If you love the flavors of buffalo chicken, you’re going to love this Buffalo Chicken Salad! With creamy mayo, spicy buffalo sauce, and savory ranch flavors, this versatile chicken salad recipe is so good on sandwiches, salads, and so much more!
This is one of my chicken salad recipes ever! It’s creamy, a little spicy, and so full of flavor. I love how versatile it is, too! You can serve it in a million different ways – stuffed in veggies, on top of greens, in sandwiches and wraps … the possibilities are endless.
I love to add a lot of celery and onions to my buffalo chicken salad recipe. It amps up the wholesome, good-for-you factor while also increasing the volume in an affordable way–it’s a win-win!
If you want to keep with the buffalo theme, be sure to top this easy buffalo chicken salad with blue cheese crumbles when serving. It’s the perfect addition!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Super simple & easy – Just a short list of ingredients and just a few minutes for full-of-flavor buffalo-style chicken salad.
- So versatile – There are so many ways to enjoy chicken salad! Try it on sandwiches, in wraps, with rice, or over greens.
- Protein packed – Chicken is an amazing lean source of protein, and this buffalo chicken salad is a super tasty way to eat it!
- Make-ahead – It’s perfect for meal prep! Whip up a batch and keep it in the fridge for easy sandwiches, wraps, and more all week long.
Recipe Notes
This Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe is simple as promised! Just 20 minutes from beginning to end for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Buffalo Chicken Salad to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Chicken – This recipe uses cooked shredded chicken. You can start with store-bought rotisserie chicken or a homemade recipe such as this Dutch oven roast chicken or perfect baked chicken breasts.
- Celery – Crunchy diced fresh celery is perfect with the classic buffalo flavors and I like that it ups the volume of the chicken salad while being healthy and affordable.
- Green onions – Also known as scallions.
- Yellow sweet onion – Finely diced yellow onion adds more onion flavor. White onion will also work.
- Mayonnaise
- Buffalo Sauce – I like Franks brand, but you can use whatever buffalo sauce you like, or make your own.
- Ranch seasoning mix – Buy a packet at the store or use homemade ranch seasoning.
- Blue cheese crumbles – Optional, but tangy blue cheese is perfect with buffalo chicken flavors!
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Lighten up with Greek yogurt – For a lighter chicken salad, Greek yogurt is a great alternative to mayo. Plus, it adds a bit of tangy flavor and a protein boost!
- Add hard-boiled eggs – Chop up a couple of hard-boiled eggs and add it to the mix for buffalo chicken egg salad!
- Veggie it up – Try adding more veggies to the mix such as grated carrots, shredded red cabbage, diced red bell pepper, or even a handful of diced fresh herbs like parsley or dill.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Buffalo Chicken Salad.
Add the chicken and veggies to a large bowl.
Add the mayo, buffalo sauce, and ranch seasoning.
Mix until combined. Transfer to the fridge to chill briefly and allow the flavors to meld.
Serve topped with blue cheese crumbles (if desired).
Recipe Tips
- Make it ahead of time – You can either prep the ingredients ahead of time by chopping the celery and onions beforehand and shredding the chicken for quicker prep when you’re ready to assemble this buffalo chicken salad recipe. Or, assemble all of the buffalo chicken salad ingredients and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. It tastes better after some time in the fridge, too. This really is the perfect meal-prep recipe!
- Mix the dressing first – To make sure everything gets evenly coated, you can mix together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl until fully combined, then add it to the remaining buffalo chicken salad ingredients.
- Use forks to shred the chicken – Place the chicken in the bowl first and use two forks to shred it quickly and easily.
- Give it some chill time – This easy buffalo chicken salad recipe tastes best when it has a little time to chill in the fridge before eating, which allows the flavors to develop.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-chopped veggies – Grab already-diced celery and onion from the product department of your local grocery store so that you can skip the chopping step.
- Use store-bought rotisserie chicken – No need to worry about cooking the chicken yourself when you use a fully cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Salad
Since this easy salad has the delicious flavors of buffalo chicken, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Serving Suggestions
- Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich – Add a scoop of buffalo ranch chicken salad topped with crisp lettuce between two slices of your favorite bread for an easy sandwich.
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Avocados – Cut a large ripe avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop this buffalo chicken salad recipe into the halves and serve.
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Tomato – Cut the top off of a large, fresh tomato and scoop out the inside, including the seeds, leaving a tomato “bowl.” Fill with chicken salad.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad with Greens – Top a plate of greens with buffalo chicken salad for a delicious low-carb option.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad with Rice – Serve this chicken salad with white or brown rice and a veggie side for a hearty full meal.
Side Dish Ideas
- Maple Glazed Carrots – Sweet carrots pair well with buffalo ranch chicken salad flavors.
- Oven Roasted Green Beans – These roasted green beans can be eaten like French fries! Perfect with buffalo chicken salad sandwiches or wraps.
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower – It’s a well-known fact that buffalo flavors pair especially well with cauliflower, so this cheesy roasted cauliflower is the perfect companion to buffalo chicken salad.
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli – Broccoli is terrific served alongside buffalo style chicken salad, too.
- Summer Fruit Salad – Refreshing fruit is the perfect cooling companion to spicy buffalo flavors.
- Ultimate Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies – Classic buffalo flavors deserve a classic dessert! Chocolate chip cookies are a great sweet finish.
Buffalo Chicken Salad Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the buffalo sauce flavor?
Buffalo sauce flavor is tangy and spicy, with cayenne peppers, vinegar, and garlic flavors.
Is buffalo sauce really spicy?
Buffalo sauce is generally considered to be mild to medium in terms of spiciness. You can use more or less in this recipe to tailor to your preferred level of heat.
Does chicken salad contain mayo?
Yes, classic chicken salad has a creamy element which is usually created by the addition of mayonnaise.
More EASY Chicken Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Curry Chicken Salad
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad
- Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken breast , shredded (I used rotisserie chicken)
- 1 1/2 cup celery , chopped
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/4 sweet yellow onion , finely diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Franks Hot Sauce, Buffalo style
- 1 ounce Ranch Seasoning Mix, (1 packet or 2 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles, optional
Instructions
- Combine the mayonnaise, buffalo sauce, and ranch seasoning.
- In a large bowl, add the chicken, celery, green onions, and yellow onions. Mix to combine, then pour the mayo mixture over it and stir until evenly coated.
- Let set in the fridge for 10-20 minutes for flavors to meld, and top the chicken salad with blue cheese before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Chicken: Swap in cooked shredded turkey for the chicken. Great for holiday leftovers!
- Frank’s Hot Sauce: Another store-bought buffalo-style sauce will work.
- Mayo: Miracle Whip or Greek yogurt will also work.
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