BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad with Fried Onion Strings and BBQ Ranch
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad with Fried Onion Strings and BBQ Ranch Dressing is a hearty, flavor-packed meal that works year-round! Made with air fryer BBQ chicken, crispy onion strings, and a creamy BBQ ranch drizzle, it’s the ultimate satisfying salad.
You’ll Love This Recipe Because…
- It’s a 3-in-1 recipe: air fryer BBQ chicken, crispy fried onions, and a BBQ ranch dressing all in one dish
- It’s hearty enough to be a main course salad
- No grill required — thanks to the air fryer, you can enjoy BBQ chicken flavor any time of year
- The crispy onion strings make it feel like a restaurant-style salad
- It’s customizable and meal-prep friendly!
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
This BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad is the perfect mix of fresh and indulgent.
Juicy, smoky-sweet air fryer BBQ chicken is layered over crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber, then topped with homemade fried onion strings and drizzled with a BBQ Ranch dressing that’s creamy, tangy, and just the right amount of smoky.
It’s bold, balanced, and comes together with three of my favorite recipes — so you’ll be bookmarking this one all year long.
Similar To
If you’ve ever loved a BBQ Chicken Salad from a place like California Pizza Kitchen or Panera, this is your homemade answer — but with even more crunch and flavor.
Here in Asheville, we have 12 Bones BBQ. And my all-time-favorite thing on their menu is the Wedge Salad! I get it with smoked turkey, and it’s just the best thing.
Tips & Tricks
- Use leftover BBQ chicken to speed up prep
- Make a batch of fried onion strings ahead of time and keep them crispy in an airtight container
- The BBQ ranch dressing doubles as a dipping sauce for fries or chicken tenders
- Chop your salad finely for that classic chopped-salad texture
- Swap in rotisserie chicken if you’re short on time
- Add black beans, corn, or avocado for extra Tex-Mex flair
What to Serve With This Salad
Pair this with:
- Creamy Southern Macaroni and Cheese
- Sweet Tea Brined Chicken Thighs
- Cast Iron Cornbread
- Peach Cobbler Dump Cake
Tools & Equipment
- Mandoline Slicer (for ultra-thin onion slices)
- Large Salad Bowl or another option for a Shallow Serving Bowl
- Sharp Chef’s Knife
- Triple Pour Glass Measuring Cup (for making BBQ ranch)
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Prep the chicken, onion strings, and dressing in advance. Assemble just before serving so the onions stay crispy.
How long do the fried onion strings stay crispy?
Stored in an airtight container at room temp, they stay crispy for 1–2 days. I like to reheat them over a wire rack on a half sheet pan for 6 minutes in a 350˚ oven.
Can I use store-bought BBQ sauce?
Absolutely. I used a Carolina-style BBQ sauce here, but use your favorite!
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad with Fried Onion Strings and BBQ Ranch
- Prep Time: 5 (minus the cook times for the chicken and onions!)
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: salads
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: southern
Ingredients
Ingredients
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2 air fryer BBQ chicken breasts (get the recipe here)
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2 cups crispy fried onion strings (get the recipe here)
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6 cups chopped romaine or spring mix
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1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
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½ cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced green onion
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½ cup BBQ ranch dressing (see below)
BBQ Ranch Dressing
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½ cup ranch dressing
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2–3 tbsp BBQ sauce
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Splash of milk to thin (optional)
Instructions
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Make the air fryer BBQ chicken and slice once cooled.
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Prepare the crispy fried onion strings.
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In a large bowl, toss together lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
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Top with sliced chicken and a generous handful of onion strings.
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Drizzle with BBQ Ranch dressing. Serve immediately!
