• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • meet the team
  • blogger resources
  • Contact Me
My Account
Member Dashboard
40 Aprons Premium (Ad Free!)

40 Aprons

Delicious, Healthy-ish Meals for the Whole Family

  • All Recipes
  • Most Popular
    • Cheryl’s Favorites
    • 30-Minute Recipes
    • Creamy Soups
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Casseroles
    • One-Dish Wonders
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • Crockpot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Cooking Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Meal Prep
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican & Latin
    • Southern
Home Blog Main Ingredients Chicken

BBQ Chicken Salad

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 06/13/22
5
/5
2 Comments
Jump to Recipe
DF Dairy Free K Keto LC Low Carb 30 Whole30

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.
Pin graphic for BBQ Chicken salad.

This BBQ chicken salad is a delicious take on a picnic or potluck classic. Smoky, sweet barbecue sauce turns this shredded chicken salad into a new favorite, delicious by itself, on a bed of lettuce, or on a bun for a make-ahead barbecue sandwich! Here in Memphis, we know a thing or two about barbecue, and I know you’ll love this upgrade to a traditional dish!

Overhead view of BBQ chicken salad in a bowl surrounded by corn on the cob, watermelon slices, and other barbecue essentials.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

  • Chicken salad is one of those quintessential summer dishes. I mean, yes, of course, you can have chicken salad any time of year. But there’s something about it that just says summer. Maybe it’s how light and creamy and refreshing it is… or how easy it is to make. Whatever it is, we’ve doubled down on the summer vibes by combining classic chicken salad with rich, smoky, sweet BBQ flavors. And it’s REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD.
  • This recipe is so easy to make, and you can make it even easier by using already-cooked chicken. I like to use Costco’s rotisserie chicken when I’m in a pinch because it’s DELICIOUS, cost-effective, and all you have to do is shred it. If you’re Whole30 or keto, though, you’ll want to avoid the Costco rotisserie. They use sugar in their brine.
  • You can absolutely mix up some BBQ chicken salad ahead of time, making it perfect for party prep or just your every-week meal prep. Just refrigerate it in an airtight container until you’re ready to enjoy it.

Love Chicken Salad? Try These!

Chicken Salad with Grapes

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Keto Chicken Salad (Classic Shredded Chicken Salad)

Whole30 Chicken Salad

Chef’s Tips

  • You can serve your BBQ chicken salad right away and it will be absolutely delicious. BUT. If you’ve got time, I recommend letting it chill in the fridge at least 30 minutes before you serve it. That window gives the flavors a chance to really meld together and deepen, making things even more amazing.
  • So what’s the best way to serve it? Depends on what you like! If you’re having the chicken salad as your meal, I’d opt for burger buns, lettuce cups, or even a scoop or two of chicken salad on top of a mixed greens salad. If you plan to put it out as an appetizer or dip, include some buttery crackers, bacon chips, and sticks of celery. Just need a light snack? Don’t hesitate to enjoy it all on its own.
  • Before you serve the chicken salad, give it another quick dusting of dry rub. Trust me.
  • Don’t forget food safety! We’ve got chicken and mayo here, so don’t let your chicken salad sit out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. Taking this to a potluck or cookout? If you’re outdoors and it’s hotter than 90° Fahrenheit outside, the chicken salad should only sit out for 1 hour, MAX.
Side view of BBQ chicken salad on a burger bun with various barbecue essentials in the background.

Incredible BBQ Recipes You’ll Love

  • Honey Chipotle Salmon BBQ Nachos
  • Keto BBQ Sauce
  • Memphis-Style Cheese & Sausage Plate
  • Pork Belly Burnt Ends on the Grill
  • BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes and Coleslaw (Whole30)
  • Vegan BBQ Sauce

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

Overhead view of BBQ chicken salad in a bowl surrounded by corn on the cob, watermelon slices, and other barbecue essentials.
5 from 1 vote

BBQ Chicken Salad

Prep:15 minutes
Cook:40 minutes
Total:55 minutes
A smoky, sweet twist on a classic summer recipe, straight from a Memphis kitchen.
Print Save Saved! Click Here to Remove Ads
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 2 ¼ pounds cooked chicken
  • 1 32-ounce carton chicken broth or chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon BBQ dry rub plus more for serving
  • ½ cup mayonnaise plus more to taste
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce of choice store-bought or make your own
  • 1 cup finely diced celery
  • ½ cup finely minced sweet onion
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • salt to taste

Equipment

  • Large skillet with lid
  • internal meat thermometer
  • tools to shred chicken (see Notes)
  • Large bowl
  • Large spoon or silicone spatula

