A Bold Twist on a Classic The Buffalo Barclay Chicken Salad!

Get ready to reinvent your lunch routine with a chicken salad that is anything but ordinary. We’re taking the creamy, comforting classic and infusing it with the bold, tangy fire of buffalo sauce.

This Buffalo Barclay Chicken Salad is a flavor-packed powerhouse, perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or serving with your favorite crackers. It’s a dish that perfectly balances cool creaminess with a vibrant, spicy kick.

This recipe is all about creating a harmony of textures and tastes. Tender shredded chicken is folded into a rich and creamy dressing that features that signature buffalo-style heat, complemented by savory ranch notes.

Crunchy celery and sharp red onion add a fresh bite, while a hint of blue cheese brings a classic, funky complexity. It’s a simple recipe with a huge flavor payoff.

This is a make-ahead marvel that gets even better as it chills, making it the perfect prep for a week of exciting lunches. Let’s get mixing and create a chicken salad that truly stands out from the crowd.

Quick Recipe Snapshot

Here’s a quick look at how easily this bold and flavorful salad comes together.

Ingredients

A great chicken salad is all about the quality of the ingredients and the perfect ratio of creamy, crunchy, and savory.

For the Chicken Salad:

• Shredded Cooked Chicken – A store-bought rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut for perfectly moist and flavorful chicken. You can also use any leftover baked or poached chicken breasts or thighs.
  • 2-3 servings: 2 cups
  • 4-6 servings: 4 cups
• Celery: 2-3 ribs, finely chopped for that essential fresh crunch.
• Red Onion: ¼ of a large onion, finely minced for a sharp, savory bite.
• Blue Cheese Crumbles: 2-4 oz (about ½ to 1 cup). This is optional but highly recommended for the classic buffalo flavor pairing.

For the Spicy Buffalo Dressing:

• Mayonnaise: ½ cup. Use a good quality, creamy mayonnaise for the best base.
• Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: ½ cup, for extra tang and a lighter creaminess.
• Buffalo-Style Hot Sauce: ¼ to ½ cup. Frank’s RedHot is the traditional choice for its signature vinegary tang. Start with ¼ cup and add more to reach your desired heat level.
• Ranch Seasoning Powder: 1 tbsp (from a packet), or 1 tbsp of chopped fresh dill and chives.
• Worcestershire Sauce: 1 tsp, for a boost of savory umami.
• Garlic Powder: ½ tsp.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.

The Flavor Architects A Look at the Seasonings

The bold flavor of this salad is built on a few key components working in harmony.

• The Buffalo Hot Sauce is the star, providing that signature tangy, cayenne-driven heat.
• To support it, Ranch Seasoning brings in savory, herbal notes of dill and onion, while Garlic Powder adds a foundational aromatic sweetness.
• A dash of Worcestershire Sauce introduces a deep umami complexity, and the funky, salty punch of Blue Cheese acts as the perfect counterpoint to the spice.

It’s a classic combination where every ingredient plays a vital role.

Essential Tools

This is a simple mix-and-serve recipe that requires no special equipment.

• Large mixing bowl
• Spatula or large spoon
• Whisk
• Sharp knife and cutting board

Cooking Instructions

This salad is a simple, no-cook assembly that comes together in just a few easy steps, making it a perfect quick meal.

Step 1: Create the Creamy Buffalo Dressing

This flavorful dressing is the foundation of the entire salad. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, ¼ cup of the buffalo hot sauce, the ranch seasoning powder, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.

Whisk all of these ingredients together vigorously until the dressing is completely smooth, creamy, and a uniform pale orange color. This is the perfect time to taste and adjust the heat. If you prefer a spicier salad, add more buffalo sauce one tablespoon at a time until it reaches your ideal level of heat.

Step 2: Combine the Main Salad Ingredients

Now it’s time to build the body of the salad. Add your four cups of shredded cooked chicken directly into the bowl with the prepared buffalo dressing. Follow that with the finely chopped celery and the finely minced red onion.

Using a large spatula or spoon, gently fold all the ingredients together. Continue to mix until every piece of chicken and vegetable is thoroughly and evenly coated in the rich, creamy dressing.

Step 3: Finish with Blue Cheese and Chill

The final touch is the classic cheese pairing. Gently fold in the blue cheese crumbles, being careful not to overmix, as you want to keep some of the larger crumbles intact for texture and flavor bursts.

Once everything is combined, the salad is ready to eat, but for the absolute best results, it needs time for the flavors to meld. Cover the bowl and let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to a few hours, before serving.

Step 4: Final Seasoning and Serving

After the salad has had time to chill and the flavors have married, give it one last gentle stir to recombine everything.

This is the time for the final seasoning. Taste the salad and add salt and freshly cracked black pepper as needed to make the flavors pop. Serve the chilled Buffalo Barclay chicken salad cold on your favorite bread, in a wrap, or with crackers.

Recipe Variations

This versatile chicken salad is a great starting point for your own creations.

• Protein Swaps: This buffalo dressing is also fantastic with shredded turkey or even canned tuna for a bold and spicy tuna salad.
• Add Some Crunch: For extra texture, try adding ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts, or some crispy crumbled bacon.
• Make it Lighter: For a lighter version, you can substitute the mayonnaise and sour cream with an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt. The flavor will be tangier and less rich but still delicious.

Serving Suggestions

This Buffalo Barclay chicken salad is incredibly versatile. Here are a few favorite ways to serve it:

• Classic Sandwich: Pile it high on a soft brioche bun, a flaky croissant, or between two slices of toasted sourdough bread with a leaf of crisp lettuce.
• Healthy Wrap: Spoon the salad into a large flour tortilla or a lettuce wrap (like butter lettuce or romaine hearts) for a lighter, low-carb option.
• As a Dip: Serve it in a bowl surrounded by celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, and your favorite sturdy crackers for a fantastic party dip.
• Stuffed Avocado: For a gluten-free and protein-packed meal, serve a generous scoop inside half of an avocado.

Storage & Reheating Tips

This salad is a perfect make-ahead dish for easy meals.

• Storage: Store the chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: This salad is designed to be eaten cold. Do not reheat it.
• Flavor Note: The flavors will continue to meld and deepen overnight. The salad may be even more delicious on the second day!

Common Mistakes & Fixes

FAQs

What is the best chicken to use for chicken salad?

A store-bought rotisserie chicken is by far the easiest and often most flavorful option, as it provides a mix of both white and dark meat that is already perfectly cooked and moist.

Alternatively, you can poach 2-3 chicken breasts in seasoned water until cooked through, let them cool, and then shred them.

Can I make this salad ahead of a party?

Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead dish. You can prepare it up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it covered in the refrigerator.

Just be sure to give it a good stir before you serve it to recombine the dressing and freshen up the texture.

How can I make a dairy-free version of this recipe?

For a dairy-free version, use a high-quality vegan mayonnaise and substitute the sour cream with a plain, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt (like coconut or almond-based).

You will also need to omit the blue cheese or find a suitable dairy-free alternative.

Enjoy Your Bold New Chicken Salad!

You are now ready to make a Buffalo Barclay chicken salad recipe that will completely change the way you think about this lunch classic.

It’s the perfect combination of creamy, spicy, and crunchy, and it’s so incredibly easy to whip up.

I hope you love this exciting and flavorful dish. Let me know your favorite way to serve it in the comments below!