Description
A flavorful and healthy BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad featuring tender grilled chicken marinated in smoky BBQ sauce, served on a bed of fresh mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, red onion, and shredded cheddar cheese, finished with your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing. Perfect for a quick and satisfying summer meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Skewers
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (plus more for brushing)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 wooden or metal skewers
For the Salad
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
For Serving
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (to taste)
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, toss the cubed chicken with BBQ sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours to enhance the flavors.
- Prepare Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling. Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Thread Chicken onto Skewers: Carefully thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers, ensuring they are packed but not overcrowded for even cooking.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally and brushing with additional BBQ sauce, until the chicken is fully cooked through and lightly charred on the edges.
- Assemble the Salad: While the chicken is grilling, arrange the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, red onion, avocado slices, and shredded cheddar cheese in a large bowl or divide among individual plates.
- Combine and Serve: Once the chicken skewers are done, place them on top of the salad. Drizzle with your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve immediately for a fresh, savory meal.
Notes
- For extra texture and flavor, add grilled corn, black beans, or croutons to the salad.
- For variation, swap the BBQ chicken with grilled tofu or shrimp to accommodate different dietary preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
