BBQ Chicken Salad with Creamy BBQ Cilantro Lime Dressing

It's been so hot lately that I just want to eat something light. A big salad like this hits the spot. The day that I made this, my husband came home from work and said that a salad actually sounded good for dinner. I was shocked! He usually doesn't think salads are sufficient for dinner. But he loved this. This is a lot like my recipe for BBQ Chicken Salad. The only difference is the homemade dressing. It was delicious! The only thing it was missing was the crispy tortilla strips. I'll make sure to add those next time.

Printable Recipe

BBQ Chicken Salad with Creamy BBQ Cilantro Lime Dressing


salad:
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1/2 head romaine lettuce, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
2 avocados, chopped
shredded cheese
*tortilla strips

Creamy BBQ Cilantro Lime Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup buttermilk

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1 Tbsp lime juice

1 tsp white vinegar

1 tsp granulated sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/4 to 1/2 cup BBQ sauce

Combine all ingredients for dressing in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the salad, combine cooked chicken with BBQ sauce. Refrigerate until ready to use.

In a large bowl, toss together iceberg, romaine, green onions, cilantro, tomatoes, beans, corn, avocados, and cheese. Place salad on plates and top with BBQ chicken, tortilla strips, and dressing. 

*Tortilla strips:

Slice 10 corn tortillas into narrow strips. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle generously with salt. Spray with cooking spray. Place under broiler until crispy and brown.

Serves 8

Recipe adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Past Recipes:

One year ago: Key Lime Pie

Two years ago: Sour Cream Enchiladas