Buffalo chicken Caesar salad is the perfect way to jazz up your greens with a kick of bold and spicy flavor. It is a dish that is a tasty fusion of spicy Buffalo wings with the classic and beloved Caesar salad.
This spicy salad is the perfect combo of cool, crisp romaine lettuce and fiery, crunchy chicken, whether you want to liven up your boring lunchtime routine or make a delicious salad for dinner.
And since the Buffalo tenders are made in the air fryer, they are crispy without much added fat. This combo of flavors strikes the perfect balance between the cool crunch of romaine lettuce, the creamy caress of Caesar dressing, the sharp bite of Parmesan cheese, and, of course, the zesty kick of Buffalo chicken.
In the following few paragraphs, we’ll go step-by-step through crafting this mouthwatering masterpiece. From breading your chicken to perfection to assembling a salad sure to impress, I’ve got all the tips and tricks you need.
Love Buffalo flavor? Try air fryer Buffalo chicken taquitos, Instant Pot Buffalo chicken sandwiches, or classic Buffalo chicken wings.
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
To make the Buffalo chicken tenders:
- Chicken Tenders: You can substitute boneless chicken breast cut into strips.
- Flour
- Bread crumbs
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Buttermilk
- Buffalo hot sauce: Use your favorite brand or make homemade Buffalo sauce.
For the salad part, we’re keeping it classic and crisp:
- Romaine Lettuce
- Croutons
- Parmesan cheese
- Blue cheese: Not a traditional Caesar salad ingredient, but perfect with Buffalo chicken.
- Caesar salad dressing
🥣How to Make Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad
- Mix the Coating: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, bread crumbs, and all those delicious spices. This is where the magic starts. Add the buttermilk to a second bowl.
- Dip the Chicken: Take a tender, coat it in the flour mix, dunk it in buttermilk, and then back in the flour. Place it on a wire rack to let the coating set. A little rest ensures the breading adheres beautifully.
- Prep the Air Fryer: Preheat to 370 °F for a few minutes, then add a quick spritz of oil in the basket.
- Air Fry Away: Arrange the chicken in the basket, ensuring they’re not on each other – they need their space. Spray the top with oil and let them fry for 5 minutes. After a quick check and flip, give them another 5 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Buffalo Sauce Time: Once they’ve reached a safe 165 °F internally, brush them with that zesty Buffalo sauce and slice them for the salad.
- Assemble the Salad: Toss the romaine lettuce into a large salad bowl, lay those spicy chicken slices on top, and sprinkle with Parmesan, blue cheese, and croutons. Finish with a generous drizzle of Caesar dressing.
🍴Serving Ideas
This Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad is a complete meal in itself. If you want to add more, add some non-traditional extras to your salad, like cucumbers or red peppers.
Serve it with extra Buffalo sauce on the side, making a fabulous lunch or dinner.
💭How to Store
If you have leftover Buffalo chicken, store it separately in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll stay good for up to 3 days.
The lettuce, croutons and cheeses should also be stored separately to maintain their texture. Keep the lettuce in a plastic bag with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Croutons go in a sealed bag or container at room temperature, and Parmesan and blue cheese should be placed in a container in the fridge.
Always store your Caesar dressing separately to prevent the lettuce from getting soggy. A little jar or container in the fridge will do the trick, and it’ll be ready to drizzle whenever you’re up for round two.
By storing each Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad component in separate containers, you ensure that every element stays as fresh and flavorful as possible. When it’s time for an encore, assemble your ingredients, and it’s like you’re back at that first bite.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Perfect the Crunch: Don’t rush the resting step after breading for the ultimate crispy chicken. Those 10-15 minutes are crucial for setting up the stage for crunchiness.
- Air Fryer Mastery: To avoid a soggy situation, make sure your chicken isn’t overcrowded in the air fryer. Air circulation is vital!
- Shortcut: Alternatively, you can also just cook frozen Buffalo tenders. Put them in the air fryer at 300 F for 12-14 minutes until crispy.
- Buffalo Sauce Balance: If you’re sensitive to heat, adjust the amount of spicy Buffalo sauce to your liking. It’s all about hitting that sweet (or spicy) spot just right for you.
- Dressing Dosage: When it comes to dressing, think of it as a complement, not a blanket. You want to lightly coat the lettuce, not drown it. This way, every ingredient gets a chance to shine through.
📝Reader Questions
Absolutely! Just prepare the chicken and store it separately. Assemble the salad components when ready to serve to keep everything fresh and crisp.
No worries! You can bake the breaded chicken in the oven at 400 °F until it’s cooked through and crispy, usually around 20-25 minutes. Just don’t forget to flip halfway and check for that golden color.
Of course! Store-bought Buffalo sauce is a convenient and tasty option. Just look for one that suits your heat preference.
Add the croutons to the salad right before serving to keep those croutons crunchy. This way, they maintain their texture and add that delightful crunch to every bite.
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Spicy Meets Classic in Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- ½ cup flour
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup Buffalo chicken sauce
- oil for spraying
- 4 cups Romaine lettuce
- ½ cup croutons
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
- Caesar dressing
Instructions
- Mix the flour, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder in a large bowl.½ cup flour, ⅓ cup bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- In another bowl, put the 1/2 cup buttermilk.½ cup buttermilk
- Take a chicken strip. Dip it into the flour mixture, then the buttermilk mixture, then the flour again. Set it on a wire rack.1 pound chicken tenders
- Continue to dip the chicken. The breading will stick better to the chicken if it rests on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before air frying.
- While it rests preheat the air fryer at 370 °F for 3 minutes. Then, spray the air fryer basket with some oil to prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom.oil for spraying
- Put the chicken in the air fryer basket. Do not stack the chicken, and make sure there is room for the air to circulate.
- Spray the chicken with oil to coat the top.
- Air fry the chicken at 370 °F for 5 minutes.
- Check the chicken. If there is any visible flour on the chicken, spray it with a little more oil.
- Then, flip the chicken with tongs and spray the bottom with oil anywhere flour is showing.
- Cook for another 5 minutes, until it is golden brown.
- Test the temperature with an instant-read thermometer and make sure it has reached 165 °F internally.
- Brush the chicken tenders with the Buffalo sauce. Then, slice them into slices about 1/2 an inch thick.1/4 cup Buffalo chicken sauce
- Put the lettuce in a large bowl. Add the chicken tenders. Top with Parmesan cheese, blue cheese, and croutons. Drizzle with Caesar dressing.4 cups Romaine lettuce, ½ cup croutons, ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese, Caesar dressing
Notes
- You can just cook frozen Buffalo tenders. Put them in the air fryer at 300 F for 12-14 minutes.
- For the ultimate crispy chicken, let them rest for a few minutes after breading.
- Don’t overcrowd the chicken in the air fryer. Air circulation is vital.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
The chicken was perfect in a caesar salad! The air fryer was the perfect way to cook the chicken and a bit of a kick to the salad. I will be making it again!
This was great! We started having a salad night once a week, where we have a main meal salad for dinner instead of something heavier. I needed a few new recipes so I could switch things up within that theme, and this salad fit the bill! Nothing boring here! Thanks for a great new recipe!