Main Dishes

Honey Hot Chicken Salad Recipe

ByRico Loranz December 22, 2025December 22, 2025

Introduction

This Honey Hot Chicken Salad combines a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors with fresh, crisp vegetables. It’s a quick and satisfying meal that works great for lunch or dinner. The honey garlic and buffalo sauce-coated chicken adds a delicious kick to the crunchy salad base.

A white rectangular plate holds a layered salad starting with a base of bright green chopped lettuce spread evenly, followed by a colorful mix of chopped red bell peppers, pale cucumber cubes, and finely diced white onions scattered on top. The next layer is an orange shredded cheese sprinkled lightly in patches. The top layer consists of chunky, glazed, cooked chicken pieces coated with a shiny, dark orange sauce that covers most of the salad, creating a rich, textured look. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with a striped cloth and two wooden spoons placed nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 Chicken Breasts (cooked and diced)
¼ cup Honey Garlic Sauce
¼ cup Buffalo Wing Sauce (or plain hot sauce like Frank’s Red Hot)
2 heads Romaine Lettuce (chopped and washed)
3-6 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing (or any dressing of choice)
½ medium Red Onion (diced)
1 large Red Bell Pepper (diced)
½ large Cucumber (diced)
Cheese (shredded, optional)

Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine the cooked and diced chicken with the honey garlic sauce and buffalo wing sauce. Toss well to coat the chicken evenly.
Step 2: In a separate large bowl, toss the chopped romaine lettuce with your choice of dressing until lightly coated.
Step 3: Divide the dressed lettuce onto two large plates or bowls.
Step 4: Top the salad with diced red onions, bell pepper, cucumber, shredded cheese if using, and the honey hot chicken.
Step 5: Serve immediately for the freshest taste and best texture.

Tips & Variations

For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of buffalo wing sauce or substitute with a milder hot sauce.
Try adding avocado slices or cherry tomatoes for extra color and flavor.
Use grilled or roasted chicken to add a smoky note to the salad.
Swap ranch dressing for blue cheese dressing for a different twist.

Storage

Store any leftover components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the dressed lettuce away from the chicken and veggies to prevent sogginess. Reheat the chicken gently in the microwave or a skillet before assembling the salad again.

How to Serve

A white rectangular plate on a white marbled surface holds a colorful salad with four layers: the bottom layer has light green chopped lettuce with crisp texture, the second layer is a mix of finely chopped red bell pepper and small cucumber cubes, the third layer has tiny bits of purple onion scattered evenly, and the top layer is made up of small, glossy, golden-brown pieces of cooked chicken coated with a shiny sauce, creating a vibrant mix of textures and colors all spread across the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use raw chicken for this recipe?

This recipe calls for cooked chicken, but you can grill, bake, or pan-sear raw chicken breasts ahead of time. Just be sure they are fully cooked before dicing and mixing with the sauces.

What can I use instead of buffalo wing sauce?

If you prefer less heat, plain hot sauce like Frank’s Red Hot works well. You can also try substituting with a smoky BBQ sauce for a sweeter, smoky flavor instead of spicy.

Honey Hot Chicken Salad Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 105 reviews

A flavorful and spicy Honey Hot Chicken Salad combining tender chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce, fresh crunchy vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing over crisp romaine lettuce. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal with a delightful balance of sweet, heat, and freshness.

Author: Rico
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes (using pre-cooked chicken)
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 2 servings 1x
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Sauce

2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced
¼ cup Honey Garlic Sauce
¼ cup Buffalo Wing Sauce (or plain hot sauce like Frank’s Red Hot)

Salad Base

2 heads Romaine Lettuce, chopped and washed
3–6 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing (or any dressing of choice)

Vegetables and Toppings

½ medium Red Onion, diced
1 large Red Bell Pepper, diced
½ large Cucumber, diced
Cheese, shredded (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine the cooked and diced chicken breasts with honey garlic sauce and buffalo wing sauce. Toss thoroughly to evenly coat the chicken pieces in the sweet and spicy sauce mixture.
Toss the Lettuce: In a separate large bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce. Pour 3 to 6 tablespoons of ranch dressing (or your preferred dressing) over the lettuce and toss well to coat evenly.
Assemble the Salad: Divide the dressed lettuce between two large plates or bowls. Top each serving with diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, diced cucumber, and shredded cheese if using. Finally, add the honey hot chicken on top of the salad. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh, spicy, and flavorful combination.

Notes

You can adjust the amount of buffalo wing sauce to control the heat level of the chicken.
Substitute ranch dressing with blue cheese or your favorite vinaigrette for different flavor profiles.
Add avocado or cherry tomatoes for extra richness and color.
Make sure chicken is fully cooked before dicing; leftover rotisserie chicken can be a convenient option.
This salad is best served fresh to maintain crispness of the vegetables and lettuce.

Keywords: honey hot chicken salad, spicy chicken salad, buffalo chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, quick chicken salad

Rico Loranz

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