Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Barbecue Chicken Salad

Barbecue Chicken Salad

BBQ sauce adds depth to this main-course dish

Barbecue! We can’t get enough of it. So why not BBQ Salad?

For this dish, we whipped up a batch of French-style salad dressing. You know, that orangey stuff from the 50s. But we replaced the ketchup with BBQ sauce, and made a few other adjustments.

The result: Deep barbecue flavor. Enough said.


Barbecue Chicken Salad

Recipe: Barbecue Chicken Salad

We’ve seen this dish on restaurant menus, and even ordered it a few times. Problem is, restaurants often use regular salad dressing. That doesn’t make sense to us – barbecue sauce makes an excellent dressing ingredient.

You can use any leftover barbecued meat for this dish – chicken, beef, pork, whatever. We particularly like Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken.

Feel free to substitute ingredients or alter quantities to suit your mood (and what’s on hand in the refrigerator).

This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare, and yields 4 main-course salads.

Ingredients

For the dressing:
  • 3 tablespoons wine vinegar (may substitute cider vinegar)
  • 4 to 6 tablespoons barbecue sauce (to taste; use your own homemade version or a commercial sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • salt to taste (a few pinches of kosher salt for us; a bit less if using table salt)
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
For the salad:
  • 1 head lettuce (we like romaine in this dish, but any lettuce will work)
  • ½ red onion
  • ~2 cups red bell pepper (we like to use the mini, sweet ones in several different colors)
  • 1 to 2 ears of corn (or substitute frozen corn)
  • ~2 cups leftover barbecued chicken (or pork, beef, whatever)
  • 1 to 2 cups cooked beans (optional; we recommend black or pinto beans; canned beans work fine)
  • grated cheddar cheese for garnish (optional; we often skip this)

Procedure
  1. Make the salad dressing: Add all the ingredients to a small bottle or bowl that has a tightly fitting lid. Shake hard to incorporate all the ingredients. (Alternatively, add all the ingredients except olive oil to a small bowl. Then slowly add the oil in a thin stream, whisking all the while.)
  2. Prep the salad ingredients: Wash the lettuce and spin it dry, then tear it into bite-size pieces. Peel the onion and cut it into thin slices or ½-inch dice. Wash the pepper(s) and cut them into thin slices or small dice. Microwave the corn (it’ll take 4 or 5 minutes). Measure out the barbecued chicken. Measure out the beans, if using (wash the gunk off first if using canned beans). Grate the cheese, if using.
  3. Make the salad: Add the lettuce to a medium-sized bowl. Add about half the salad dressing, then toss it with the greens until the lettuce leaves are lightly coated. Add the chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, and beans, then toss again. Add more dressing if necessary.
  4. Plate the salad: Divide the contents of the mixing bowl among 4 plates. Cut the corn into short pieces and add it to the plates. Add the chicken to the salad bowl, then toss it with the remaining salad dressing (you can skip this part if you wish). Top the salad plates with the chicken. Add a sprinkling of cheese (if using), and serve.
Barbecue Chicken Salad

Notes
  • In the salad we made for this post, we didn’t use the beans or cheese. But they’re nice additions.
  • Spiced nuts (pecans or walnuts) would make another good addition.
  • If you don’t want to use corn on the cob for this dish, you can substitute cooked frozen corn. Or just skip it entirely.
  • If you prefer a slightly sweeter salad dressing, you can add a tablespoon or two of sugar to the mix.
  • A small amount of dried mustard powder (maybe half a teaspoon) might also add a nice tang to the dressing.
  • We don’t think black pepper is necessary for this dish, but use it if you like. Or add some at table.
  • We think a tomato-based barbecue sauce works best for this dish. We like to use our own homemade Tangy Barbecue Sauce, but any good commercial version will work fine.
Barbecue Chicken Salad

Can’t Help Falling in Love

“Love this salad!” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “And the Elvis dressing.”

“Elvis?” I said.

“The way it’s made, you know,” said Mrs K R. “All Shook Up.”

“Ah, the musical.” I said. “It’s coming to Muny Opera here in St. Louis in a couple of weeks.”

