About the Recipe
Crisp, fresh, and fiery in all the right ways. This Nashville Hot Chicken Salad delivers big flavor with every bite. Cool romaine is tossed with crunchy dill pickles, crisp cucumbers, juicy grape tomatoes, and hearty croutons, all coated in a bold, spicy ranch dressing. Topped with tender, spicy chicken bites, it’s a perfect balance of heat and refreshment for a salad that’s anything but boring.
Ingredients
For the Nashville Hot Chicken Salad:
4 cups Romaine lettuce
½ cup dill pickles, chopped
½ cup cucumber, diced
½ cup grape tomatoes
½ cup croutons
½ cup spicy ranch dressing
1 cup spicy chicken bites
For the Spicy Ranch Dressing:
½ cup ranch dressing
¾ tsp. spicy oil
For the Spicy Oil:
½ tsp vegetable oil
⅛ tsp ground cayenne pepper
2 pinches brown sugar
1 pinch garlic powder
For the Spicy Chicken Bites:
2 tbsp buffalo sauce
½ lb. breaded chicken tenders, about 5-6 tenders
Preparation
For the Spicy Oil
Step 1
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk well.
Step 2
Cover and whisk again before using in your dressing.
For the Spicy Ranch Dressing
Step 1
Combine ranch dressing and spicy oil, whisk until blended thoroughly.
Step 2
Cover and keep chilled until you're ready to dress your salad.
For the Spicy Chicken Bites
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F, or follow the instructions included with your choice of breaded chicken tender.
Step 2
Line your pan with parchment paper and place chicken tenders in a single layer.
Step 3
Bake per instructions included on the packaging, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 4
Once baked, set aside to cool. After cooled, dice into ½ inch pieces.
Step 5
Toss the diced chicken in your buffalo wing sauce.
For the Nashville Hot Chicken Salad
Step 1
In a bowl, place the following:
1 cup lettuce
2 Tbsp. dill pickle
2 Tbsp. cucumber
2 Tbsp. grape tomato
2 Tbsp. croutons
2 Tbsp. spicy ranch dressing
Step 2
Toss the salad to mix and top with ¼ cup spicy chicken bites.
Step 3
Now you're ready to enjoy your Nashville Hot Chicken Salad!