Shredded Buffalo Chicken Salad

If you’re  not traditionally or by nature a “salad lover” then this salad is for you! And if you are a salad lover already...well, this salad is also for you! We’ve taken this Southwest inspired salad and given it a healthy makeover in a most fantastic way! So, unlike those large salads you'll find in restaurants loaded with calories and fat and carbs and everything else that you never know could actually be in a salad...this one REALLY is healthy!

It all starts (and ends) with the chicken breast. You’ve had chicken on a salad before, we’re sure. But have you ever tried shredded buffalo chicken on a salad? If not, you’re about to, and you’re going to love it! We’ve taken chicken breast and slow cooked it with Frank’s Wing Sauce to give it that unmistakable buffalo kick without bringing in too much heat; so, now you can kick that caloric spicy ranch dressing to the curb! With only a 2.5 hour cooking time in the crockpot, this is something that you can start at breakfast and have ready by lunch or even start after lunch and still have ready by dinner!

Once your buffalo chicken is ready, all you’ve got left to do is combine it in a bowl with your favorite salad ingredients. We’ve chosen some non-traditional veggies for our non-traditional chicken breast: broccoli florets, beans, avocado, and riced cauliflower. But, you could honestly use a mixture of any of your favorite veggies with this one! Lastly, top it with a serving of your favorite plan-friendly, healthy salad dressing! Or for those who like a little heat, we suggest a drizzle of the leftover crockpot buffalo marinade or even Frank’s Wing Sauce right out of the bottle!

This salad makes an entire meal (for one); making cleanup an absolute breeze! If you’re preparing food for more than one mouth - no problem! This recipe is as simple as they come to double, triple, or quadruple (or more)! When it comes to leftovers, there won’t be many. In fact, the only ingredient you should have leftover is the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Breast. This can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days. As far as the possibilities for your leftovers? Endless! Here are some of our favorite ideas:

• Make a new salad; this time trying different veggie combinations
• Scoop it into pepper halves
• Hollow out a cucumber halved lengthwise and make a cucumber “submarine sandwich”
• Wrap in lettuce or other large leafy greens and make a healthy wrap
• Shredded southwest chicken tacos

We’ve provided you all the ingredients and instructions for both the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Breast and the salad assembly below. For those currently following an MRC menu, you’ll find notes about how this fits into your menu below the instructions.

Ingredients for Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Breast:

• 4 Chicken Breasts, uncooked (or approximately 20 oz.)
• ¾ C. low sodium chicken broth
• ½ C. Frank’s Wing Sauce

Ingredients for the salad:

• 1 oz. tomatoes, diced
• 1 oz. broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
• 2 oz. lettuce, shredded into bite-sized pieces
• 4 oz. cauliflower, riced
• 4-6 oz. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Breast (MRC clients refer to your menu for correct portion size)
• ¼ C. beans, cooked
• 2 oz. avocado, sliced

Instructions:

1. In a crockpot, place the chicken breasts, low-sodium chicken broth, and Frank’s Wing Sauce. Cook on high for 2 hours. 
2. Remove the chicken and shred it (be careful, it will be hot to the touch).
3. Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot, stir, and simmer on low for another 30 minutes. While the chicken is simmering, you can prep your salad ingredients if not already done.
4. Once your chicken has finished simmering, you can assemble the salad. Note: if you prefer your chicken colder in your salad, then take 4-6 oz. out of the crockpot and put in fridge for about 30 minutes (or until desired temperature has been reached).
5. To assemble the salad, arrange all salad ingredients in a large bowl. 
6. Top with: reduced sauce from the crockpot, Franks Wing Sauce (for those looking for an extra kick), or one serving of your favorite plan-friendly, healthy dressing.

Assembled salad makes 1 serving | Serving size: one bowl of salad | Replaces: 1 vegetable, 1 protein, 1 carbohydrate, 1 healthy fat