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–+ servings
Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad inside of a large wooden bowl.
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5 from 1 vote

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad

Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad with crispy chicken tenders tossed in buffalo sauce, mixed with crunchy romaine, carrots, celery, avocado, and a creamy anchovy-free Caesar dressing.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner, Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 463kcal
Author: Mike Cleavenger

Ingredients

Salad

  • 2 heads romaine lettuce chopped
  • 3 celery stalks sliced
  • 1 cup red cabbage shredded
  • 1 cup carrots shredded
  • 1 avocado sliced
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese shaved

Croutons

  • 4 cups fococcia torn into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated

Creamy Caesar Dressing

  • ½ cup mayo
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic grated
  • 3 tablespoon parmesan cheese grated
  • salt and pepper to taste

Chicken Tenders

  • 1 pound chicken tenderloins
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs whisked
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup buffalo sauce

Instructions

  • Croutons. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Tear focaccia bread into small pieces by hand and toss with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and salt. Spread on a baking tray and bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
  • Caesar Dressing. Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
  • Chicken Tenders. Set up three wide, shallow bowls—one with flour, one with egg wash, and one with panko breadcrumbs. Bread each chicken tenderloin and place on a parchment-lined baking tray.
  • Bake chicken tenders in a 425°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Toss chicken in buffalo sauce and set aside.
  • Assemble the salad by tossing romaine lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and celery with Caesar dressing. Top with homemade croutons, sliced avocado, Parmesan cheese, and Buffalo chicken.

Notes

  • Use 1-day-old Focaccia or Country Loaves to make the best croutons. 
  • Use the dry hand/wet hand method when breading the chicken tenderloins. (One hand for the flour and breadcrumbs and the other for the egg wash)
  • If you don't want to make homemade chicken tenders, you can bake or air fry store-bought chicken tenders. 
  • Save time by using your favorite store-bought Caesar Dressing. 

Nutrition

Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 202mg | Sodium: 5253mg | Potassium: 686mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4815IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2mg