Description
Honey Hot Chicken Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring tender cooked chicken tossed in a combo of sweet honey garlic sauce and spicy buffalo wing sauce, served over fresh chopped romaine lettuce and crisp vegetables. This salad offers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy, with optional cheese for added richness, making it a satisfying and quick meal ideal for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Mixture
- 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)
Salad Base
- 2 heads Romaine Lettuce, chopped and washed
- 3-6 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing or any dressing of choice
Vegetables & Toppings
- ½ medium Red Onion, diced
- 1 large Red Bell Pepper, diced
- ½ large Cucumber, diced
- 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 to ensure the chicken pieces are evenly coated with the flavorful sauces.
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a separate large bowl, toss the chopped romaine lettuce with your preferred amount of ranch dressing or dressing of choice until the lettuce leaves are lightly coated.
- Assemble the Salad: Divide the dressed romaine lettuce between two large plates or bowls. Top each serving with diced red onions, diced red bell pepper, diced cucumber, shredded cheese if desired, and finally, the honey hot chicken mixture.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the salad right after assembling to maintain the crispness of the lettuce and freshness of the toppings.
Notes
- Homemade honey garlic sauce and buffalo wing sauce are highly recommended for the best flavor.
- Any type of chicken works well, including chicken tenders, chicken thighs, whole roasted chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or even leftover turkey.
- To make this salad vegan, substitute the chicken with crispy tofu, use a creamy vegan dressing, and omit the cheese.
- This salad can be used as a filling for a sandwich by placing it in a tortilla wrap or toasted hoagie roll.
- Adjust the spiciness by varying the amount or type of hot sauce used according to your heat preference.
- Since the salad does not hold well once assembled, prep ingredients separately and combine just before serving if making ahead.
- If you don’t like honey garlic sauce, try swapping it with homemade teriyaki sauce for a different twist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
