Description
Honey Hot Chicken Salad is a flavorful and spicy salad combining tender cooked chicken tossed in a sweet honey garlic and buffalo wing sauce with fresh, crunchy vegetables and creamy ranch dressing. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal, this salad brings together the zest of hot sauce with the balanced sweetness of honey, enhanced by crisp romaine lettuce, diced red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber. It’s versatile, allowing for substitutions like vegan tofu or various types of chicken, making it adaptable for different dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced
- ¼ cup Honey Garlic Sauce
- ¼ cup Buffalo Wing Sauce or plain hot sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot)
Vegetables and Salad Base
- 2 heads Romaine Lettuce, chopped and washed
- ½ medium Red Onion, diced
- 1 large Red Bell Pepper, diced
- ½ large Cucumber, diced
Dressing and Optional
- 3-6 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing or any dressing of choice
- Cheese, shredded (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken mixture: In a small bowl, combine the cooked and diced chicken with the honey garlic sauce and buffalo wing sauce. Toss thoroughly so the chicken is evenly coated in the sauces.
- Toss the lettuce with dressing: In a large bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce and pour your choice of ranch or other dressing over it. Toss well to make sure all lettuce leaves are dressed.
- Assemble the salad: Divide the dressed lettuce between two large plates or bowls. Top each portion with the diced red onions, red bell pepper, cucumber, and shredded cheese if using.
- Add the honey hot chicken: Spoon the prepared chicken mixture evenly over the salads. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh, crisp textures and spicy, sweet flavors.
Notes
- Homemade honey garlic sauce and buffalo wing sauce are highly recommended for the best flavor.
- You can use different types of cooked chicken such as tenders, thighs, shredded rotisserie chicken, or leftover turkey.
- To make this salad vegan, substitute the chicken with crispy tofu, use a creamy vegan dressing, and omit the cheese.
- This salad works great as a sandwich filling in a tortilla wrap or toasted hoagie roll.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to your preferred spice level; use hotter sauce for more kick or reduce/omit for mild flavor.
- For meal prepping, store all salad ingredients separately and assemble just before serving to keep textures fresh.
- If not using honey garlic sauce, teriyaki sauce is a tasty alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
