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Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad (Inspired by CPK)

Looking for the perfect summer dinner? This Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad is bursting with fresh flavor, crunchy textures, and irresistible BBQ goodness. Inspired by the famous BBQ Chicken Salad at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), this version brings the same restaurant-quality taste to your own backyard grill—with a few wholesome twists!

Why You’ll Love This Salad

It’s colorful, hearty, and full of delicious textures. Sweet grilled corn, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, fresh herbs, and protein-packed BBQ chicken skewers—all tossed in a creamy, homemade herby ranch dressing. It’s everything you want in a summer salad, and then some.

Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or hosting a backyard barbecue, this salad is always a hit.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Skewers:

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups BBQ sauce (we love Primal Kitchen brand)
  • 8 wooden skewers (6-inch), soaked in water

For the Herby Ranch Dressing (Whole30-Friendly):

  • 1 cup light-tasting oil (like avocado oil or light olive oil; or substitute 1 cup store-bought mayo)
  • 1 egg (omit if using store-bought mayo)
  • ½ cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh dill
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

For the Salad:

  • 4 ears fresh corn (omit for Whole30)
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 8 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce (about 2 small heads)
  • 6 green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes, quartered (about 16 ounces)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (omit for Whole30)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken

  • Pound chicken breasts to an even ½-inch thickness, then cut into 2-inch cubes.
  • In a large bowl, toss chicken with avocado oil, kosher salt, and 1 cup of the BBQ sauce. Let marinate at room temperature for at least 20 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 8 hours.

2. Make the Herby Ranch

  • In a wide-mouth jar, pour in the oil and crack in the egg (if using).
  • Place an immersion blender directly over the yolk and blend without moving until it begins to emulsify into a creamy mayo—about 10 seconds.
  • Slowly move the blender up and down to incorporate all the oil.
  • Add coconut milk, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, onion powder, and garlic, and blend again.
  • Stir in dill, parsley, and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use. Keeps for up to one week.

Shortcut: Use 1 cup of your favorite light-flavored store-bought mayo instead of making it from scratch.

3. Grill the Chicken & Corn

  • Brush corn with avocado oil.
  • Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 350–400°F). Oil the grates with a paper towel dipped in oil.
  • Grill corn for 10–12 minutes, turning every 2 minutes until charred and tender.
  • Grill chicken skewers for 3–4 minutes per side. After flipping, brush the grilled side with reserved BBQ sauce. Cook until internal temp reaches 165°F and grill marks form.

4. Assemble the Salad

  • In a large bowl, toss romaine, green onions, tomatoes, black beans, cilantro, and basil with your desired amount of herby ranch.
  • Cut grilled corn off the cob and add it to the salad along with the diced avocado. Gently toss to combine.
  • Serve with BBQ chicken skewers on top or alongside.

Tips & Variations

  • Make it Whole30: Omit the corn and black beans. Use compliant BBQ sauce and homemade mayo.
  • Meal prep: Marinate the chicken and prep the dressing ahead of time for easy assembly later.
  • More BBQ flavor: Reserve a little extra BBQ sauce for dipping the chicken!

More Grilled Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

  • Grilled Sesame Chicken Skewers with Ginger-Scallion Rice
  • Korean-Inspired BBQ Chicken Skewers
  • Harissa-Yogurt Marinated Chicken with Cucumber-Quinoa Salad
  • Grilled Chicken with Chipotle-Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Final Thoughts

This salad is what summer dreams are made of: smoky, sweet, herby, and totally satisfying. Whether you’re recreating your favorite CPK dish or just craving something fresh off the grill, this Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewer Salad delivers big flavor with feel-good ingredients.

Enjoy every bite—and don’t be surprised if you find yourself putting that homemade herby ranch on everything!

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