This creamy buffalo chicken salad takes everything you love about classic chicken salad and gives it a bold, tangy kick of buffalo flavor. Tender rotisserie chicken is tossed in a rich, creamy dressing with crunchy celery, onion, and salty blue cheese crumbles, so every bite tastes like your favorite buffalo wings. It's an easy buffalo chicken salad recipe you can pile onto a sandwich, tuck into buffalo chicken lettuce wraps, or spoon over a crisp green salad. Because it starts with a store-bought rotisserie chicken, it comes together fast, making it perfect for quick lunches, meal prep, and game day spreads.
Why this is the best creamy buffalo chicken salad recipe
It's quick and easy to make. This creamy buffalo chicken salad uses rotisserie chicken, buffalo sauce, celery, blue cheese, and a few simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Since the chicken is already cooked, there's no need to turn on the stove or oven. Just mix everything together, and lunch is ready in minutes!
Buffalo chicken salad is packed with bold buffalo flavor. The spicy buffalo sauce gives the chicken a delicious kick, while the creamy dressing balances the heat. Crunchy celery, fresh green onions, and tangy blue cheese add extra flavor and texture to every bite.
Buffalo chicken salad is easy to serve in different ways. Spoon it onto sandwich bread, stuff it into a tortilla wrap, or serve it in crisp lettuce cups for a low-carb meal. You can even serve it over a bed of mixed greens or with crackers for a quick lunch or snack.
Buffalo chicken salad is great for meal prep and using leftover chicken. You can make a batch ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator for easy lunches throughout the week. It's also a great way to use leftover rotisserie chicken instead of letting it go to waste.
What you'll need to make the best Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.
Ingredients
- Shredded chicken - Any shredded chicken is fine. Leftover rotisserie chicken is especially convenient because it's already seasoned and cooked, or this link will take you to an easy recipe to make your shredded chicken in the slow cooker. But you could use any roast chicken or cook your own chicken to shred.
- Celery - If you don't like celery, leave it out.
- Red onion - Again, if you don't like it, leave it out.
- Frank's RedHot Sauce - This is my favorite brand of hot sauce. (This is not sponsored.) If you prefer a different wing sauce, feel free to use it.
- Mayonnaise - A combination of mayo and sour cream gives the creamiest flavor that supports the buffalo sauce without distracting from it.
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Smoked paprika - The spices chosen make the spiciness of the buffalo sauce sing without adding additional heat.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Blue Cheese crumbles - This is mixed in at the end. If you don't like blue cheese, try shredded cheddar or Monterey jack.
- Green onions - These are for a garnish.
For the optional green salad
You can use whatever vegetables you want in your green salad, but here's what I suggest:
- Romaine lettuce - Or your lettuce of choice. Romaine gives a nice crunch.
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Red onion
For lettuce wraps
- Butter lettuce
For sandwiches
- Bread or sandwich rolls
- Mozzarella cheese
- Tomato
- Lettuce leaves
How to make easy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Place the rotisserie chicken into a large bowl and add the sliced celery and red onion. Mix well.
- In a smaller mixing bowl, combine the buffalo sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture and mix until all the chicken is coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Mix the chicken salad after refrigerating, and add half the blue cheese and mix again. Sprinkle the remaining blue cheese and green onions on top.
- If you want to make this into a green salad, then start by adding the lettuce as the base. Add the carrots, followed by the celery, cucumber, and red onion. Toss together. Add buffalo chicken salad on top and serve.
Cook's Tips
Make buffalo chicken salad ahead up to a day before serving. The flavors blend and get even better overnight. Assemble just before serving so sandwiches, wraps, and salads stay crisp instead of getting soggy.
Substitutions & variations
You don't have to use rotisserie chicken for this buffalo chicken salad recipe. Leftover cooked chicken breasts or thighs work just as well. You can also use canned chicken if you're short on time, but be sure to drain it well before mixing it with the dressing.
If you don't like blue cheese, you can leave it out or substitute shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or crumbled feta cheese. Blue cheese adds a tangy flavor that goes well with buffalo sauce, but the salad will still taste great without it. You can also add a little ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing if you prefer a milder flavor.
You can easily adjust the heat level to suit your family's preferences. Use less buffalo sauce for a mild chicken salad, or add extra hot sauce if you like spicy food. A little cayenne pepper or a few diced jalapeños will give it an extra kick.
For a lighter buffalo chicken salad, substitute plain Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise in the dressing. Greek yogurt adds protein and gives the salad a tangy flavor, although it won't be quite as rich without the mayo.
If you want more crunch, add extra diced celery, chopped bell peppers, or diced cucumbers. You can also mix in crumbled bacon for a smoky, savory twist.
This buffalo chicken salad is delicious served on toasted sandwich bread, buttery croissants, or soft tortillas. For a low-carb or keto-friendly option, spoon it into butter lettuce leaves or serve it over a fresh green salad, as shown. It also makes a great filling for stuffed avocados or a dip served with celery sticks and crackers.
Storing leftover buffalo chicken salad
Keep it cold and don't leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
Do not freeze. The mayo and sour cream separate and turn watery once thawed.
Check out more delicious buffalo chicken recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats
- CrockPot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Mild Frank's RedHot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Recipe
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad with Rotisserie Chicken (Sandwich, Wrap, or Salad)
Ingredients
- 1 pound shredded chicken such as rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup celery sliced
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- ½ cup Frank's RedHot Sauce
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 tablespoons green onions sliced
For the optional green salad
- 6 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup celery sliced
- ½ cup cucumber diced
- ⅓ cup red onion finely diced
For lettuce wraps
- 1 head butter lettuce
For sandwiches
- 8 slices bread
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 4 slices tomato
- 4 large lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Place the rotisserie chicken into a large bowl and add the sliced celery and red onion. Mix well.
- In a smaller mixing bowl, combine the buffalo sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture and mix until all the chicken is coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Mix the chicken salad after refrigerating, and add half the blue cheese and mix again. Sprinkle the remaining blue cheese and green onions on top.
- If you want to make this into a green salad, then start by adding the lettuce as the base. Add the carrots, followed by the celery, cucumber, and red onion. Toss together. Add buffalo chicken salad on top and serve.
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