Confession: we use our outdoor year-round, which is why I’m including these summer flavors in our Eating Lighter Before the Holidays series. Sometimes you just want that smoky barbecue flavor during the colder, darker months, and this salad is a great example!

Another reason this salad works well during this time of year is the fact that it can be surprisingly fast and low maintenance. While you can smoke and slow roast your chicken, make your own sauce and dressing, and create a homemade thing of barbecue beauty, you don’t have to do so. Cook your chicken however you wish; you can even use an already-cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Shred it and smother it in your favorite bottled barbecue sauce. Buy shredded cheese, a salad kit, and toss it all in your favorite jarred ranch dressing. (Though we can highly recommend our quick-to-make Mainstay Ranch Dressing, if you have the time!)

Some of these ingredients, like fresh corn, might be harder to find out-of-season, as well. In which case, frozen or canned alternatives work great. Those save even more time, as well.

All in all, give yourself a break and indulge in the ease of an out-of-season Barbecue Chicken Salad as you Eat Lighter Before the Holidays!

Simple but Tasty Barbecue Chicken Salad

Chicken, cooked and shredded
Your favorite barbecue sauce
Chopped romaine hearts
Roma tomatoes, diced
Sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Corn, cooked through and salted
Ranch dressing

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and serve! We recommend serving with crunchy tortilla chips on the side.