Can I use rotisserie or leftover chicken instead of cooked chicken breasts?

Absolutely! This recipe is brilliantly flexible. Rotisserie, grilled, or even leftover roasted chicken all work just as well and make prep even quicker.

How do I make this salad vegetarian or vegan?

Easy—swap the chicken for crispy tofu, use a plant-based dressing, and skip the cheese or sub in a vegan variety. You’ll still get killer flavor and satisfying texture.

What if I don’t like honey garlic sauce?

No problem—try teriyaki, barbecue, or even a sweet chili sauce for a different but equally tasty experience. The beauty here is how easy it is to customize!

How spicy is this salad, and can I adjust it?

The spice level is mild–moderate, depending on your hot sauce. If you like it flaming hot, increase the hot sauce or use a spicier variety. For a tamer salad, reduce or omit the hot sauce entirely.

Honey Hot Chicken Salad Recipe

Description

This Honey Hot Chicken Salad combines juicy chicken breast tossed in honey garlic and buffalo sauce, fresh chopped romaine, crisp vegetables, optional shredded cheese, and creamy ranch dressing for a flavorful, satisfying salad with a spicy kick. Quick to assemble, it’s customizable for different diets and perfect for a hearty meal or a tasty sandwich filling.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Chicken

2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1/4 cup honey garlic sauce
1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce or plain hot sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot)

For the Salad Base

2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped and washed
3–6 tablespoons ranch dressing or any dressing of choice

For the Toppings

1/2 medium red onion, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1/2 large cucumber, diced
Cheese, shredded (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: In a small bowl, add the cooked and diced chicken, honey garlic sauce, and buffalo wing sauce. Toss everything until the chicken is fully coated with the sauces and well combined.
Dress the Lettuce: In a separate large bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce and your choice of dressing (ranch or other). Toss to evenly coat the greens in the dressing.
Assemble the Salad: Transfer the dressed lettuce to two large plates or bowls. Evenly top with the diced red onions, bell pepper, cucumber, and shredded cheese if using. Finally, add the honey hot chicken on top of each salad bowl.
Serve: Serve the salad immediately while the chicken is still warm and the vegetables are fresh and crisp. Enjoy as a meal or use as a filling for wraps or sandwiches.

Notes

Homemade honey garlic sauce and buffalo wing sauce are highly recommended for best flavor.
Any type of chicken works: tenders, thighs, whole roasted, shredded rotisserie, or even leftover turkey.
Make it vegan by substituting chicken with crispy tofu, using vegan dressing, and omitting cheese.
This salad can be served as a sandwich or wrap filling for a different twist.
Adjust the amount and type of hot sauce to control the spice level.
If prepping ahead, store ingredients separately and assemble just before eating to keep everything fresh.
Honey garlic sauce can be substituted with homemade teriyaki sauce if preferred.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 576 kcal
Sugar: 14 g
Sodium: 1441 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
Trans Fat: 0.03 g
Carbohydrates: 31 g
Fiber: 16 g
Protein: 58 g
Cholesterol: 150 mg