Description
BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad pairs smoky, juicy grilled chicken coated in BBQ sauce with a fresh, vibrant mix of crisp romaine lettuce, sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumber, creamy avocado, red onion, and black beans. Topped with a tangy, creamy BBQ yogurt dressing and garnished with cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, this salad offers a delicious high-protein meal perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Skewers
- 1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Wooden or metal skewers
For the Salad
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup corn
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp water, plus more as needed
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Soak Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Prepare Chicken: In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to evenly coat the chicken.
- Thread Chicken: Thread the seasoned chicken pieces onto the skewers, arranging them securely but not too tightly.
- Preheat Grill: Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat to ensure proper cooking temperature.
- Grill Chicken: Place the skewers on the grill and cook about 4 to 5 minutes per side. During the final minutes, brush chicken generously with BBQ sauce and continue grilling until fully cooked and slightly charred.
- Make Dressing: While chicken cooks, whisk together Greek yogurt, BBQ sauce, lime juice, water, smoked paprika, and salt until smooth and creamy. Add more water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Prepare Salad Base: Arrange chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, corn, diced cucumber, avocado, red onion, black beans, and shredded cheddar cheese evenly across serving bowls.
- Assemble Salad: Place the grilled BBQ chicken skewers over the salad bowls.
- Dress and Garnish: Drizzle the creamy BBQ dressing over the salads and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Chicken thighs can be substituted for chicken breasts for a juicier skewer.
- Add crispy bacon bits or tortilla strips for extra crunch and texture.
- For meal prep, keep chicken, salad components, and dressing stored separately to maintain freshness.
- Use your preferred style of BBQ sauce, whether smoky, sweet, or spicy, to tailor flavor to your taste.
- Leftover cooked chicken can be refrigerated up to 4 days and used in other meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
