This Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad with Creamy Buttermilk Ranch is one you won't forget. Zesty chicken combines with creamy blue cheese and our family favorite buttermilk ranch dressing. If you can't make it now, be sure to save it for later.
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Buffalo Chicken Salad is a flavorful mix of crispy buffalo chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy dressing. The salad was inspired from the classic buffalo chicken wings, but with a healthier twist by including nutritious salad ingredients. Buttermilk Ranch dressing adds a creamy and tangy deliciousness to this salad, ramping up the taste to a whole new level.
If you like this family favorite lunch recipe, you may also love our Buttermilk Fried Chicken or our Classic Cobb Salad.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy Preparation: Whip up this meal in no time, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Customizable: Customize the salad with your favorite toppings and adjust the spice level to suit your taste preferences.
- Family Favorite: Even picky eaters will love the spicy buffalo chicken paired with the creamy goodness of buttermilk ranch.
Ingredients
- Buffalo Chicken (frozen): Add a kick with frozen buffalo chicken, or use pre-cooked chicken seasoned with buffalo sauce.
- Romaine Lettuce: Add crunch and nutrients with crisp romaine lettuce.
- Grape Tomatoes: Bursting with flavor, slice them in half for added vibrancy. Shredded Carrot: Bring sweetness and color with shredded carrot.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Enhance richness with creamy shredded cheddar cheese.
- Celery Sticks: Provide a refreshing crunch and herbal flavor.
- Red Pepper: Add color and sweetness with vibrant red peppers.
- Red Onion: Introduce a subtle kick of flavor with thinly sliced red onion.
- Blue Cheese: Finish with bold and tangy crumbled blue cheese.
- Buttermilk Ranch: The perfect dressing for this salad!
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Buffalo Chicken: Replace grilled chicken seasoned with buffalo sauce for a lighter option.
- Blue Cheese: Use shredded mozzarella for a milder flavor.
- Romaine Lettuce: Use your favorite mixed greens or spinach for added nutrition.
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch
STEP ONE: Make the Homemade Buttermilk Ranch
In a mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, and fresh lemon juice until smooth. Stir in minced garlic, chopped parsley, dill, and chives. Season with onion powder, dried dill weed, dried thyme, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Transfer the dressing to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
STEP TWO: Prepare the Buffalo Chicken
Cook the frozen buffalo chicken according to package instructions. Once cooked, let it cool slightly, then chop into bite-sized pieces if desired.
STEP THREE: Chop Vegetables and Cheese
Wash and dry the romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, celery, and red pepper. Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and halve the grape tomatoes. Slice the celery into thin sticks and dice the red pepper into small pieces. Shred the carrot using a box grater or food processor. Crumble the blue cheese into small pieces.
STEP FOUR: Assemble the Salad
In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, halved grape tomatoes, shredded carrot, diced red pepper, sliced celery, and thinly sliced red onion. Add the chopped buffalo chicken and crumbled blue cheese to the bowl. Add buttermilk dressing and toss the salad gently to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately.
How to Make Buttermilk Ranch Spice Mix in Bulk
Creating a bulk batch of Buttermilk Dressing Spice Mix offers convenience and flavor. Here are some tips for making the most of this mix:
- Bulk Spices: Combine 3 tablespoons of dried parsley, 2 tablespoons each of dried dill and chives, along with 2 teaspoons of onion powder, 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, dried thyme, and dried basil in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend the ingredients until evenly distributed. (Makes approximately ½ cup).
- Proportions: Each time you want to make fresh buttermilk ranch, blend 1 tablespoon of the spice mix with ½ cup each of buttermilk and mayonnaise, along with ¼ cup of sour cream and a tablespoon of fresh lemon.
- Chill Time: Refrigerate the prepared dressing for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend together.
- Storage: Store any remaining spice mix in an airtight container for future use. Label the container with the contents and date to keep track of freshness.
- Customization: Feel free to customize the dressing by adding fresh herbs or spices. Experiment with different combinations to create your signature ranch flavor.
Storage
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing separate and drizzle over the salad just before serving to maintain freshness. To reheat leftover buffalo chicken, place it in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
✔️ DO Chop the romaine just before assembling. It keeps it crisp and prevents sogginess from the warm buffalo chicken.
✔️ DO Let the buffalo chicken cool slightly before adding.
✔️ DO Slice veggies thin for the best texture. Especially the celery and red onion.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! This salad is packed with nutritious ingredients like protein from the chicken, vitamins from the fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from the creamy dressing. To keep it even healthier, opt for grilled chicken instead of fried and use low-fat versions of the dressing ingredients.
Yes, you can! In fact, making the dressing in advance allows the flavors to blend together even more, resulting in a tastier dressing. Simply prepare the dressing as instructed and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a good stir before using it on your salad.
If you're not a fan of spicy foods, you can substitute buffalo chicken for fried chicken tenders.
Yes! Making Buttermilk Ranch in bulk is a great way to save time and ensure you always have delicious dressing on hand. To do this, prepare a large batch of Buttermilk Ranch Spice Mix by combining dried herbs and spices. Store the spice mix in an airtight container for future use.
Related
- Fresh Spring Mix Salad with Chicken and Apple Chips
- Nashville Hot Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch
- Easy Buffalo Chicken Wings with Homemade Garlic Buffalo Sauce
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📖 Recipe
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad with Creamy Buttermilk Ranch
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken Salad
- 1 pound buffalo chicken frozen
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 celery stalks thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper diced
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese
Buttermilk Ranch
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Buttermilk Dressing
- In a mixing bowl, combine buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, and fresh lemon juice. Whisk until smooth.
- Add minced garlic, chopped parsley, dill, and chives. Mix well.
- Stir in onion powder, dried dill weed, dried thyme, and dried basil until evenly distributed.
- Season with salt and black pepper according to taste.
- Transfer the dressing to a jar or airtight container.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to develop. Serve chilled.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Cook buffalo chicken according to package directions.
- In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved grape tomatoes, shredded carrot, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced celery, diced red pepper, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Add the cooked buffalo chicken to the salad.
- Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese over the top and add buttermilk dressing.
- Toss the salad gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately.
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Notes
- Buffalo Chicken: Replace grilled chicken seasoned with buffalo sauce for a lighter option.
- Blue Cheese: Use shredded mozzarella for a milder flavor.
- Romaine Lettuce: Use your favorite mixed greens or spinach for added nutrition.
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