BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad (Printable)
Smoky grilled chicken skewers atop crisp summer greens with a tangy honey-mustard dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken & Marinade
01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce (gluten-free variety if needed)
04 - 1 garlic clove, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Salad
08 - 5.3 oz mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, and romaine blend)
09 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
10 - ½ red onion, thinly sliced
11 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cucumber, sliced
13 - 2.8 oz sweetcorn, cooked or canned and drained
→ Dressing
14 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
15 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
16 - 1 tablespoon honey
17 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Optional Garnish
19 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
# How To Cook:
01 - In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken cubes with olive oil, BBQ sauce, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated and let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
02 - Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Thread the marinated chicken pieces evenly onto 4 skewers, distributing the meat uniformly.
03 - Place skewers on the hot grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred on the edges.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and drained sweetcorn.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard until fully emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat all ingredients. Divide among plates and top each portion with a grilled chicken skewer. Garnish with fresh chopped herbs if desired and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of smoky hot chicken against cool crunchy greens is genuinely addictive and will ruin plain salads for you forever.
- Everything comes together in under an hour with ingredients you probably already have sitting in your pantry and fridge.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting time for the grilled chicken because those few minutes let the juices redistribute instead of running out onto the cutting board.
- Taste the dressing before pouring it over the salad because BBQ sauces vary wildly in sweetness and you may need to adjust the vinegar or honey to balance it.
03 -
- Pat the chicken completely dry before marinating because excess moisture prevents the caramelization that makes these skewers so good.
- If your BBQ sauce is very thick, thin it with a splash of water or vinegar so it coats the chicken evenly instead of clumping on the surface.