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Crispy Buffalo Chicken BBQ Bacon Salad is smothered in buttery buffalo sauce and served with the most delicious BBQ bacon chopped salad. Perfect for summer entertaining!
Summer is in full swing which means lighter meals, lazy summer evenings, and delicious food that’s not lacking in flavor. If you’re looking for the perfect salad for your summer entertaining, then look no further! This Crispy Buffalo Chicken BBQ Bacon Salad is packed full of delicious in-season produce and topped off with the most flavorful Crispy Buffalo Chicken tenders for a match made in salad heaven.
I’m so excited to share this recipe with you all today. This Crispy Buffalo Chicken BBQ Bacon Salad is SO GOOD! Buffalo Chicken. Bacon. BBQ. Basically salad perfection.
I’m so loving all the wonderful summer produce in season! Speaking of summer food, if you missed our Strawberry Shortcake Skillet Cobbler, you will definitely want to add that to your summer dessert must trys. It’s a total crowd pleaser! Plus, it’s so easy and a great way to use up all the delicious, juicy strawberries growing!
So how’s everyone’s summer going?!
Do you have any fun summer plans?
This summer we are trying to be more intentional with our time after a rather exceptionally busy couple of months. You may have noticed I took a break from posting on the blog last month, but I am SO excited to be back! Recharging is needed and equally as important as ‘doing’.
In this season of raising littles, homeschooling, church, blogging, friends, adventures and all the in-between stuff, I have been really trying to ‘add less’ rather than ‘add more’. And let me tell you- it’s harder than it sounds. Especially in the summer. But when this summer comes to a close, I want to look back and see that it was full in all the right ways. Full of joy, rest, beauty and simple moments spent with my family.
So I encourage you in this season of ‘doing’, to slow down and cut out what you don’t have the mental and physical time for. Be comfortable enough to say no to that invite, that trip, or your never ending daily to-do list. Instead, go have a water balloon fight with your kids in the backyard, or go for that summer evening walk you’ve been longing to go on- go date your spouse and laugh together again. Cultivate the life you want to live and be intentional about it.
Your time is precious and this world will always tell you you’re not doing enough. Break the cycle. Your self worth isn’t dependent on how much you’re doing, or how you compare to whomever you’re comparing yourself to on social media. Busyness does not equate to importance. So give yourself (and your kids), the grace to slow down and just be this summer. It’s so worth it.
One way I am regaining my time is by cutting out time spent on social media drastically. And let me tell you- it’s such a game changer!
Another way I want to slow down this summer is to soak up all these beautiful summer evenings. You just can’t beat a beautiful summer evening gathered around the table with friends and family to enjoy a summertime meal.
So, if you’re looking for an easy and insanely delicious summer packed dinner, you will definitely want to give this salad a try! Let’s get to some of the delicious details!
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Details:
This crispy buffalo chicken is seriously so addicting and truly the star of the show! Bonus? It’s so easy! You will start by making a delicious breading that consists of flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Here’s a quick rundown…
In a medium bowl, sift the flour and seasonings. In a second bowl, beat the egg and buttermilk together until creamy.
These chicken pieces are dipped three times. First, in the flour mixture, second in the egg mixture, and then again in the flour mixture.
The process is: Flour. Eggs. Flour. This method produces crispy, evenly breaded chicken.
Once the chicken is all breaded, it’s time to fry them up! In a large skillet over medium high heat, add ½ cup oil. Once the oil is nice and hot, add half of the chicken to prevent overcrowding. Cooking for about 3-5 minute per side, until cooked through and crispy, set aside and repeat with remaining chicken tenders adding the remaining oil.
Now, for the best part: the buffalo sauce.
For this recipe I used Frank’s red hot buffalo sauce. I have tried other brands, but Frank’s is still our favorite buffalo sauce hands down! For this recipe we’re going to add a little butter to the buffalo sauce for added flavor.
In a small saucepan you will simply melt the butter and whisk in the Franks hot sauce until warmed through. Next, in a large bowl, you will gently toss the chicken tenders with the buttered buffalo sauce stirring to combine. Set aside while you make the salad.
BBQ Bacon Salad:
This BBQ Bacon Salad is packed full of delicious summer produce. Feel free to add or omit your favorite salad fillings!
Crispy bacon, thinly sliced red onions, chopped bell pepper, fresh corn off the cob- this summer salad has it all!
In a large bowl you will add the bacon, onion, bell pepper and corn tossing everything to combine. Easy peasy! When ready to serve, simply drizzle each salad plate with desired amount of BBQ sauce, a little bit of ranch, and top it all off with a few pieces of the crispy buffalo chicken tenders. And of course, if you’re a fan of blue cheese this salad is the perfect salad for some blue cheese crumbles!
And that’s it!
Easy right?! I promise turning on that stove to make the crispy buffalo chicken tenders is so worth it!
I hope you have a wonderful summer and find time for both adventure and rest this season. Stay tuned for more exciting summer themed recipes hitting the blog soon!
Loved the recipe? Leave a comment below! I LOVE hearing from you! 🙂
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Need more dinner inspiration for this week? You may also love..
- Sweet Corn Chicken Enchiladas with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
- Baked Chipotle Chicken Taquitos with Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- Easy Chicken Piccata
On Instagram? Be sure to snap a picture and tag #butternutandsageblog! I would love to see your delicious creations!
Recipe
Crispy Buffalo Chicken BBQ Bacon Salad
Ingredients
Crispy Buffalo Chicken:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup vegetable oil, divided
- 1 lb. chicken breasts, cut against the grain & into strips
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- ¼ cup Franks buffalo sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
BBQ Bacon Salad:
- 6 strips thick cut bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 ears corn, steamed
- 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 cup BBQ sauce for serving
- Ranch for serving (optional)
- Blue cheese crumbles for serving (optional)
Instructions
Buffalo Chicken:
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Set aside. In a separate bowl beat the eggs and buttermilk. Cut the chicken breasts against the grain and into strips. To bread the chicken, first dip the chicken tenders into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and lastly again in the flour mixture. The process will be: flour. eggs. flour.
- Heat ½ cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, working in batches to avoid overcrowding, carefully add half of the chicken pieces. Cook for 3-5 minutes per side, or until an internal thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Set aside. Scrap out the browned oil from the pan and add the remaining ½ cup oil and repeat until all the chicken is cooked through.
- In a small saucepan, melt the 3 tablespoons butter and add the Franks buffalo sauce. Whisk to combine. In a large bowl, gently toss the chicken tenders and buffalo sauce until the chicken is coasted.
BBQ Bacon Salad:
- Scrape out the oil and browned bits from the saucepan used for the chicken, and add the bacon. When the bacon is cooked through, set aside on a paper towel lined plate to collect the excess oil. Allow to cool while you make the salad.
- Chop the romaine lettuce and add to a large salad bowl. Into the salad bowl add the sliced red onion, bell pepper and corn. Chop the bacon and toss everything to combine.
- To serve, drizzle desired amount of BBQ sauce on each salad plate, ranch (if using), and 2-3 strips of the crispy buffalo chicken tenders. Top with blue cheese crumbles, if desired. ENJOY!
little spicy, but good i will make again.
So glad you enjoyed it, Judy!!! You can use less buffalo sauce next time to scale back on the spiciness and it will still be great! 🙂