If you’re looking for a healthy and delicious salad recipe, look no further than this Buffalo Chicken Salad. This spicy chicken salad is packed with flavor and nutrition, making it the perfect meal for lunch or dinner. Not only is it full of protein and healthy ingredients, but it can also be made in under 30 minutes!

Why This Will Be Your Go-To Lunch

Fast. A tasty lunch or dinner ready in under 30 minutes with the help of your Instant Pot.
Easy. Prep your veggies, cook the chicken, toss all of the ingredients together, and enjoy!
Versatile. Swap out some simple ingredients to change the flavor of this recipe to fit your taste preferences.
Delicious. All of the classic flavors of chicken salad with the popular kick of buffalo chicken.

What Is Buffalo Chicken Salad Made Of?

Any recipe that can be a complete meal and only uses six ingredients is a winner in my book! Grab the ingredients below before you get started for an incredibly flavorful bite:

Chicken breast- you can easily substitute chicken thighs or tenderloins in this recipe.
Buffalo sauce- My go-to hot sauce is Frank's Red Hot, but you can use whatever hot sauce you prefer.
Ranch dressing- The tanginess of the ranch dressing helps balance the heat of the hot sauce.
Celery stalk- Adds a fresh bite to cut through the heaviness of the ranch dressing.
Red onion- Gives color, texture, and a touch of heat to your buffalo chicken salad recipe.
Radish- Adds crunch, brightness, and extra nutrition to the dish.

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Salad

You won't believe how flavorful this buffalo chicken salad can be with how little effort it takes to make it! Follow the steps below for a perfectly tender, creamy, and spicy chicken salad recipe every time:

Cut chicken into 1" cubes and toss it into your Instant Pot with water. Cook under high pressure for 10 minutes and allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes. Manually release all remaining pressure.
While the chicken is cooking, finely dice your celery, onion, and radish.
Place cooked chicken meat in your stand mixer. Use the paddle to shred the chicken or skip this step and use two forks to shred the chicken for a quicker clean up.
In a mixing bowl, stir together chicken, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, celery, onion, and radish.
Chill if you prefer to enjoy cold, serve, and enjoy!

Overhead image of Buffalo Chicken Salad in a white bowl on a gray counter

Variations

Cut the carbs. Use my keto ranch dressing recipe and cut the number of radishes in half to keep this buffalo chicken salad keto-friendly.
Wrap it up. Use a keto tortilla shell or a lettuce wrap to make this the perfect meal prep option or lunch on the go.
Add some veggies. This chicken salad recipe already has radishes and celery, but if you want to add even more veggies for a filling bite, chop up some carrots, green onions, or even avocado and toss into the salad before serving.

Do You Serve It Hot Or Cold?

When it comes to salads, there are two different preferences– those who prefer them cold and those who prefer them hot. When it comes to buffalo chicken salad, we say both!

This recipe is just as good when served chilled as it is when served warm, so it’s perfect for whatever your preference may be.

For Cold Chicken Salad

If you like your salad on the cold side, cook the chicken and assemble the ingredients as directed. Then, refrigerate the salad for at least an hour before serving.

This will give the flavors a chance to meld together and make for a delicious cold salad.

For Hot Chicken Salad

If you prefer your salad hot, you can either warm up the chicken before adding it to the salad or cook the entire salad together. To do this, simply sauté the chicken in a pan over medium heat until cooked through. Then, add all of the other ingredients to the pan and toss everything together until evenly mixed.

Serve immediately while everything is still hot.

What Do You Serve With Buffalo Chicken Salad?

The options of things to serve with Buffalo Chicken Salad are virtually endless. Here are some of my favorite things to enjoy alongside it, both low carb and not-so-keto-friendly:

Keto Bread
Nut and Seed Crackers
Lettuce
Tortillas
Croissants

How Long Does It Last?

This salad is so good, you'll want to make it again and again! One of the reasons I love this buffalo chicken salad recipe is that the leftovers are great, too.

Chicken salad will stay as good as the day you prepared it in the fridge for up to four days if kept in an airtight container.

More Simple Salad Recipes

Just because you're choosing a salad doesn't mean that your meal has to be boring and bland. If you're looking for another salad recipe that is packed with flavor and super filling, check out one of my other delicious salad recipes:

Buffalo Chicken Salad Pin with text overlay

Pin It!

If you love this Buffalo Chicken Salad as much as we do, make sure you share the recipe with your friends on Facebook and Instagram so they can try it too! Don't forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon.