If I had to pick the most-used condiment in our household, it would be Buffalo wing sauce, specifically, Frank’s Original Hot Sauce.  We love the flavor and use it on wings, in dips, in hummus, drizzled over eggs, tossed with roast vegetables…I could go on.  One of our favorite lighter dinners happens to be Buffalo Wing Salads.  I usually like to make them with chicken that has been cut into bite-sized pieces, sautéed, then tossed in wing sauce.  But sometimes I am just not in the mood to eat meat.  On those days, I toss cauliflower florets in the sauce and roast them.  Here are my two ways to make Buffalo Wing Salads, along with some additional ideas for utilizing the prepared chicken or cauliflower.

 

Salad Base

6 cups iceberg and romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces

1 celery stalk, thinly sliced cross-wise

1 cup carrots, julienned

1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half

8 oz sliced mushrooms

Blue cheese dressing (your favorite recipe or store-bought brand—no judgements here, and for what it’s worth, Ken’s Steakhouse Wisconsin Blue Cheese Dressing is delicious!)

 

1. Place the first 5 ingredients together in a large bowl.  Using two large spoons, toss them together to combine.  At this point, you can either add the dressing to taste, tossing it with the ingredients to coat, or you can serve the dressing on the side.

 

 

Buffalo Chicken Wing Salad

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 heaped Tbsp all purpose flour

1/2 garlic powder

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce

Salad Base recipe (see above)

Crumbled blue cheese, to taste

 

1. Place the flour, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl.  Stir to combine.  Add the chicken to the flour mixture and toss it to coat.

2. Add olive oil and butter to a large skillet and heat it over high heat until the butter melts and the oil is shimmering.   Add the chicken to the pan and sauté it, stirring occasionally, until it’s cooked through, about 3-5 minutes.

3. Pour the hot sauce over the chicken.  Stir to coat the chicken in the sauce.  Continue to stir the mixture over high heat for about 1 minute more, until the sauce has reduced and thickened.

4.  Place the salad base on serving plates; top with the desired amount of chicken and crumbled blue cheese.  Serve immediately.

Serves 2-4, depending on the size of salad you wish to consume

 

 

Vegetarian Buffalo Wing Salad

1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets

1 Tbsp olive oil or melted butter (depending on how healthy you’re trying to be)

2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp kosher salt

3/4 cup Buffalo wing sauce

Salad Base recipe (see above)

Crumbled blue cheese, to taste

 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees.  While it’s heating, place the cauliflower florets, olive oil or butter, garlic powder, salt, and hot sauce into a large mixing bowl.  Stir until the cauliflower is completely coated with the sauce and the seasonings are distributed.

2. Place the cauliflower in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure there is space between the florets.  Roast the florets in the oven for 20 minutes.

3. Place the salad base on serving plates; top with the desired amount of cauliflower and crumbled blue cheese.  Serve immediately.

Serves 2-4, depending on the size of salad you wish to consume

 

Other Buffalo Wing Ideas

🌶 Why not go crazy and top your salad with both chicken and cauliflower?  My husband loves this combination!

🌶 Instead of making a salad, why not try using the ingredients to make a wrap?  Toss in some shredded cheddar cheese in addition to the crumbled blue cheese and roll everything together in a tortilla.

🌶 The Buffalo wing cauliflower makes an awesome side dish on its own.  It’s also a great substitute for wings on game day.  Serve it with blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.

🌶 You could also serve the bite-sized chicken on its own in lieu of wings.  Be sure to make toothpicks available to spear the pieces and include a blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce.  Don’t forget to serve celery and carrot sticks alongside the Buffalo chicken bites!