Southwestern BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad

Did you ever have something at a restaurant and say to yourself, I can definitely make that on my own?? My husband John says it all of the time but never actually comes home to try. I decided instead of driving 20 minutes and paying $15 I would attempt to replicate my favorite go to salad at The Cheesecake Factory. I was very impressed at my own version and plan on making it for lunch again soon.

Ingredients:

3-4 Cups Lettuce

15oz Can Black Beans - Drained & Rinsed

15oz Can No Salt Added Corn - Drained & Rinsed

Large Red Pepper - Diced

Ripe Avocado - Sliced

Piece of Grilled Chicken Breast - Diced

2 Tbsp BBQ Sauce

2 Tbsp Ranch Salad Dressing

1/4 Cup French's French Fried Onions

Start with a bowl of fresh washed and ripped lettuce, it doesn't really matter what kind: iceberg, romaine, green leaf, Boston, bibb whatever you have around the house or is on sale will do just fine.

Top the lettuce with corn, black beans, red pepper, and avocado. I put about a half of cup of each topping in it's own section. The Cheesecake Factory also puts diced tomato but since I'm not a huge fan I leave them off, you are obviously more than welcome to add them back in if you'd like.

Toss your diced grilled chicken in the BBQ sauce and place it in the middle, on top of your salad. Drizzle the ranch dressing over the top of the entire bowl. The Cheesecake Factory tops this salad with lots of crispy onion straws so instead I sprinkle the french fried onions on top of mine for a nice crunch.

Enjoy!! - Nicole

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