Published: Aug 16, 2018 · Modified: Apr 10, 2021 by Kadee

BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad

Name: BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 head iceberg lettuce (chopped); 8 ounces can of corn (drained); 15 ounces can black beans (drained and rinsed, use about half); 1 cup mozzarella cheese (grated); 1 avocado (diced); 2 tbsp basil (minced); 2 cups precooked chicken (cubed or shredded); 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce; 1 large roma tomato (diced); 1 cup tortilla strips; 1 cup herb ranch dressing (recipe below); 1/4 cup sour cream; 3/4 cup mayo; 1 tbsp milk; 1 tsp white vinegar; 1 tsp dehydrated onion; 1/2 tsp dehydration garlic; 1 tbsp fresh dill (minced); 1 tbsp fresh parsley (minced); 1 tbsp fresh chived (minced); pepper (to taste); salt (to taste)

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If you like a chopped bbq chicken salad from restaurants like CPK or Panera, you are going to love this easy and fast recipe. There is no cooking involved, and this meal can be thrown together in about 15 minutes. So skip the restaurant and stay in.

bbq chicken salad cpk in a white bowl with a red striped napkin and wooden utensils

Copy Cat CPK BBQ Chicken Salad

During my college years a dear friend of mine introduced me to the BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad while we were dining at California Pizza Kitchen. I was instantly addicted! Time and time again I went back for this delicious meal. I tried them at numerous restaurants - Ruby's, Islands, and BJs - but the CPK has remained my favorite. I still eat it to this day when we dine at CPK.

An Easy - No Cook Meal

When I was first married and learning to cook, I would re-create this tasty salad at homeIt has been a favorite meal at our house for years and years and years. There is no cooking involved - just chopping and tossing.

All you need is:

iceberg lettuce
black beans
corn
tomato
avocado
cooked chicken
bbq sauce
ranch dressing
chives or green onions
tortilla strips

How To Chop Lettuce

This recipe is a chopped salad - which I much prefer to eating a regular salad. In a chopped salad all of the ingredients are cut to the same size for easier eating and better dressing distribution.

For this bbq chicken salad I like to use iceberg lettuce. Let me show you how to chop it.

1. First - remove the outter leafs of lettuce - usually about 2 or 3.

2. Second - remove the core by pressing the head of lettuce firmly against your cutting board. It should break right off.

3. Third - Discard the core.

4. Fourth - Half head of lettuce, and slice half into ½ inch slices.

5. Fifth - Rotate head, and slice across into half inch slices.

6. Sixth - Repeat of second half of lettuce head. This produces half inch piece of lettuce.

bbq chicken salad cpk herb dressing in a blender jar

Herb Ranch Dressing

One of my favorite parts of this salad is the easy homemade dressing. Throw these ingredients in your blender and you will have the yummiest ranch you've ever eaten:

sour cream
mayo
milk
white vinegar
dehydrated onion
dehydrated garlic
dill
parsley
chives
salt
pepper

Pro Tip: Use the dressing mode on your Blendtec blender for a perfect dressing consistency.

Use Pre-cooked Chicken

Pro Tip: One of my favorite hacks for salads is using precooked chicken. I'm partial to rotisserie chicken, but predrilled chicken works great! All you have to do is toss your chicken in your favorite bbq sauce and you're good to go!

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Comments

Marlene says

September 06, 2018 at 1:43 pm

I LOVE cpk! I made this for dinner and it was awesome! Thanks for the tips on chopping the lettuce!

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Erin V says

July 28, 2018 at 8:53 am

I love anything BBQ so I'm stoked to give this one a go. look suuuper yummy

Reply