This easy Buffalo Chicken Salad is a quick, low-carb lunch you can make ahead for the week. It’s high in protein, full of flavor, and works beautifully in lettuce wraps, on bread, tucked into a tortilla, or simply piled on top of greens.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
This recipe was designed for busy weekdays when you want a make-ahead lunch that doesn’t need reheating. Start with cooked chicken to keep hands-off prep time short. The salad combines shredded or diced chicken with crunchy chopped vegetables and a creamy, spicy buffalo-mayo dressing. Finish with blue cheese or a light blue cheese dressing if you like that tangy contrast.
I often make this when I have leftover chicken breast, a rotisserie breast, or even canned chicken. If you prefer a slower method, shredded chicken from a slow cooker is an easy alternative. The mini chopper or food processor makes quick work of the onion, celery, and carrot so every bite has texture without long chopping sessions.
Ingredients
- 6 1/2 ounces cooked chicken breast (from an 8 oz breast), cubed or shredded. You can substitute cooked thighs, canned chicken, or rotisserie chicken.
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish.
- 1/2 celery stalk, chopped, with some leaves reserved for garnish.
- 1 baby carrot, finely chopped or grated.
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise for creaminess; use light mayo if preferred.
- 1/4 cup hot sauce (Frank’s or your favorite), more to taste if you want extra heat.
- 6 baby romaine lettuce leaves or your preferred lettuce or wraps for serving.
- Light blue cheese dressing or blue cheese crumbles (optional) to top, if you enjoy that classic combination.
Instructions
- If you need to cook the chicken: place chicken in a slow cooker with enough water or broth to cover and cook 4 hours on low, then shred. Alternatively, use a rotisserie breast or canned chicken.
- In a mini chopper or small food processor, pulse the red onion, celery, and baby carrot until finely chopped.
- Add the cooked chicken to the chopper and pulse a few times to break it down to your preferred texture—either slightly chunky or more shredded.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the mayonnaise and hot sauce. Taste and add more hot sauce if you prefer it spicier.
- To serve, spoon the buffalo chicken salad into lettuce leaves and garnish with extra red onion, celery leaves, and a drizzle of blue cheese dressing or some crumbled blue cheese.
How to Serve
This buffalo chicken salad is versatile. Try one of these serving ideas:
- Lettuce wraps: Use baby romaine, butter lettuce, or large romaine leaves for a crisp, low-carb option.
- Sandwich: Pile the salad onto whole-grain or sourdough bread for a hearty sandwich.
- Wrap: Spoon into a whole-wheat tortilla for a portable lunch.
- Over greens: Serve the salad over chopped romaine or mixed greens and drizzle with blue cheese dressing for a satisfying entrée salad.
Meal Prep and Storage
This recipe scales easily—double or triple it to feed more people or to stock lunches for the week. Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Keep lettuce or bread separate and assemble just before eating to preserve texture. If you’re prepping for several days, reserve any garnish and dressing to add fresh just prior to serving.
Tips and Variations
- Adjust heat: Start with less hot sauce if you’re unsure, then increase until it hits your preferred spice level.
- Cheese swap: If you don’t like blue cheese, try a sprinkle of feta or omit cheese entirely.
- Make it lighter: Use light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt for a tangier, lower-calorie dressing.
- Extra crunch: Add chopped bell pepper or radish for more texture.
- Low-sodium: Choose low-sodium hot sauce and canned chicken with reduced salt to lower overall sodium.
Nutrition (per serving)
Serving: 1/2 of the recipe. Calories: 359 kcal; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g; Fat: 24 g; Fiber: 1 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Cholesterol: 90 mg; Sodium: 1401.5 mg; Sugar: 2.5 g.
More Buffalo Chicken Ideas
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Skins
Enjoy this Buffalo Chicken Salad as a quick, flavorful option for lunches and meal prep. It’s customizable, fast to assemble, and keeps well—perfect for busy weekdays when you want something satisfying without the fuss.