Buffalo Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese

I’ve been on a chicken salad kick lately! Between my Tzatziki Chicken Salad and this Buffalo Chicken Salad, I’m set for lunches for the foreseeable future. This Buffalo version is perfect for when you’re craving a big pop of flavor. It’s tangy and spicy and is sure to be the star of any sandwich, salad, or wrap you choose to add it to.

The star of this dish is the bold, irresistible dressing—a creamy blend of Greek yogurt, blue cheese, and hot sauce that perfectly coats tender shredded chicken and crisp vegetables. The cooling tang of Greek yogurt balances the kick of hot sauce, while the robust flavor of blue cheese ties it all together for a beautifully balanced bite. Plus, swapping traditional mayo for protein-packed Greek yogurt lightens up the whole dish without compromising on flavor. It’s practically a work of genius! You’ll see.

This Buffalo Chicken Salad Packs the Perfect Kick

Scrolling through meal prep recipes and not sure which to choose? I’ll tell you why this chicken salad recipe deserves your undivided attention:

• Packed with flavor. The spicy, tangy Greek yogurt dressing and the crumbled blue cheese come together in a bold, rich explosion of flavor that soaks into the chicken, saturating every bite.
• Perfect crunch. Shredded carrots and celery bring a refreshing crunch to the dish, perfectly balancing the richness of the creamy dressing.
• Lightened up. By using Greek yogurt instead of traditional mayonnaise, this dish is a lighter choice than many chicken salads. But don’t worry. Lighter doesn’t mean less tasty! The dressing is still super creamy and oh so flavorful.

What You’ll Need

Time to get yourself to the store! Here’s what you’ll need to make this epic chicken salad (scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements):

• Plain Greek yogurt – I prefer full-fat Greek yogurt here, but you could opt for a lower-fat product. If I am feeling a little naughty, sometimes I will mix in some mayo as well for a richer dressing.
• Hot sauce – I like Frank’s Red Hot, but any hot sauce will do.
• Apple cider vinegar – To add a little extra tang to the dressing.
• Seasoning – Just salt and ground black pepper! Although I will sometimes add a pinch of smoked paprika.
• Chicken – Cooked, cooled, and shredded (or chopped). Use any chicken you’d like. My Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, pulled off the bone, would work. So would these Buffalo Chicken Tenders.
• Veggies – I kept it at shredded carrots and diced celery for the perfect crunch. If you’d like to add some chopped red onion to the picture, though, feel free. Chopped pickles could be fun, too!
• Parsley – For freshness and a pop of color. Stick with fresh parsley (as opposed to dried), folks!
• Crumbled blue cheese – I love the sharp, salty, tangy flavor the blue cheese brings. Not a blue cheese fan? Consider shredded cheddar cheese instead!

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Salad

This chicken salad is a breeze to make. Here’s how it’s done (you’ll find more thorough instructions in the recipe card below):

• Make the dressing. Whisk together the yogurt, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings.
• Assemble. Add the chicken and veggies and stir to coat in dressing. Gently stir in the blue cheese. Taste and mix in more salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve. Serve over salad greens, on a sandwich, in a pita, etc.

Tips and Variation Ideas

Ready to knock this recipe out of the park? Check out the following tips, tricks, and fun variations:

• Start with fully cooled chicken. I mean it! If your chicken is warm, it will turn the dressing into a watery, runny mess.
• Mix, mix, mix. You really want to coat every smidge of the chicken in dressing, so be sure to mix everything up super thoroughly.
• Let it sit. If you have a little extra time (and some self-control), let the chicken salad sit for a bit (30 minutes or so). During this time, the dressing will sink into the chicken for even more flavorful, satisfying bites.
• A richer approach. I used Greek yogurt as the base for this dressing (as opposed to mayo, which many chicken salads use). You can use mayo instead if you’d like (or part mayo, part Greek yogurt) for a richer dish.
• Adjust spice levels. Too spicy? Simply reduce the amount of hot sauce and substitute it with an equal amount of apple cider vinegar. Make sure the total liquid equals 4 tablespoons.
• Add some extra crunch. The carrots and celery take care of some of this, but if you’re craving more crunch, go ahead and mix in some chopped red onion or toasted nuts (I’d go with almonds or walnuts).
• Bacon addition. I will sometimes cook up some bacon, let it cool, crumble it up, and toss it into this chicken salad. The rich smokiness of the bacon adds an exciting new twist.

How to Store Extras

• Refrigerator. Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. I actually almost prefer this chicken on day 2 or 3 because the flavors really get a chance to meld!
• Freezer. While freezing isn’t ideal (the dressing gets a little watery when thawed), you can freeze this chicken salad if necessary. Seal it in a freezer-safe airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw fully in the fridge before enjoying.

Make it a Meal

This chicken salad makes for the perfect grab-and-go lunch, no matter how you serve it. Here are some ideas for you:

• Sandwiches and Wraps. Pile a generous serving of chicken salad onto slices of gluten-free sandwich bread or tuck it into gluten-free pita bread. Add lettuce, tomato, and red onion for extra flavor and crunch..
• Make it a lettuce wrap. Swap the bread out with a crunchy leaf or two of Boston, Bibb, or Butter lettuce for a low-carb lunch.
• Over greens. Serve a scoop or two of buffalo chicken salad over a bed of salad greens tossed in Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing or my Jalapeno Ranch Dressing.
• Dip away. This chicken salad pairs perfectly with your favorite chips, crackers, and/or dippable veggies (I love it with crunchy bell peppers!). If you’re feeling ambitious and want to make your own crackers, try these Gluten-Free Cheddar Crackers.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

Looking for more ways to get creative with chicken? Here are a few of my other favorites:

• Cilantro Lime Chicken
• Thai Larb Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Baked Chicken Tenders
• Greek Chicken Bowls with Hummus
• Quick Chicken Curry