This Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad with Dairy Free Southwestern Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is a healthy, delicious family dinner recipe AND a perfect recipe for meal prep!
As challenging as dinner can be, so, too, can work lunches.
I work from home, and my husband works downtown. While it's easier in theory for me to eat healthy lunches working from home, I'm usually so strapped for time. I'm always working at lightning pace, trying to finish up as much work as possible before the kids get home. I often default to either eating a less satisfying "lunch snack" after they get home in the afternoon, or a less healthy grab-and-go lunch while I'm out running errands.
So in trying to be better about both meal planning for dinners AND meal prep for work lunches, I've started making this dairy free chicken salad that fulfills both!
Ingredients for this BBQ chicken salad
It starts with super easy sautéed chicken breast spiced simply with salt, pepper, and paprika.
You can use any head of lettuce you prefer - romaine, red leaf, green leaf, or butter lettuce.
Then the remaining ingredients are simple common ingredients:
- chopped red peppers
- corn
- edamame
- black beans.
When meal prepping, it's always a good idea to keep cans of black beans in the pantry. Black beans can help you make quick, satisfying meals.
It's also a good idea to keep frozen vegetables on hand. I always have frozen corn in my freezer since it's not always in season. You can also easily find frozen edamame at your local grocery store.
How to make Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad
To make this Southwest BBQ Dairy Free Chicken Salad for dinner, simply assemble the ingredients - along with the dressing below - and serve immediately.
This is a great salad to make ahead of time and then bring to potlucks, picnics, and to parties.
You can keep the cooked chicken in a separate container so as not to wilt the other salad ingredients and make them soggy by serving time, then combine them together once you are ready to serve.
Easy Meal Prep Recipe
This salad is also absolutely PERFECT for meal planning. You can enjoy it for lunch or for dinner.
For lunches, I divide these into five separate containers without the dressing. Be sure to keep the dressing in a separate container so the veggies don't get soggy during the week.
This southwest BBQ chicken salad will keep well in the refrigerator for up to five days. Simply grab one for lunch each day, or dinner, and eat!
How to make dairy-free southwest buttermilk ranch dressing
This quick and easy Dairy-Free Southwest Buttermilk Dressing goes so well with the salad.
To make this homemade dressing, you'll need:
- mayonnaise
- dairy-free buttermilk (add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to ½ cup almond milk and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes)
- paprika
- chopped cilantro
- lime juice.
Simply whisk together all of the ingredients and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to use.
You can, of course, make this with regular store-bought or homemade buttermilk instead of my dairy-free version if you'd prefer.
I keep my homemade dressing in a water-tight, seal-proof salad shaker and it stays fresh for up to a week. You could also keep these in mason jars or any other airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one week.
More healthy meal prep recipes
Thai-Inspired Red Curry Pasta- Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Dairy Free Chicken Salad with Southwest Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Healthy Hearty Meals: Thai Coconut Chicken
Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad with Dairy-Free Southwest Buttermilk Dressing
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 5 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- ½ tbsp paprika
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Salad
- 1 head small lettuce your choice of butter lettuce, green leaf, red leaf, or romaine
- 2 red bell peppers diced
- 1-½ cup corn
- 1-½ cup edamame
- 1 can black beans (about 1-½ cups)
SW Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup buttermilk (I make dairy-free buttermilk by adding 1 tsp lemon juice to ½ cup almond milk and allowing it to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp cilantro finely chopped
- 1 tsp lime juice
Instructions
Make the chicken
- Heat olive oil over a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Sauté chicken breasts until cooked, about 3-5 minutes each side, depending on thickness. For best results, flatten chicken breasts to similar thickness with a kitchen mallet before cooking.
Assemble the salad
- Place lettuce in a large bowl, then top with diced red pepper, corn, edamame, and black beans.
Make the SW Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- In a large bowl, combine mayo, buttermilk, paprika, cilantro, and lime juice. Whisk together until well blended. Pour into an airtight salad shaker, or other airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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Kelsey says
I love the addition of edamame! Pinned to try!
Chelsea Pearl says
Yum, love that you added edamame - it's my fave thing to add to salads lately. And love that the dressing is homemade!
Gina says
This is perfect for meal prep! I work a weekend only job and the rest of the days I work from home and I will say that working from home is no easier to prep for lunches than being at work in an office. You would think it would be but so not the case...can't wait to try this!
Joyce says
I love how you use edamame in your salad and I am so excited about the buttermilk ranch dressing! I have never made that type of dressing before but I'm drooling about the flavours of it right now so I must make it! haha :)
Ben Myhre says
This looks like a great small meal or side dish. I must admit that I have a weakness for ranch.
Erica says
This looks so yummy! I'm going to have to make this sometime this week.
Erica
whattheclique.com
Beth says
This looks like a delicious lunch or dinner! I love the edamame and the dairy free ranch! I can't have milk! Perfect!
Renee @ The Good Hearted Woman says
There is just no comparison when it come to homemade versus store-bought ranch, is there? This all looks so good, too - so fresh, bright, and colorful - especially right now as we look forward to a week of winter storms.
Erin says
That looks so seriously incredible! I'm going to go buy the ingredients tomorrow so I can attempt to make it, otherwise I'll just end up craving it for a week solid :)
Brittany Poulson says
This looks so flavorful and delicious! I love the combo of ingredients here!
Soniya says
This salad looks so delicious and full of Amazing flavors and texture!! Me and my family lived southern flavors can't wait to try this👆❤️
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Let me know how you like it! :)
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
What a great quick & delicious dish! I love all the colors and flavors -- easy to put together to enjoy!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
We busy moms need quick and easy! Thanks so much! :)
melissa manos says
i didnt know you could make buttermilk out of almond milk! I love that idea!!! And making lunches ahead—so convenient and easy!!! ❤️👍🏼🥗
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Right?! Thanks, Melissa!
Gunjan says
What a cool recipe. I must try this soon.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thanks, Gunjan! :)
Madison says
This looks fantastic! I'm always seeking new dairy-free recipes, which can be really hard to find. Pinning this for later :)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Yay! Thank you, Madison!