When I first went gluten free, it was so hard to find easy weeknight dinner recipes that catered to more than one food allergy or restriction. After that, I was determined to make sure every single one of my recipes catered to people with multiple dietary restrictions and/or food allergies! This chicken bbq salad is gluten free and nut free. It can also be made dairy free.
This chicken bbq salad’s simplicity makes it ideal for an easy weeknight meal or quick lunch. It’s a quick and easy meal to whip up after a long workday. You can also easily prep the salad (minus dressing) and wedges in advance for grab-and-go lunches throughout the week.
why you’ll love this allergy friendly recipe
- Minimal Prep: Uses pre-cut mixed greens and pre-cooked chicken tenders.
- Air Fryer Does the Work: Sweet potatoes cook fast and require minimal cleanup.
- Air fryer cooks the sweet potatoes fast!
- Weeknight Dinner: Quick and satisfying meal after a long day.
- Meal Prep: Assemble the salad (minus dressing) and wedges in advance for grab-and-go lunches.
- Easy Lunch: This Fresh and flavorful chicken bbq salad comes together in minutes.
ingredients & substitutions
Sweet Potatoes: To make this salad I used Bako Sweet Sweet Potatoes for extra vitamin A, extra fiber and some healthy carbohydrates! Bako Sweet Sweet Potatoes are organically grown in California with no pesticides in a nutrient-dense soil! Of course they are allergen free, Vegan and Gluten-Free! They are available at Walmart, Sprouts, Safeway, Smart & Final, Whole Foods, Albertsons and Sam’s Club!
Mixed Greens: Any pre-washed salad mix you like will work for this bbq chicken salad recipe. I like to use romaine lettuce since crunchy romaine is so readily available at local grocery store. You can also use iceberg lettuce, butter lettuce or green leaf lettuce.
Cherry Tomatoes: Can be replaced with diced tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or another veggie you enjoy.
Corn: fresh corn or frozen corn adds sweetness. You can skip it or use another vegetable. Use it at room temperature or char it in a pan before using.
Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders: Leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, bbq chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or any cooked chicken will do. Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before serving. I like to use a digital meat thermometer to make sure!
BBQ Sauce: Choose your favorite kind of barbecue sauce! You can use a sweet, spicy or tangy bbq sauce. You can also try mixing your favorite bbq sauce with creamy ranch dressing (store-bought ranch is fine) to make your own homemade dressing!
Onion: red onion, white onion, sweet onion or even green onions work great!
Cheddar cheese: You can also use your favorite cheese such as feta cheese or monterey jack cheese. Use dairy free cheese for a dairy free recipe.
taste & texture
This BBQ Chicken Salad offers a mix of tastes and textures. The smoky BBQ sauce complements the savory chicken and sweet corn. The cherry tomatoes add a burst of freshness, while the mixed greens provide a crisp base. The air-fried sweet potato wedges are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a hint of sweetness that balances the savory flavors of the salad.
directions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Wash and cut the sweet potato into wedges. In a bowl, toss the wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange the wedges in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap too much.
- Air fry the wedges for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, or until golden brown and tender.
- While the sweet potatoes are cooking, cook the gluten-free chicken tenders according to the package instructions. Let them cool slightly and then chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, corn, and chopped chicken.
- Drizzle the chicken bbq salad with BBQ sauce to your desired amount.
- Top the barbecue chicken salad with the cooked sweet potato wedges and any additional toppings you like.
expert tips & tricks
- You can use leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken for this delicious bbq chicken salad recipe.
- To make the flavorful salad creamier, add a dollop of your favorite BBQ ranch dressing.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can roast the sweet potato wedges in the oven at 425°F (220°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and crispy.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of BBQ sauce and toppings to customize the entree salad to your taste.
- The best part is you can add some of your favorite salad toppings such as black beans, cheddar cheese, bell pepper, crushed tortilla chips, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, crunchy tortilla strips or corn tortillas.
- Chop all the ingredients on a cutting board together to create a bbq chicken chopped salad.
recipe variations
- For a low-carb chicken bbq salad , skip the corn and sweet potato wedges. Spruce up the salad with chopped bell peppers for added crunch and fiber. Use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of gluten free chicken tenders.
- To make this chicken bbq salad lower in fat, use a lighter BBQ sauce and skip the cheese. Consider grilling the chicken tenders instead of frying them for extra flavor. Top with fresh lime juice on top of the salad.
- For a vegan chicken bbq salad , ditch the chicken tenders and BBQ sauce. Instead, marinate and bake tofu cubes in your favorite BBQ spices. Use a vegan salad dressing or a smoky vegan chipotle dressing.
serving, storing and meal prepping
To serve, toss the hearty salad ingredients with your desired amount of BBQ sauce. Plate the salad and top it with the air-fried sweet potato wedges. Drizzle with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
Store leftover chicken bbq salad (without dressing) and cooked sweet potato wedges in an airtight container or a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to eat, toss the salad with dressing and assemble with the wedges.
Looking for more allergy friendly easy recipe?
If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes plus a weekly grocery shopping list. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along!
Chicken BBQ Salad Recipe (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bag gluten-free chicken tenders cooked according to package instructions
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup corn fresh or frozen, thawed
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese or dairy free option
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Wash and cut the sweet potato into wedges. In a bowl, toss the wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange the wedges in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap too much.
- Air fry the wedges for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, or until golden brown and tender.
- While the sweet potatoes are cooking, cook the gluten-free chicken tenders according to the package instructions. Let them cool slightly and then chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, corn, and chopped chicken.
- Drizzle the chicken bbq salad with BBQ sauce to your desired amount.
- Top the barbecue chicken salad with the cooked sweet potato wedges and any additional toppings you like.
Love this recipe? You can sign up here to receive easy meal plans, exclusive new recipes and updates!
Leave a Reply