BBQ Chicken Salad
This chicken bbq salad's simplicity makes it ideal for an easy weeknight meal or quick lunch. It's a quick and easy meal to whip up after a long workday. You can also easily prep the salad (minus dressing) and wedges in advance for grab-and-go lunches throughout the week.
Recipe by: Kayla Cappiello
Why you’ll love this allergy friendly recipe:
Minimal Prep: Uses pre-cut mixed greens and pre-cooked chicken tenders.
Air Fryer Does the Work: Sweet potatoes cook fast and require minimal cleanup.
Air fryer cooks the sweet potatoes fast!
Weeknight Dinner: Quick and satisfying meal after a long day.
Meal Prep: Assemble the salad (minus dressing) and wedges in advance for grab-and-go lunches.
Easy Lunch: This Fresh and flavorful chicken bbq salad comes together in minutes.
This BBQ Chicken Salad offers a mix of tastes and textures. The smoky BBQ sauce complements the savory chicken and sweet corn. The cherry tomatoes add a burst of freshness, while the mixed greens provide a crisp base. The air-fried sweet potato wedges are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a hint of sweetness that balances the savory flavors of the salad.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Sweet Potatoes: To make this salad I used Bako Sweet Sweet Potatoes for extra vitamin A, extra fiber and some healthy carbohydrates! Bako Sweet Sweet Potatoes are organically grown in California with no pesticides in a nutrient-dense soil! Of course they are allergen free, Vegan and Gluten-Free! They are available at Walmart, Sprouts, Safeway, Smart & Final, Albertsons and Sam’s Club!
Mixed Greens: Any pre-washed salad mix you like will work for this bbq chicken salad recipe. I like to use romaine lettuce since crunchy romaine is so readily available at local grocery store. You can also use iceberg lettuce, butter lettuce or green leaf lettuce.
Cherry Tomatoes: Can be replaced with diced tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or another veggie you enjoy.
Corn: fresh corn or frozen corn adds sweetness. You can skip it or use another vegetable. Use it at room temperature or char it in a pan before using.
Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders: Leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, bbq chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or any cooked chicken will do. Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before serving. I like to use a digital meat thermometer to make sure!
BBQ Sauce: Choose your favorite kind of barbecue sauce! You can use a sweet, spicy or tangy bbq sauce. You can also try mixing your favorite bbq sauce with creamy ranch dressing (store-bought ranch is fine) to make your own homemade dressing!
Onion: red onion, white onion, sweet onion or even green onions work great!
Cheddar cheese: You can also use your favorite cheese such as feta cheese or monterey jack cheese. Use dairy free cheese for a dairy free recipe.
Directions
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Wash and cut the sweet potato into wedges. In a bowl, toss the wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange the wedges in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap too much.
Air fry the wedges for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, or until golden brown and tender.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, cook the gluten-free chicken tenders according to the package instructions. Let them cool slightly and then chop them into bite-sized pieces.
In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, corn, and chopped chicken.
Drizzle the chicken bbq salad with BBQ sauce to your desired amount.
Top the barbecue chicken salad with the cooked sweet potato wedges and any additional toppings you like.
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Sweet potatoes are a great source of potassium, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A and is a low glycemic index food. Find out more on our Nutritional Facts page.
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Sweet potatoes have a much thinner skin than a yam and tastes delicious when cooked. Yams have a thick bark like skin that needs to be cut away before cooking. Learn more about their differences on our Sweet Potatoes VS. Yams page.