Spicy & Satisfying: Your Go-To Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad Recipe for a Healthy Crunch
Say goodbye to boring salads and hello to a vibrant, flavor-packed experience! This Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad takes your everyday greens and replaces them with a crisp, crunchy slaw mix base, offering a delightful twist on a classic comfort food. It’s not just incredibly healthy and brimming with nutrients; it’s also bursting with the zesty, tangy flavors of buffalo sauce paired perfectly with cool, creamy blue cheese. Prepare for a salad that’s anything but ordinary – it’s genuinely satisfying and surprisingly easy to prepare.
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We initially shared this fantastic Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad recipe way back in February 2012, and it continues to be a timeless favorite. As I find myself gravitating “back into the salad” routine this week, I’ve been rediscovering some cherished go-to salad recipes from my archives. This particular slaw-based Buffalo Chicken Salad stands out from the usual lettuce-heavy options. Its unique blend of textures and flavors, coupled with its remarkable ease of assembly, makes it a perennial winner in my kitchen. It’s a refreshing departure from the expected, proving that healthy eating can be incredibly exciting and utterly delicious.
Ever since Super Bowl Sunday, I’ve been experiencing an intense craving for the irresistible combination of buffalo sauce and a good blue cheese dressing. While I’m not typically a huge fan of chicken wings on the bone, there’s something magical about anything drenched in that spicy hot wing sauce and then dipped into cool, tangy blue cheese dressing. My enduring love affair with buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing began during my college days, specifically while working at a lively sports bar – the Gainesville Ale House. Those were truly fun times! I satisfied my daily cravings with baskets of crispy french fries, generously dunked in hot wing sauce and blue cheese. Oh, the deliciousness! (And yes, a few extra pounds on the scale, but worth every bite at the time.)
Today, this Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad – truly a slaw salad marvel – has become my ultimate, waistline-friendly solution to those persistent cravings. It delivers all the bold flavors I adore without the guilt, making it a perfect lunch or light dinner option. In fact, I enjoyed this incredibly satisfying salad for lunch every single day for an entire week, a testament to its deliciousness and how well it fits into a balanced lifestyle.
The secret to this salad’s unique appeal and satisfying crunch lies in its base: a simple, convenient bag of slaw mix. Slaw mix is an absolute game-changer when it comes to elevating your salads. It’s an incredibly easy way to inject texture, flavor, and a generous dose of nutrients into any meal. Simply adding a handful to your regular salad can transform it instantly. I often toss it into my spinach salads, for instance, just to give them that delightful extra crunch and a more varied texture. For this particular buffalo chicken salad, however, the slaw mix isn’t just an addition; it forms the very heart of the dish, creating a robust and satisfying foundation. We then build upon this fantastic base with a few carefully chosen extras: crisp celery for an aromatic bite, creamy avocado for healthy fats and a luxurious mouthfeel, and tender chicken for a lean protein boost. A generous splash of your favorite hot sauce, a touch of red wine vinegar for brightness, and a drizzle of light blue cheese dressing bring all the flavors together in perfect harmony. The result? A truly delicious and wholesome meal that you’ll crave time and again.
Dee-licious, indeed!
Building Your Perfect Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad
Creating this irresistible Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad is incredibly simple, making it ideal for busy weeknights or quick, satisfying lunches. Let’s explore the key components and how they come together to create a harmonious blend of flavor and texture.
The Star Ingredient: Shredded Chicken
For the chicken component, convenience is key. We recommend using about 3 ounces of chopped rotisserie chicken, which is a fantastic time-saver and adds wonderful flavor. Alternatively, you can easily cook and shred chicken breasts at home. Simply poach, grill, or bake a boneless, skinless chicken breast, then shred or dice it to your desired consistency. This lean protein is essential for making the salad a complete and filling meal, providing sustained energy without feeling heavy.
The Dynamic Duo: Buffalo Sauce and Blue Cheese
The magic truly happens with the dressing. A couple of generous splashes of Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce (or your preferred hot sauce) provide that iconic spicy kick that buffalo lovers adore. To balance this heat and add a layer of creamy indulgence, we incorporate a tablespoon of light blue cheese dressing. The tanginess and richness of the blue cheese beautifully complement the spice, creating a symphony of flavors that is both comforting and exhilarating. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, a light ranch dressing can be a suitable alternative, though the classic pairing is highly recommended.
