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!
P.S. Check out my very first E-CookBook, 30+ Twenty Minute Meals: From Breakfast to Desserts and Everything in Between, designed with you in mind!
Yields 4 servings
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!
10 minPrep Time
10 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce (any kind)
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 2 medium chicken breasts, cooked and sliced into strips
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn (if frozen, thaw first)
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 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.
- Enjoy!
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