This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
Below I’ll show you how easy it is to make a buffalo chicken salad lunchbox for teens, and I’ll share simple tips to keep it fresh until later.
Lunch Salad with Buffalo Chicken
Buffalo chicken salad is one of those school lunches that feels special but takes almost no time to prepare. It’s packed with protein, healthy fats, indulgent blue cheese crumbles and creamy ranch dressing, keeping my teens satisfied and focused all day!
If your teen isn’t a fan of lettuce, grab a tortilla and you’ve got an epic buffalo chicken quesadilla, or a tasty buffalo chicken wrap. You can also pull out that leftover rice and make a tasty buffalo chicken bowl! All of these options are quick, healthy, and easily to customize.
What You Need
You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below. In the meantime, here are the ingredients I use (and why), along with potential swaps you can make:
- Lettuce: crisp and refreshing! Iceberg lettuce provides a satisfying crunch or for more variety and nutrition, mix in some Romaine or spinach.
- Avocado: a source of healthy fats, avocado makes this salad creamy and filling.
- Blue cheese: adds a tangy kick, but can be swapped for shredded cheddar or another favorite.
- Buffalo chicken: use leftovers or prep extra on the weekend; in a pinch you can toss shredded rotisserie chicken in buffalo sauce.
- Hard-boiled egg: packed with protein and nutrients; check out the best way to make perfect hard-boiled eggs every time.
- Ranch dressing: store-bought, homemade ranch , or Greek yogurt ranch.
- Buffalo sauce: either store-bought or homemade buffalo sauce will work perfectly.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Salad for Lunch
This salad is quick to assemble and incredibly forgiving if you’re short on time! Here are some tips to keep it tasting great all day.
- Prep
Slice the hard-boiled egg and dice the avocado; if you make the salad the night before, dice the avocado in the morning to avoid browning. - Layer
Start with a bed of lettuce, then layer on the avocado, blue cheese crumbles, buffalo chicken, and sliced egg. - Separate the dressings
Put the dressings in their own lidded containers so your teen can drizzle their preferred amount of each one just before eating.
First time making this incredible lunch salad? Watch this quick recipe to see the magic happen.
Packing Dressing for School Lunches
To keep this salad fresh, wait to add the dressing and sauce until just before eating. Choose separate, lidded containers for the ranch dressing and buffalo sauce. This will avoid a mess in the lunchbox and prevent soggy lettuce. When your teen’s lunch rolls around, this buffalo chicken salad will be fresh and delicious!
School Lunch Salad Packing Tips
The key to keeping salads appealing is to pack them properly so everything stays fresh.
Use the right container
Use a hard, compartmentalized lunch container for the salad, and separate leak-proof containers for the dressing to keep everything from getting soggy.
Keep it cool
Include an ice pack in the lunch bag to keep lettuce crisp and creamy avocado fresh until lunchtime.
Reduce browning
Avocados are going to brown some, but a splash of lemon juice will help to slow down the process.
More Salad Lunch Ideas
Loving this buffalo chicken salad? You’ll definitely want to try this very versatile cobb salad, vibrant winter salad, and crispy chicken strip salad! They’re just as easy to make as sandwiches and add great variety to your lunch-packing routine. Enjoy!
Buffalo Chicken Salad Lunchbox
Watch How It’s Packed:
Ingredients
- ¼ head Iceberg lettuce, chopped
- ¼ avocado, peeled, cored, and diced
- ⅛ cup Blue cheese crumbles
- ½ cup cooked Buffalo Chicken
- ¼ hard-boiled egg, sliced
- Ranch dressing
- Buffalo sauce, for drizzling
Instructions
To enjoy at home:
- Place the chopped lettuce into a large serving bowl.
- In one row, place the sliced avocado over the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the sliced egg. Drizzle with Ranch dressing and additional buffalo sauce. Toss to combine.
Pack for school:
- Make a base of lettuce at the bottom of the lunch container. Top it with sliced avocado, Blue cheese crumbles, cooked Buffalo chicken, and sliced egg. If packing this lunch ahead, add the avocado the same morning you're going to eat it to keep it from browning.
- Pack the Ranch dressing and Buffalo sauce in small dressing containers.
- Refrigerate until ready to pack in the lunch bag with an ice pack if necessary.
Leave a Reply