“Can’t wait to see it!” said Mrs K R. “So many great songs. Like Jailhouse Rock.”

“Blue Suede Shoes,” I said.

“Heartbreak Hotel,” said Mrs K R.

“Fools Fall in Love,” I said.

“That one should be our theme song, Hound Dog,” said Mrs K R.

Don’t Be Cruel.

You may also enjoy reading about:
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork
Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Beef Brisket
Tangy KC-Style Barbecue Sauce
Chef's Salad
Or check out the index for more recipes

82 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

Now this salad screams SUMMER out loud, John. I love the idea of using bbq sauce in the dressing. The salad looks superb!

Unknown said...

What a delicious and summery idea for a salad! Can't get enough of them these days :)

Tricia Buice said...

My husband will flip for this dressing! I can't wait to try it - he's such a saucy kind of guy - haha. Lovely salad!

Blogoratti said...

That is one delicious looking dish. Thanks for sharing that. Greetings!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, BBQ works really well in salad dressing! Such a great flavor. :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Chris, we're practically living on salads this summer! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Tricia, we're pretty saucy too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Blogoratti, isn't it nice? And SO good! Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

I absolutely love bbq sauce in chicken and even tofu. Basically any kind of protein goes so well with bbq sauce. Looks so good!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nisha, bbq sauce is nice with anything! Haven't tried it with tofu -- need to do that. :-) Thanks for the comment.

GiGi Eats Celebrities said...

Mmmmmmmm BBQ CHICKEN FOR THE WIN! I am ready!!! :) I have some chicken in the fridge and I am soooo making a salad like this for lunch!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi GiGi, barbecued chicken is so good, isn't it? And wonderful in a salad. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Barb said...

Sounds great John but to be honest my takeaway from this post is...drumroll...the Muny Opera! OMG the things you forget and the memories that are so sweet. How I loved going there in the summer; I'm now officially jealous!

Denise Browning said...

A great summer dish... and for the upcoming holiday, the 4th of July. I would eat and repeat!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Barb, the Muny Opera is great! They installed some new fans in the last year or two (or three?) that really work and make it a comfortable venue in July and August (for those that don't know, the Muny Opera is an outdoor theater). Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, eat and repeat is exactly the way to eat this. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

Love me Tender...Love me sweet... you gotta love Elvis and this tasty BBQ chicken Salad. Perfect for a bit lighter fare but full on flavor.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, Elvis is great! So is this salad. :-) Thanks for the comment.

laura dembowski said...

The corn looks so cool and welcoming plated like that. I want to dive right in.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, that corn does look mighty tempting. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Alyssa (EverydayMaven) said...

My Mom used to make a very similar salad during the summer. Love this and the memories it brings back :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Alyssa, food memories are some of the best, aren't they? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Agness of Run Agness Run said...

Loved this salad! This is going to be my new favourite sald recipe, John!

Judy said...

John, adding bbq sauce to the dressing is brilliant. Not sure that would have occured to me as we use balsamic so much with the occasional homemade ranch thrown in now and again. Great idea for a change of pace and real bbq flavor!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What a great way to use up leftover barbecue! In fact, I think I'll grill extra so this yummy salad will be on our menu rotation very soon!!

Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen said...

Whoa! This sounds awesome! French dressing has never been my favorite because it's so sweet but with BBQ sauce I could totally get behind it :). Yum--brilliant recipe!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Agness, you'll like! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judy, BBQ works really well in salad dressing -- or at least this type of salad dressing. Really adds terrific flavor. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, we never have problems with too much BBQ so always make extra. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Kelsie, I've never liked that "French" dressing either for the same reason. But BBQ sauce instead of ketchup in essentially the same dressing? It works! Thanks for the comment.

Deb|EastofEdenCooking said...

Fabulous recipe John! I'd never think to have BBQ flavors with salad, but this sounds scrumptious!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Deb, BBQ salad is good stuff! :-) Thanks for the comment.

beyondkimchee said...

