This quick and EASY homemade Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe uses rotisserie chicken to save time! Naturally Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Whole30 compatible (just use compliant mayo!). Serve as lettuce wraps, on top of a salad or even as a sandwich! Either way, it’s dinner on the table in 20 minutes!
Originally Posted: May 7th 2015 | Updated: April 26th, 2018
If you are anything like me, you love all things Buffalo.
Buffalo wings, buffalo sauce, buffalo aioli, buffalo fries (if you have never had those, you NEEEED to get on it), buffalo shrimp.
It never gets boring – buffalo sauce flavor goes with everything!
Like this Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe.
It’s easy. Like, crazy easy. Hello, we are talking 4 ingredients. FOUR!
One of the ways I save even more time is to make the Homemade Mayo ahead of time (up to three days). You’re looking at a super easy and tasty buffalo chicken recipe on the table in about 20 minutes – not bad!
Also, if you live near a Whole Foods Market, they have high-quality organic rotisserie chickens for $10. I usually buy the “Perfectly Plain” since I don’t want any seed oils or other seasonings to affect the taste.
Take it home, remove the chicken from the skin and bones, cube and toss into a container. Leave in the fridge for a couple of days until you are ready to make this salad or even pop the cubed chicken in the freezer for up to a month.
Then, mix and serve. Major buffalo chicken happiness awaits.
Tips to Make the Best Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Make sure to use Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce NOT the Buffalo Sauce or Wing Sauce (they have a bunch of nasty additives in them). If you can’t find it in your grocery store, you can use Crystal Hot Sauce but add a pinch of garlic powder to it. DO NOT use Tabasco. It is a totally different flavor and not meant for Buffalo Sauce.
- If you don’t want to make homemade mayo, Primal Kitchen and Sir Kensington’s are good alternatives. The PK is Whole30 compliant as well!
- There’s really no need to try to marinate the chicken in this recipe. As it chills in the fridge, all of that wonderful buffalo flavor will really sink into the chicken and elevate the taste.
- You could cook up some chicken breasts to make this buffalo chicken salad, but using a rotisserie chicken is so easy – and using the whole chicken makes a more flavorful salad.
How to Eat Buffalo Chicken Salad
I’m not going to tell you what the best way to eat this salad is – you can decide for yourself! I love buffalo chicken recipes and this one is super-versatile. Here are a few ways to plate it up.
- In a wrap
- On a sandwich
- Using lettuce wraps
- By itself (Hey – it’s low-carb and tastes amazing alone!)
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
This quick and EASY homemade Buffalo Chicken Salad uses a rotisserie chicken to save time! Naturally Low Carb, Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Whole30.
- 1 pound cubed rotisserie chicken meat
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- 3/4 cup homemade mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons Frank's Original Red Hot hot sauce
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Remove chicken meat from bones. Cube into 1" pieces. Finely chop celery. Make mayonnaise.
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Toss with celery, mayo and hot sauce. Chill until ready to eat and Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
Perfect lunch!
I love using lettuce cups! I find it brings out so much more flavor when you use them!
Love the buffalo flavors
My favourite easy meal!
One of my weekly staples when it’s warm out!
My kind of chicken salad!
So yummy and easy!
This buffalo chicken salad looks amazing!!
Thank you Jocelyn!
Yummy, buffalo is the best!
Seriously! I am team #buffaloeverything
I made this for a company potluck today. I must say I wish I had a hand blender. The homemade mayo just didn’t emulsify in a regular blender. Came out too oily. I had to drain some and go grab some store bought olive oil mayo. 🙂 Turned out really good after I fixed it up though!
My husband is Peruvian and insists that the homemade mayo be whipped by hand with a wooden spoon at a very slow drizzle for about 10 minutes…by a virgin. This is a very delicate process in Peru, apparently. 🙂
Ha! Rechael – that sounds super time consuming. My mom used to feel very similarly about homemade mayo and stand there with a whisk for 10 to 15 minutes. Hence the reason she never made her own and bought mayo from the store lol. Anyway – glad you liked the recipe!
Also, I’d underline the part about extra light olive oil. The one my husband bought was too heavy and left a very strong “olivey” taste. This is how we learn! 🙂
I hear you – I’ve made that mistake as well – not good!
Has anyone ever made this with Vegenaise instead of the homemade mayo? My husband is avoiding eggs because of cholesterol.
Hi Julie! That should work fine. Vegenaise is a bit sweeter than regular mayo so you may need to adjust the seasonings a bit.
I made it with Vegenaise and added more Frank’s to taste. I also chopped a green onion and threw that in. I served with crumbled blue cheese on the side. Thanks for an easy and delicious recipe!
Sounds awesome Julie – glad it worked for you!
Made this as an app with crackers tonight for a family potluck. Everyone was asking for the recipe 🙂
How fun Stephanie! Love it – thanks for taking the time to share with me 🙂