Zesty Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

A bowl of salad with shredded meat, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and crumbled cheese, with a fork resting inside.

Zesty Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

Ever get in the mood for a salad that’s anything but boring? This zesty salad with blue cheese dressing is creamy, bold, and loaded with flavor. You’ve got crisp veggies, juicy chicken, and that rich blue cheese dressing tying it all together. It’s the kind of salad recipe that feels hearty enough for dinner, whether you love a classic wedge salad or more of a chopped salad vibe.

Course Salad, Salads, Side Dish, Sides

Cuisine American, International

Keyword bacon, blue cheese crumbles, blue cheese dressing, creamy, dressing, iceberg, lettuce, onion, recipe, romaine, salad, tomato, vinegar, wedge, wedge salad

Prep Time 10

Servings Servings

Calories 228kcal

Author Zuzana Paar

Equipment

1 Mixing Bowl
1 Whisk
1 Salad Bowl

Ingredients

4 Cups Mixed Greens fresh
2 Cups Cooked Chicken shredded
1/4 Cup Hot Pepper Sauce
1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes sliced in half
1/2 Cup Cucumber chopped
1/2 Cup Celery thin slices
1/4 Cup Crumbled Blue Cheese

Dressing

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Gather your salad ingredients: cooked shredded chicken, hot sauce, fresh veggies, blue cheese, olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings. Wash and prep the produce by slicing the celery, halving the cherry tomatoes, and cutting the cucumber. Lay everything out so you’re ready to assemble with ease.
Add the shredded chicken to a bowl and pour the hot sauce over it. Mix until all the chicken is coated in spicy goodness. Let it rest for a few minutes to soak up the flavor.
In a large bowl, add the salad greens first, then scatter the celery, tomatoes, and cucumber on top. Try to layer the ingredients so every bite is balanced and colorful. Add the buffalo chicken right over the veggies and sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese.
In a small jar or bowl, combine the olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Season with a bit of salt and pepper and whisk until smooth. This simple dressing will tie everything together with a zesty finish.
Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad. Give it a gentle toss just before serving, being careful not to crush the toppings. Serve chilled for a crisp, spicy, and refreshing meal.

Notes

Use chilled ingredients for extra crunch: Keeping your veggies cold before tossing the salad makes everything taste fresher and crispier. You can add romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce for extra crunch, red onions, or avocado.
Crumble the blue cheese yourself: Make blue cheese crumble, breaking it up from a block keeps the flavor rich and creamy.
Balance the bold flavor: If blue cheese is too strong, mix it with a little plain yogurt or sour cream to mellow it out.
Toss just before serving: This keeps the salad from getting soggy and helps the dressing coat everything evenly without wilting the greens.

Nutrition