BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad with Cilantro Ranch

4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

CILANTRO RANCH:
½ cup low-fat buttermilk
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
½ cup packed cilantro leaves
1 medium jalapeno pepper with seeds removed
1 package ranch seasoning packet
1 clove garlic chopped 

FOR BBQ CHICKEN
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
½ cup BBQ sauce 
2 tbsp olive oil

SALAD & SERVING
1 large head romaine lettuce finely chopped
½ cup cooked black beans
1 medium ear of corn kernels cut off - or ½ can of yellow corn
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
½ cup shredded carrots
2 green onions sliced
¼ cup cilantro leaves chopped 

DIRECTIONS:

FOR CILANTRO RANCH:

  1. Add the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeno, ranch seasoning, and garlic to bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until smooth
  2. Season to taste with salt. Use or store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.

FOR BBQ CHICKEN:

  1. Add chicken thighs to a mixing bowl and toss them in the BBQ sauce and let marinate refrigerated for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
  2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil and heat through. Add chicken thighs, working in batches if needed.
  3. Cook chicken thighs until the sauce is caramelized - about 5 minutes
  4. Remove from pan and leave to rest for about 5 minutes or when cool to the touch and cut into bite size pieces.

FOR SERVING

  1. Add the chopped lettuce to a large mixing bowl or salad bowl. Top with the black beans, corn, cheese, tomatoes, tortillas chips, carrots, green onion and cilantro.
  2. Pour the cilantro ranch over the top and toss to combine. Top the chopped salad with the BBQ chicken and serve.

TIDBITS:

  1. If you cannot find buttermilk you can add 1/4 cup to the mayo and sour cream.
  2. If you don't want to make the entire base you could take a buttermilk ranch and just food process it with the jalapeno, ranch seasoning, garlic and cilantro to turn it into a cilantro ranch.
  3. Chicken also could be made on a grill or in a normal skillet if you don't have cast iron
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
This BBQ chicken chopped salad is made with a base of romaine lettuce and loaded with black beans, shredded carrots, corn, and more!
Cooking with Cocktail RingsKylie