If there is one thing you have learned about me on Eat the Gains over the years, it is I love buffalo chicken. Buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes, buffalo chicken soup, buffalo chicken burgers – any which way you give it to me, I am a fan. Today we are sharing an easy buffalo chicken salad recipe!
To be honest, I was never really exposed that much to chicken salad growing up. Here and there at BBQs or picnics, but it was never made in our house. My mom didn’t like the whole massive amount of mayo you find in most of them and she doesn’t eat meat. I am not really a fan of a bunch of mayo either, so I never really cared to try them.
Fast forward a handful of years and making a majority of my own food, I have grown to love chicken salad. And with us always having leftover chicken in the house, chicken salad has become more and more frequent.
This buffalo chicken ranch salad combines buffalo chicken and ranch and combines it into an easy and healthy chicken salad recipe. You only need a handful of simple ingredients and it comes together with 5-10 minutes of prep time.
The best part of the buffalo ranch chicken salad is you can adjust it how you like. More buffalo or ranch your thing? Go for it! Prep it at the beginning of the week for an easy and protein-packed and gluten free option to have on hand for busy days.
Buffalo chicken salad highlights
- it takes 10 minutes to make – with a little prep of having some shredded chicken on hand, it only takes about 10 minutes to come together.
- sneaks in some veggies – the carrots and celery really up elevate the buffalo flavors and add some micronutrients
- versatile – use it on salads, in sandwiches, or just as a quick protein option paired with some carbohydrates, veggies, and fat for a complete meal
- great for meal prep – this recipe makes a decent amount so it’s great to make at the beginning of the week to have on hand. The flavors get better the longer it sits too!
Buffalo ranch chicken salad ingredients
- shredded chicken breast
- carrots
- celery
- greek yogurt – for creaminess and a little extra protein punch
- mayo – just a little to add a bit of richness but not a ton of calories
- hot sauce/red pepper sauce – Frank’s is the best and what I use for all buffalo chicken recipes
- ranch seasoning
- lemon juice
- fresh dill
- salt and pepper
How to make buffalo chicken salad
- Prep your veggies. Shred your carrots and dice your celery.
- Make the chicken salad. Add your shredded chicken, carrots, celery, greek yogurt, mayo, hot sauce, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, dill, and salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Mix well to combine. Adjust according to taste.
- Enjoy!
How to serve
- sandwiches or wraps – with your favorite sandwich additions
- salad – toss it with some greens and your favorite veggies for an easy on the go meal or for meal prep
- in tacos or lettuce wraps – add in some lettuce, tomatoes, and onions or a quick slaw
- in a power bowl – add some kind of grain, veggies, avocado, and ranch dressing for an easy bowl meal
- stuffed in a potato – cook up some white or sweet potatoes, cut them in half, and stuff the chicken salad in them. Topped with a little cheese would be delicious.
- chicken salad melts – on top of a piece of toast and then melt a little cheese on top. I did this the other week and it was amazing!
- as is – honestly, I love this as is with some veggies and carbs for a complete meal on days we are super busy.
Meal prep
You can easily double or triple this recipe if needed.
Storage
- refrigerator – store chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- freeze – I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe due to the mayo and greek yogurt used.
Substitutions
- shredded chicken breast – I like boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but chicken thighs (skin on or off) will also work the same. You can also use a rotisserie chicken from the store.
- greek yogurt – dairy or non-dairy yogurt will work. You can also use all mayo if you don’t like yogurt or want to make it paleo and Whole30.
- mayo – you can use store-bought or homemade. If you don’t like mayo, use all Greek yogurt. This will add more protein and lower the fat.
- hot sauce/red pepper sauce – you could also use buffalo sauce instead of hot sauce
- dill – dried dill will work instead of fresh. Use 1 teaspoon if using dried. You can also leave it out if you want.
- ranch seasoning – if you can’t find ranch seasoning, you can use a mix of spices of onion powder, garlic powder, dried dill, and dried parsley. I recommend a teaspoon of each. You could also use 1 1/2 tablespoons of ranch dressing instead of seasoning.
More healthy buffalo chicken recipes
- buffalo chicken fries with blue cheese dressing
- instant pot buffalo chicken
- buffalo chicken casserole with rice
- creamy buffalo chicken soup
- buffalo chicken tenders
- air fryer boneless buffalo wings
If you love quick and easy healthy recipes, check out our free 30-Minute Meals Recipe Book!
Buffalo Chicken Salad
ingredients
- 4 cups shredded chicken (1 pound)
- 1 cup shredded carrots (95 grams)
- 1 cup diced celery (120 grams)
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt (I used 0% fat)
- 1/4 cup mayo (store bought or homemade)
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, roughly chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Make the chicken salad. Add your shredded chicken, carrots, celery, greek yogurt, mayo, hot sauce, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, dill, and salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Mix well to combine. Adjust according to taste.
- Enjoy! Serve in a salad, on a sandwich, on lettuce wraps, or just eat as is. Store in a tightly sealed glass container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Katie Hansen says
SO YUMMY!! Run, don’t walk to grab ingredients and whip this up! I would have never thought to add fresh dill but the subtle notes of that was the highlight for me. Def going to be a staple from now on.
Kelly says
So happy to hear that Katie! Fresh herbs really are so delicious. Thanks for trying it!
Ashley K says
This recipe is great! So simple to make in a big batch. I have made this for lunches for me and my husband. He turns it into a wrap that’s easy to eat on the go and I have it as a salad. This one is a keeper!
Kelly says
Love that you both enjoy it in different ways! Thanks for trying it Ashley!
Dad says
Love chicken salad
Kelly says
Always delicious and an easy way to enjoy chicken!
Kelli says
The ranch seasoning packets are no longer available! Any substitute? Amazon links are a plus!
Kelly says
It looks like they are back in stock now!
If they go out of stock, here is the original one I linked, just not on amazon – https://primalpalate.myshopify.com/collections/organic-spice-blends/products/garden-ranch-seasoning-mix-6-packets
And you can also make your own – https://www.realfoodwithdana.com/homemade-paleo-ranch-seasoning/
Hope that helps some!
Sarah says
Very delicious! I added some fresh chives from the garden. Thanks for the great recipe!
Kelly says
So glad you liked it Sarah! Love the addition of chives too!