This zesty crunchy chicken salad features crispy chicken strips tossed in a spicy sauce, layered with fresh vegetables and topped with ranch dressing, making it a delightful and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
1 pound chicken strips
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup hot sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup water
4 cups lettuce
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheese
1 cup croutons
1/2 cup dried cranberries
to taste none ranch dressing
Method
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Arrange the chicken strips on the prepared baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes until golden and crispy, or follow the instructions on the package if using frozen strips.
Once the chicken is done, cut the strips into bite-sized chunks.
While the chicken is baking, make the zesty sauce by combining butter, hot sauce, brown sugar, and water in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-high, stirring occasionally until it starts to boil.
Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing it to thicken a bit while stirring intermittently.
On four serving plates, layer the lettuce, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, crunchy croutons, and dried cranberries evenly. Toss the crispy chicken pieces in the zesty sauce and place them on top of the salad. Drizzle ranch dressing over the top and serve immediately.
