BBQ Chicken Salad

 BBQ Chicken Salad.

I also have an easy version we make at the end of this post.
   
INGREDIENTS:

3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups BBQ sauce, store bought or homemade
½ head iceberg lettuce, cored and chopped
2 romaine hearts, chopped
1/2 red onion diced
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cubed small or shredded
4 ounces Monterrey jack cheese, cubed small or shredded

Creamy BBQ Cilantro Lime Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise, light or regular
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 to 1/2 cup BBQ sauce

DIRECTIONS:

For the salad, combine the cooked chicken and BBQ sauce in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
In a large bowl, toss together the iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red onion, cilantro, corn, black beans and cheese. Toss the mixed salad with about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the dressing, if desired. Otherwise, you can serve the dressing on the side. Place salad on plates and top with the prepared BBQ chicken and additional dressing.
For the dressing, combine all the ingredients together and whisk (or shake, if using a jar) vigorously to combine. You could also run this through a blender to make it even more smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Source: salad from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe, dressing inspired by El Pollo Loco’s Creamy Cilantro Dressing - http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/02/bbq-chicken-salad-with-creamy-bbq-cilantro-lime-dressing.html

So here is the easy version of this salad… Because I am all about easy meals.  This recipe came about by my son Nick.  He loves chicken and decided to to make BBQ Chicken on night and served it over rice.  We both decided to try the BBQ chicken over our lettuce salad and it was delicious.  We began serving it both ways from then on.

Ingredients:

1 - 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 Tbsp. oil
1 jar BBQ sauce – pick your favorite kind.  My son works at World Market so he will sometimes get one their sauces.

Fixings for Salad:

Bag Roman lettuce
Iceberg Lettuce  (or a bag of pre-mixed lettuce of your choice)
2 tomatoes
1 red onion

Directions:

Add oil to frying pan.  Cute chicken into small pieces. Cook chicken in oil until no longer pink.  Add BBQ sauce, mix well.

Prepare salad mixtures with toppings of choice.
 
Put serving size salad on plate and top with BBQ Chicken mixture.  Add salad dressing of choice if desire.  I usually do not add salad dressing but use the BBQ sauce as my dressing. Sometimes my son will add a little ranch dressing to his. 

So easy and good ~
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