Instructions 

  • If using raw chicken, place chicken breasts in large skillet and cover chicken with chicken broth. Place skillet over medium-high heat and bring liquid to boil, then reduce heat to low.
    Raw chicken breasts in skillet of water
  • Cover skillet and simmer chicken 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken breasts are cooked through, reading 165° Fahrenheit when checked with an internal thermometer. Remove chicken from skillet and set broth aside.
    Cooked chicken breasts in skillet with broth
  • Shred chicken using desired method from Notes below.
    Shredded chicken in a large silver mixing bowl with two hand mixer beaters.
  • Place shredded chicken in large bowl (if not already in one) and add dry rub, mayo, BBQ sauce, celery, onion, pepper, and salt. Stir well to combine ingredients.
    Overhead view of all ingredients for BBQ chicken salad in a large silver mixing bowl on a wooden counter.
  • Once combined, stir in reserved chicken broth in 1 tablespoon increments until mixture is as creamy as desired. Note: I typically use between 2 to 4 tablespoons chicken broth.
    Overhead view of fully mixed BBQ chicken salad in a large silver mixing bowl on a wooden counter.
  • Sprinkle additional dry rub over chicken salad if desired. Serve immediately or cover bowl and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, then serve with buns, lettuce cups, crackers, or as-is.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Refrigerate leftover chicken salad in an airtight container up to 5 days.
  • Make it Keto: Use a keto BBQ sauce. Make sure your dry rub doesn’t contain any sugar. Skip the onion for fewer carbs.
  • Make it Whole30: Use a compliant mayo, compliant chicken broth, and a compliant BBQ sauce. Make sure your dry rub doesn’t contain any sugar.

 

Shredding Methods

  • Hand Shredded: Using your hands/fingers, pull the chicken apart until completely shredded. Pieces can be as big or as small as you like.
  • Two Forks: Use one fork to steady the chicken while shredding the chicken with another fork. Work in small, short strokes, moving forks away from each other.
  • Hand Mixer: Break the chicken into manageable chunks and place them in a large bowl. Use the standard attachments on your mixer and set mixer to a medium speed. Mix until chicken is completely shredded.
  • Stand Mixer: Use the standard paddle attachment and mix on medium-low speed until chicken chunks are completely shredded.
  • Food Processor: Break up the cooked chicken breasts into chunks first, and work in multiple batches. Add chicken to food processor and use the plastic dough blade attachment to avoid your chicken turning to mush. Process for 30 seconds or until uniformly shredded. Repeat until all chicken is shredded.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 337kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.05g, Cholesterol: 115mg, Sodium: 736mg, Potassium: 805mg, Fiber: 1g, Vitamin A: 171IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 1mg, Net Carbs: 8g

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Cheryl Malik

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @40aprons on social and be sure to leave a review on the blog post!

Rate Recipe Tag Me on Instagram
Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

Read more...

You may also like...

  • Gerek chicken salad in a bowl
    Greek Chicken Salad
  • Keto chicken salad in a large ceramic bowl
    Keto Chicken Salad (Classic Shredded Chicken Salad)
  • Buffalo chicken salad in a white bowl with ranch dressing
    Buffalo Chicken Salad

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Monica says

    Posted on 12/1/22 at 7:45 pm

    I made a wonderful summer salad with my left over chicken. It is delicious!5 stars

    Reply
    • Molly | 40 Aprons TeamMolly | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 12/2/22 at 10:00 am

      Yum! Glad you enjoyed! Thanks so much for the review, Monica!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

What’s Popular?

Reusable meal prep trays with sweet potato, scrambled eggs, and sausage for a whole30 breakfast

Whole30 Breakfast Meal Prep

Crispy, golden air fryer tater tots in a large white serving bowl next to a small ramekin of bright red ketchup.

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Overhead view of marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet

Marry Me Chicken

Instant pot chicken and rice in a bowl

Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

In Season

Whole30 In-n-Out burgers close up

Whole30 Burgers – Burger Joint Style (Paleo, Low Carb)

Overhead photo of keto chicken tortilla soup in a rustic bowl

Keto Chicken Tortilla Soup (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

Air fryer chicken wings on a platter with sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings in Buffalo Sauce

Instant pot frozen chicken breast - easy chicken recipes for dinners with few ingredients

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts

As seen on:

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

All the 40 Aprons content you love - now even better.

  • Member-Exclusive Recipes
  • Meal Plans & Grocery Lists
  • eBooks
  • NO ADS!
Join now

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2023 40 Aprons
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
123 shares