This is the best BBQ chicken chopped salad — juicy grilled chicken, charred sweet corn, black beans, sharp cheddar and more come together in a bold, flavorful bowl. A bright honey-mustard vinaigrette finishes it off for the perfect weeknight meal.
There’s something irresistible about a BBQ chicken salad. By “BBQ” I mean chicken tossed or brushed with barbecue sauce: sweet, savory and tangy all at once. This summer chopped salad packs in grilled corn, pickled onions, ripe cherry tomatoes, green onions, black beans, freshly grated cheddar and tender grilled chicken coated in BBQ sauce.
This chopped salad celebrates contrast — crunchy lettuce, creamy beans, smoky-sweet chicken and crisp corn — all chopped small so every bite delivers a little bit of everything. Chopped salads are so easy to eat and endlessly adaptable: swap greens, add your favorite veggies or toss in extra herbs.
One of my favorite serving ideas: eat this salad like a salsa by scooping generous piles of it with sturdy tortilla chips. You can also crush chips over the top, but using whole chips to scoop makes it feel like a fun, casual dinner.
How this salad comes together
Start with the chicken. I season boneless, skinless chicken breasts with kosher salt and pepper, then a simple BBQ rub of smoked paprika, garlic powder and a pinch of brown sugar. Grill the chicken over high heat and brush it with your favorite BBQ sauce as it finishes so it caramelizes and gets sticky.
The salad base here is romaine and butter lettuce for a crisp, tender mix, but use whatever greens you prefer. Toppings are the highlight: black beans add heft and a BBQ-friendly flavor, cherry tomatoes bring bright sweetness, pickled onions add tang, and chopped chives or sliced green onions add freshness. Grilled corn sliced from the cob is an absolute must in summer.
For cheese, freshly grated cheddar is my go-to with chicken and BBQ. If you prefer, feta, goat cheese or shaved parmesan would work too.
The dressing is a light honey-mustard vinaigrette — tangy, slightly sweet and endlessly versatile. It’s thinner than a creamy bottled dressing, so it coats the salad without weighing it down.
Summer BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
Summer BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 ears sweet corn
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 8 cups romaine and butter lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed if canned
- 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
- ⅔ cup grated white cheddar cheese
- ½ cup pickled onions
- ⅓ cup sliced green onions
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives
Honey mustard vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat grill to high heat.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix smoked paprika, garlic powder and brown sugar and rub over the chicken.
- Grill chicken 5–6 minutes per side. Place corn directly on the grill and turn occasionally. When the chicken is nearly cooked through, brush with BBQ sauce, flip and grill 30 seconds, brush again and flip — repeat a few times until the chicken is nicely coated and caramelized.
- Remove chicken and let rest 5–10 minutes. Slice the corn from the cob when cool enough to handle.
- In a large bowl, toss chopped lettuce with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Add black beans, tomatoes, cheddar, pickled onions, green onions, chives and the sliced corn. Chop or slice the grilled chicken and add on top.
- Drizzle with honey mustard vinaigrette and serve. Tortilla chips make a great scoop for this salad.
Honey mustard vinaigrette
Whisk together apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. While whisking, stream in the olive oil until emulsified. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
Now isn’t this a lovely summer meal? Serve immediately and enjoy the smoky, sweet and tangy flavors together.
So much crunch!