BBQ chicken for the salad? I'm in.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Holly, it's really good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

With 100+F temperatures, a salad like this makes a perfect meal! Yours is so colorful and the chicken looks amazing! Love the BBQ salad dressing! Great idea! Thanks John and hope you and the family have a Happy Fourth!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, the chicken is terrific in this! And the dressing is dynamite. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

What a great salad bbq-for when you can't decide which you want more! Love French dressing so I have no doubt I'd love this!This is one recipe where I won't be hitting return to sender!

Jeff the Chef said...

I used to love the BBQ chicken salad at Panera, but they don't have it any more. So I'm the position of having to make my own! So your post is timely.

All That I'm Eating said...

Really like the idea of thinning down the BBQ sauce to make the dressing - I'll need to give that a try!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, :-) this definitely sounds like your kind of dish! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, glad to be of service. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, it's a fun idea, isn't it? And such a good dish! Thanks for the comment.

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Wow! what a great idea to add bbq sauce to the dressing to make this the perfect summer salad. I bet this is delicious!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Cheri, isn't this a fun dish? Love the dressing! Thanks for the comment.

Sippity Sup said...

This is exactly what I'm in the mood for. GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, we're in the mood for this often. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Summer fresh salad and love love barbecue chicken and I am craving it now.
So good.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Asha, this is such a nice way to get all the BBQ flavor in a lighter form. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

My kind of salad! Looks terrific.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, it's wonderful. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Easyfoodsmith said...

This is my kind of salad, only that I will swap chicken with halloumi since I am a vegetarian.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Taruna, halloumi would be nice this this -- great idea! Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

That looks like the perfect meal on a warm summer night. All the main food groups -- and a big punch of flavor, too.

Pam said...

I don't know why I can never think up good things like this! Your dressing would be great on a salad, John and is a must try. Thanks for sharing!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, lot of fun flavors in this dish! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, you'll like the dressing! It's really good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Wow!! A perfect meal. Colorful and yummy. It's a bowl full of nutrition. Love the flavors. Yumm :)

Frank said...

You mentioned French dressing. I've always wondered what was "French" about it, besides the name, of course... ;-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ritu, yup, definitely a one-dish meal. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Frank, I've always wondered the same thing! Never made sense to me. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Beth said...

What a terrific salad - it looks like summer on a plate!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Beth, it IS summer on a plate! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Gerlinde de Broekert said...

What a great salad John, I love the idea of adding barbecue sauce to the dressing.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Gerlinde, the BBQ sauce makes a really tasty dressing! Thanks for the comment.

Vicki Bensinger said...

I love this salad and the fact you actually put cobs of corn on it is so much more fun than the kernels.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi VIcki, the cob is fun, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

This honestly is my type of salad, I can live without any sides.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, we love a hearty main course salad, too! Thanks for the comment.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

Betetr late than never! I actually like French salad dressing (there are 3 of us) so this is a fabulous idea :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Evelyne, since you're one of the three, you'll definitely like this salad dressing. :D Thanks for the comment.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

John, this looks like something I need to get on the menu real soon! I like that you tell people to get the gunk off the canned beans!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jean, that gunk is, well, gunk. :-) I know some people think it adds flavor, but never did anything for me. Thanks for the comment.

Anne@ASaladForAllSeasons said...

LOVE this salad, John! It's summer on a plate! And love your idea of bbq sauce in the dressing. I'm going to have to play with that idea, myself! Looks really good! :)

Claire said...

What a great salad, John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anne, you'll like using bbq sauce in the dressing! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Claire, isn't it a nice one? Thanks for the comment.

Debra Eliotseats said...

I totally agree about the non-BBQ sauce salad dressing. Doesn't really make sense, does it? This salad makes a great deal of sense to me!

Juliana said...

This is perfect for summer, and I am loving the sound of the BBQ salad dressing...super delicious! Thanks for sharing it :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Debra, it has always seemed so odd that they'd use regular salad dressing in a bbq salad. This is the perfect solution! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Juliana, the dressing is SO good! Thanks for the comment.

amira said...

This looks so interesting and perfect for the time of the year. Great recipe John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amira, isn't this nice? Lotta flavor in it. :-) Thanks for the comment.