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5 from 7 votes
? Dairy-Free ? Gluten-Free ? High Protein ? Low Carb ? Macro-friendly

Healthy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe (Dairy Free)

This lightened-up Dairy Free Buffalo Chicken Salad is going to be your new go-to lunch. It's packed with so much protein, veggies, and flavor that you'll want to eat it again and again!

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By: Lauren May 10, 2022 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This lightened-up Healthy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad is going to be your new go-to lunch. It’s packed with protein, veggies, and tons of FLAVOR that will have you making this recipe on repeat!

Buffalo chicken salad on open face sandwiches.
Contents hide
About This Recipe
Why You’ll Love this Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
Optional Variations and Dietary Adaptions
Equipment Needed
How To Make
How To Store
Helpful Tips
FAQ: Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
More Buffalo Inspired Recipes To Try
More Chicken Salad Recipes You’ll Love
Healthy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe (Dairy Free)
MyFitnessPal Entry
Did You Make This?

About This Recipe

Am I the only one who is always craving buffalo chicken? I don’t think I could ever get bored of it and especially not with this kind of chicken salad recipe! 

This recipe includes tender, juicy chicken tossed in spicy buffalo sauce mixed with crunchy veggies and lathered in a creamy ranch or bleu cheese dressing…oh my lanta. IT’S SO GOOD!

If this is you too, you’re going to love my Dairy-Free Buffalo Chicken Salad so much that you’re gonna want to make it everyday for lunch!

This salad recipe is so perfect to meal prep early in the week and use for lunches or a quick dinner. It holds up great in the fridge and there are so many ways to enjoy it. 

Spread it on some toast to make a regular or open-faced sandwich, roll it up in a tortilla as a wrap, scoop it into some lettuce cups, or treat it as a dip and dive in with some carrots and celery. The options are endless!

If a little heat isn’t your thing, check my sweeter chicken salad recipes like my Rainbow Chicken Salad or Apple and Pecan Chicken Salad! 

Buffalo chicken salad sandwich with frank's red hot and chips.

Why You’ll Love this Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe

  • It’s super easy to whip up and last all week in the fridge!
  • Packed with so much delicious flavor! Made with hearty chicken and crunchy veggies.
  • A healthy, filling and satisfying meal! Made with just the right amount of kick!
  • A great recipe for meal prep! A great gluten-free and dairy-free recipe!
  • Incredibly versatile with so many ways to enjoy it! Perfect for on-the-go!

Ingredients for creamy buffalo chicken salad (dairy-free) recipe.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Chicken – any type of cooked and shredded type of chicken will work for this recipe. I always use my Basic Shredded Chicken recipe for any chicken salad recipe. You can use canned, rotisserie, grilled, etc.
  • Bell pepper
  • Celery
  • Red onion
  • Carrots
  • Mayo – I used Hellman’s light mayo.
  • Buffalo sauce – I used Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce. Any favorite buffalo sauce works great here! 
  • Salt & pepper

Optional Variations and Dietary Adaptions

This recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

If you don’t love mayo, feel free to swap it out for Greek yogurt or cottage cheese! 

Equipment Needed

  • Vegetable chopper (optional) – this veggie chopper isn’t required but is a MAJOR time savor this type of recipe!
healthy creamy buffalo chicken salad being mixed together in a bowl.

How To Make

ingredients for buffalo chicken salad chopped up.
1. Wash and dice your veggies.
ingredients for buffalo chicken salad mixed together.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients. Fold using a wooden spoon until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
ingredients mixed together for creamy buffalo chicken salad.
3. Taste and add any salt and/or pepper to taste.
creamy buffalo chicken salad on two pieces of brad with chips on plate.
4. Serve as a sandwich, on an open-faced piece of toast, in a lettuce wrap, or eat straight up!

How To Store

Store your Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad in an airtight container. It will last in the fridge for 5-6 days.

buffalo chicken salad sandwich with frank's red hot and chips.

Helpful Tips

How To Enjoy Your Buffalo Chicken Salad:

  • As a sandwich – The classic way! Place your chicken salad between two pieces of bread or toast.
  • As open-faced sandwich – Spread chicken salad on a warm, toasted piece of bread.
  • As a wrap – Grab your favorite kind of tortilla and roll this chicken salad inside!
  • On top of a salad – I like to eat this over a bed of romaine with some crackers on the side.
  • Straight up – Enjoy by the forkful. It’s so delicious!

inside shot of buffalo chicken salad sandwich being held in my hand.

