Panera BBQ Chicken Salad: A Flavor-Packed Copycat Recipe

The first time I ordered Panera’s BBQ Chicken Salad, I was skeptical about whether a salad could be satisfying enough for dinner. One bite in, and I was completely converted. The smoky-sweet BBQ chicken, hearty black bean corn salsa, barbecue sauce, and those addictively crispy fried onions created a texture and flavor experience that was anything but “just a salad.”

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What Makes the Panera BBQ Chicken Salad So Good? 

With everyone trying to cut down on carbs, yet few willing to give up on tasty and filling meals, it is no wonder that the BBQ Chicken Salad Panera Bread serves is one of the chain’s most popular.

With its juicy grilled chicken, hearty black bean corn salad sauce, crunchy fried onions on top of fresh romaine lettuce, and apple cider-BBQ sauce dressing, this recipe ticks all the right boxes.  

Why This Is the Recipe for BBQ Chicken Salad From Panera You Must Try

• Restaurant Quality at Home: Enjoy the same delicious flavors of Panera’s popular salad whenever you want a delicious lunch
• Meal-worthy salad: Hearty enough to satisfy as a complete meal, not just a side dish
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Most components can be prepared days in advance
• Customizable: Easy to adjust spice levels and add your own favorite toppings
• Budget-Friendly: Much more economical than restaurant versions
• Family Pleaser: Even salad skeptics love this flavor-packed dish

Panera Bread BBQ Chicken Salad Ingredients

Ingredients for the Ranch-BBQ Salad Dressing

• Premade ranch salad dressing – Provides a creamy, herby base for the dressing
• Kraft Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce – Adds smoky-sweet flavor that defines this salad, Sweet Baby Ray is also recommended
• Apple cider vinegar – Contributes brightness and balances the richness of the dressing

Ingredients for the Apple Cider Vinegar BBQ Drizzle

• Kraft Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce – Creates that signature sweet and smoky flavor
• Apple cider vinegar – Thins the sauce and adds tangy brightness

Ingredients for the Black Bean Corn Salsa

• Black beans – Provides hearty protein and fiber with a meaty texture
• Mexicorn – Adds sweet corn flavor and colorful peppers in one ingredient
• White vinegar – Brightens the flavors and helps marry the ingredients
• Vegetable oil – Adds richness and helps coat the beans and corn
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors in the salsa
• Sugar – Balances the acidity and enhances the natural sweetness
• Black pepper – Adds subtle heat and complexity
• Cumin – Contributes earthy warmth essential to Southwestern flavors
• Chili powder – Provides depth and mild heat with complex spice notes

Ingredients for the Salad Assembly

• French’s Original Crispy Fried Onions – Adds irresistible crunch and savory flavor
• Grilled boneless skinless chicken breast – Delivers lean protein and savory, smoky flavor
• Romaine lettuce – Creates a crisp, fresh foundation that stands up to hearty toppings

How to Make Panera BBQ Chicken Salad

There are many steps to making this recipe, but all of them are super easy. If you can open a can and stir, you can do this.

To make the ranch-BBQ salad Dressing:

1. Mix ranch dressing and bbq sauce.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge.

To make the BBQ Drizzle:

1. In a small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce and apple cider vinegar.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and stick it in the refrigerator. 

To make the Black Bean Corn Salsa:

1. Combine the vinegar and vegetable oil in a small bowl.
2. Stir in the salt, sugar, black pepper, chili powder, and ground cumin. 
3. In a separate, large mixing bowl, combine the well-drained black beans and Mexicorn.
4. Add the vinegar mixture to the black bean mixture and mix well to coat. 
5. Cover the bowl of Black Bean Corn Salsa with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. 

To assemble the salad:

1. Cut the romaine lettuce into large pieces. Wash and dry.
2. Place a good amount of lettuce on each plate.
3. Top the romaine with a few tablespoons of the Black Bean Corn Salsa and five or six slices of grilled chicken. 
4. Pour just a little of the Apple Cider Vinegar BBQ Drizzle over the top of the salad. 
5. Serve the salad with some of the bbq ranch dressing.

How To Serve BBQ Chicken Salad 

Make an individual salad for each person on a wide, shallow bowl or large dinner plate. Place the Ranch-BBQ Salad Dressing and crispy fried onions on the table and let your guests add as much as they want. 

Make this salad your own!

You may want to try some of these toppings on this salad. I highly recommend the following:

• Crispy tortilla strips
• chopped fresh cilantro
• A healthy squeeze of lime juice
• Sliced red onions

What Goes With BBQ Chicken Salad 

The BBQ Chicken Salad Panera serves is a meal by itself, but a few buttermilk biscuits or traditional cornbread would make it even more filling. 

Make-Ahead Tips 

• The Black Bean Corn Salsa will taste better after a day or two in the fridge. Give the salsa a good stir before serving.
• Take the Panera Bread BBQ Chicken Salad ingredients out of the fridge for about five minutes before making the salad. The salad tastes better if the ingredients are not ice-cold. 
• Don’t cut the romaine lettuce ahead of time.

How To Store Leftover BBQ Chicken Salad 

Keep each component of the salad in its individual container in the fridge.

The Black Bean Salsa, salad dressing, and BBQ Drizzle should last at least four or five days, but you should use the freshly grilled chicken within a day or two. Packaged grilled chicken strips will last longer. 

More Panera Bread Copycat Recipes

• Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Panera Butternut Squash Soup
• Panera Mac and Cheese
• Panera Muffins

Favorite Salad Recipes

• Chick-Fil-A Cobb Salad
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Copycat Olive Garden Salad
• Fajita Salad
• Original Cobb Salad
• Oriental Chicken Salad
• Taco Bell Salad
• Thai Noodle Salad
• Wendy’s Strawberry Salad

Check out my easy salad recipes and the best Panera Bread recipes here on CopyKat!