Freshness and Crunch: The Essential Veggies
Beyond the slaw mix, fresh vegetables contribute vital crunch and essential nutrients. One stalk of crisp celery, thinly sliced, provides a refreshing bite and classic buffalo flavor pairing. Diced avocado adds a luxurious creaminess, healthy monounsaturated fats, and a delightful contrast to the spicy and crunchy elements. Don’t underestimate the power of these simple additions; they elevate the salad from good to truly extraordinary.
The Health-Conscious Secret: Red Wine Vinegar
Here’s a clever tip for making your salad even healthier without sacrificing flavor: Before adding your creamy dressing, splash a little bit of red wine vinegar over your salad ingredients. I find that this small step works wonders in distributing the creamy dressing and its robust flavor more effectively. The vinegar acts as a thinner and flavor enhancer, meaning you won’t need to use as much of the higher-calorie blue cheese dressing to achieve that satisfying taste throughout your salad. It’s a simple yet effective trick for enjoying a flavorful, lighter meal.
Need some fresh, light, and easy dinner ideas? Be sure to check out these 20 Healthy Recipes Using Shredded Chicken – perfect for expanding your culinary repertoire!
Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad
Author: Aggies Kitchen
Yield: 1 serving 1x
Category: Chicken
This Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad offers a delightful and healthy spin on classic buffalo flavors. Using a crunchy slaw mix as its base, it’s packed with vibrant vegetables, lean protein, and the irresistible kick of buffalo sauce, all balanced by a cool blue cheese dressing. It’s an easy-to-make, full-of-flavor meal that’s perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner, ensuring you get all the satisfaction without the heavy feeling.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups tri-color slaw mix (or your favorite cabbage blend)
- 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
- 1/3 avocado, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 3 oz cooked and chopped rotisserie chicken (or shredded cooked chicken breast)
- 1 tablespoon Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce (or more, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar (for brightness and to help distribute dressing)
- 1 tablespoon light blue cheese dressing (e.g., Naturally Fresh Light Blue Cheese Dressing)
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, combine the tri-color slaw mix, thinly sliced celery, and diced avocado.
- Add the chopped rotisserie chicken (or cooked chicken breast) to the bowl with the vegetables.
- Drizzle the red wine vinegar over all the ingredients in the bowl. This step helps to brighten the flavors and ensures a better distribution of the dressing.
- Next, add the Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce and the light blue cheese dressing to the salad mixture.
- Toss all the ingredients gently but thoroughly until everything is well combined and evenly coated with the dressings. Ensure every component gets a taste of that delicious buffalo and blue cheese flavor.
- Serve immediately and enjoy this vibrant, crunchy, and satisfying Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad!
Notes
Healthy Tip: To minimize the need for excessive amounts of creamy (and often higher-calorie) dressings, I highly recommend splashing a small amount of red wine vinegar on your salads first. This trick works wonders by helping to spread the creamy dressing and its rich flavor more widely across all the ingredients, meaning you can achieve the same great taste with less dressing. It’s a simple step that significantly enhances the salad’s flavor profile while keeping it light and healthy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 328
- Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 36g
Explore More: Change Up Your Salad Game with Creative Slaw Mix Recipes!
Slaw mix is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can transform your salads with its delightful crunch and vibrant flavors. If you’ve enjoyed the unique texture of this Buffalo Chicken Slaw Salad, then you’ll love exploring other ways to incorporate slaw into your meals. Here are some fantastic slaw salad recipe ideas to inspire your next culinary adventure and help you discover new, exciting salad combinations:
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Asian Almond Slaw Salad: A sweet and savory blend with an irresistible crunch, perfect for an oriental-inspired meal.
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Mexican Slaw Salad with Black Beans: A zesty, hearty salad packed with south-of-the-border flavors and satisfying black beans.
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Orange Cranberry Summer Slaw Salad | Reluctant Entertainer: A bright and fruity option, ideal for warmer weather gatherings or a refreshing side dish.
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Spicy Cabbage Slaw with Chicken and Cilantro | Kalyn’s Kitchen: Another fantastic spicy chicken slaw, this one featuring the fresh, aromatic kick of cilantro.
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Maple Dijon Apple Coleslaw | Cupcakes and Kale Chips: A sweet and tangy coleslaw with the crispness of apples, great for pairing with savory dishes.
Incorporating slaw mix into your meals is an easy way to boost your vegetable intake and keep your healthy eating routine exciting and far from mundane. Enjoy experimenting with these flavorful variations!