FAQ: Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe

Is this recipe spicy?

This recipe is not super spicy as the mayo helps to mellow out some of the spice. But if you are extra sensitive to spice, I would recommend using a mild buffalo sauce instead of regular or using less buffalo sauce.

Is this Buffalo Chicken Salad healthy?

It sure is! This chicken salad is packed with lean protein, four different vegetables (hello fiber!), and uses a small amount of mayo to bring creaminess. It has significantly less fat and calories than most chicken salad recipes.


Can I replace the mayo with something else?

We use a little bit of light mayo in this recipe and it goes a long way. I highly recommend it if you have it for the best flavor! But if you’re in a crunch, you can replace the mayo with plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free Greek yogurt. This will also give you a little extra protein!

Can I freeze this chicken salad?

I haven’t tried it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I wouldn’t think the texture would remain the same. Definitely think this salad is best eaten fresh!

buffalo chicken salad sandwich with frank's red hot and chips.

More Buffalo Inspired Recipes To Try

Buffalo chicken, spaghetti squash, and cheese baked in a casserole dish topped with green onions and dressing

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Soup

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip with Greek Yogurt (5 Easy Ingredients!)

30 Minute Buffalo Chicken Crescent Ring (Lightened up!)

More Chicken Salad Recipes You’ll Love

Rainbow chicken salad on two pieces of toast and greens.

Rainbow Chicken Salad (Lightened-Up)

Easy Apple Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe

Avocado Chicken Salad (No Mayo) in bowl with spoon.

Easy Avocado Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad (No Mayo)

Winter cranberry and pecan chicken salad (no mayo) on croissant.

Winter Pecan and Cranberry Chicken Salad (No Mayo)

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!

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5 from 7 votes

Healthy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe (Dairy Free)

? Dairy-Free ? Gluten-Free ? High Protein ? Low Carb ? Macro-friendly
This lightened-up Dairy Free Buffalo Chicken Salad is going to be your new go-to lunch. It's packed with so much protein, veggies, and flavor that you'll want to eat it again and again!
Yield: 6 servings
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
Calories: 208kcal
Protein: 26.7g
Fat: 7.7g
Carbs: 8g

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked & shredded chicken breast (500g) I used my Basic Shredded Chicken recipe but rotisserie, canned, or grilled chicken works!
  • 1 red bell pepper (130g) finely diced
  • 4 celery stalks (185g) finely diced
  • 1/2 medium red onion (120g) finely diced
  • 2 small carrots (120g) finely diced
  • 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp light mayo (90g)
  • 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp buffalo sauce (90g)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes. Scroll for macros and MyFitnessPal code.

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients. Fold until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
  • Taste and add any salt and/or pepper to taste.
  • Serve as a sandwich, on toast, in a wrap or lettuce wrap, over a bed of greens or enjoy as is! 

Equipment

  • Vegetable chopper optional

Notes

If you don’t love mayo, feel free to swap it out for Greek yogurt or cottage cheese!
To store: store chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/6 of recipe (200g), Calories: 208kcal (10%), Carbohydrates: 8g (3%), Protein: 26.7g (53%), Fat: 7.7g (12%), Saturated Fat: 1.4g (9%), Fiber: 1.8g (8%), Sugar: 3.6g (4%)

Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.

MyFitnessPal Entry

LFF Buffalo Chicken Salad

© Author: Lauren

Did You Make This?

We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so we can see your creations!

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Contents hide
About This Recipe
Why You’ll Love this Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
Optional Variations and Dietary Adaptions
Equipment Needed
How To Make
How To Store
Helpful Tips
FAQ: Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
More Buffalo Inspired Recipes To Try
More Chicken Salad Recipes You’ll Love
Healthy Creamy Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe (Dairy Free)
MyFitnessPal Entry
Did You Make This?
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Lauren

Lauren

Lauren lives with her husband, Simon and two dogs, Finley and Cookie, in the Carolina’s. She has college degrees in Nursing and Exercise Science, is a NASM certified trainer and spent many years as a macro coach before transitioning to full time blogging. She loves staying active, being creative and recreating her favorite comfort food dishes into healthier, lightened up versions. Desserts are her speciality!

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Hey There!

I’m Lauren, a food lover sharing healthy, macro-friendly recipes that taste good and you can feel good about eating. Here you’ll find everything from breakfasts to easy dinners to lightened up desserts because desserts are absolutely mandatory around here!

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