredients in this easy summer salad!
If you only knew how much I love creating (and eating) salads, then you might just call me the salad queen.
But, I feel like I’ve been slacking on my salad recipes. While I adore all types of salads, I don’t share them nearly as much as I eat them. Please forgive me, ok? I’m trying to make it up to you with this oh-so delicious Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad.
Before we go into the recipe, I should mention that my favorite restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk Winery, inspired this salad. Now, I know barbecue chicken salads are nothing new, but, this restaurant just so happens to create the best barbecue chicken salad EVER. And I’m not exaggerating, guys.
If you’re lucky enough to have a Cooper’s Hawk restaurant in your area, then you need to go. Right now. Stop what you’re doing and head to their tasting room for a sample of wine, followed by a delicious meal. This restaurant first opened around the Chicago area about ten years ago, and has now expanded to Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio and Virginia.
Cooper’s Hawks makes their own wine and also has the most fantastic lunch and dinner menu around. Ever since I tried it when it first opened, I was hooked. The hubster and I are part of their sweet wine club, which means we get a bottle of sweet wine every month. So, if you’re out of wine, head on over to my house. We are loaded with it! But, that’s not a bad thing, right?
The hubster and I love sampling their wines, stopping in for a casual lunch, or heading over for a nice dinner. Besides their delicious steaks, seafood, and pasta, they make some mean salads.
Gigantic, triple-sized dinner salads, full of flavor and deliciousness. And that’s how I was introduced to their barbecue chicken salad. I order it about 70% of the time that I go to CH (I also love their crab cakes, too…so it’s a toss up!).
And since it’s summer, barbecue chicken anything is in order. Am I right?
This Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad is packed with fresh greens, tender chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, and avocado. It’s tossed with a creamy barbecue ranch dressing and is full of flavor. Better than the restaurant version and so easy to make, you’ll love the fresh ingredients in this easy summer salad!
Since this salad is inspired by my favorite restaurant version, you can be sure that I’ve been making this over and over again. I actually made this dish back in April, but thought I would wait until the weather got just a little warmer to share it with you. And I’m glad I did.
This Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad just screams summer, doesn’t it? With the fresh flavors, tangy dressing, and veggies, this salad is a breeze to make. And that’s what I’m all about, friends!
So if you’re looking for that perfect, summer salad, try out this simple Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad. It’s easy to customize depending on your tastes and is a light meal to enjoy during the warmer months!
Looking for more salad recipes? I’ve got you covered!
Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce, any kind
- ½ cup ranch dressing, any kind
- 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 2 medium chicken breasts, cooked and sliced into strips
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ red onion, diced
- ½ cup fresh or frozen corn, if frozen, thaw first
- ½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
- Tortilla strips, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add ranch dressing and barbecue sauce. Stir until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, red onion, corn, and black beans.
- Stir in barbecue ranch dressing and mix to combine. Top with avocado, cheese, and tortilla strips. Drizzle with extra barbecue sauce, if desired.
- Serve immediately.
I have never heard of that restaurant before, but the wine tasting alone sounds like heaven. And you made such a pretty salad! I bet it’s prettier than theirs. 😉
Thank you, Mir! Wine makes everything better, right? 🙂
That chicken and avocado looks amazing Gayle, And I really need to give the dressing a try too!
Thanks, Dannii! I think you would love this dressing!
Gayle, I’m all about salad these days . . love this one! I love the tender chicken, black beans and corn, yummmm! what a fantastic summer salad!!!
Thank you, Alice! This is my version of a perfect summer salad! 🙂
Ooooh yum…I can’t bear to eat anything OTHER than salad in all this heat. And this looks like a great one!
Salads are the best when it’s hot out! Thank you, Kate!
Salads are just where it’s at for me right now! I mean, could lunchtime even get any better than this gorgeous salad?? This looks like SUCH a salad winner, Gayle! I think I need this today. 😉
Thanks for the salad love, Sarah!
I love to order BBQ chicken salads at restaurants because the ingredients just taste SO good all tossed together. I bet this is DELICIOUS!
Thanks, Blair!
I love when our favorite restaurants inspire our favorite meals at home! This salad looks delicious!!
Thank you, Annie!
Oh, just WOW, Gayle!! I love a good salad too and if it looked this good I could eat this every day! And that serving dish? Gorgeous! I’ve never been to that restaurant, but thankfully I could get to try a version of their salad from your recipe 🙂 You are definitely the salad queen! I feel the same about soup. I make so much of it and don’t share half of what I make. Love to see more salads like this! And putting bbq sauce on there for the dressing is brilliant. Pinning, of course 🙂
P.S. Coming over to your place for some of that wine 😉
Come on over, the wine is waiting! 🙂 I’m actually the same with soup, too! I eat it at least once a week, even in scorching hot weather. Thanks for the kind words and pin, Dawn!
Salads are my favorite for summer – anything that allows me to keep the kitchen cool is a must! Love everything in this salad, Gayle!
Thanks, Keri!
The wine is probably enough to lure to me to Cooper’s Hawk if one were nearby, but if you say the food is great too that’s even better! 🙂 I love a good BBQ chicken salad and this one is so loaded with with all the toppings I’m crazy about! The ranch dressing puts this over the top for sure — this salad looks delicious, Gayle!
You would love that restaurant…the food and wine are the best! 🙂 Thanks for the salad love, Marcie!
You would laugh at my salad routine…it’s seriously the same thing every. single. night. I need to get out of habit and try some new ones, and this looks like the peeeerfect new salad recipe to try 😉 so delicious and summery!
Thanks, Rachel! I eat the same salads sometimes too, but it is always nice to switch things up!
I love all the veggies in there, yum!
Thanks!
I’m a total salad fiend too! Whenever I go out that is the first part of the menu I check! Your salad looks amazing!
Same with me, Shelby! Thank you!
I love making salads, too! This one looks wonderful! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Mira! It’s one of my favorites!
Ha! I’m the same way! I make them all the time and yet rarely post any! Loving this flavor! It sounds so filling and delicious!
Thanks for the salad love, Ashley!
Guuurl, I forgive you! I eat salads daily, but I certainly don’t share them daily on the blog, so I feel you on that! I LOVE me some BBQ chicken salads (I have one coming up), but this one looks amazing! LOVE the addition of ranch, because umm, I heart all the things ranch! I think it’s the little kid in me? You totally packed this beauty with everything delicious! Can’t wait to try it! pinned of course! Cheers!
P.S. we don’t have a Cooper’s Hawk Winery near us, but if i am ever in a place with one I will certainly check it out!!
Isn’t barbecue ranch the best?! Thanks for the kind words and pin, friend!
This is so me – making but I rarely share! Love that you shared this salad! Barbecue ranch sounds SO good Gayle!!
Thank you, Jessica!
Salads are my favorite and I love all the yummy goodies you loaded onto this one! The barbecue and ranch combo sound so delicious and perfect for summer!
Thank you for the sweet comment, Kelly! Barbecue and ranch has been my go-to dressing this summer! 🙂
I am definitely a huge salad lover too…especially one that is packed full of goodies! This looks delicious Gayle!
Thank you, Denise!