Julie Clark
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Bob Evans Wildfire Chicken Salad (Easy Copycat with BBQ Ranch Dressing)
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This Wildfire Chicken Salad is a copycat of the Bob Evans favorite, made with tender chicken, fresh veggies, and a creamy barbecue ranch dressing that ties everything together.
It’s one of those dinner salads that feels like something you’d order out, but comes together at home in about 10 minutes. You can use grilled, fried, or even leftover chicken, which makes it easy to fit into a busy weeknight.
The best part is the dressing. A simple mix of barbecue sauce and ranch gives you that signature flavor without needing anything complicated.
If you need a quick, filling dinner that doesn’t feel like “just a salad,” this copycat Bob Evans wildfire chicken salad is it.
You’ll love our copycat Chicken & Noodles and easy cowboy pasta salad, too.
What is wildfire chicken salad?
Wildfire chicken salad is a loaded dinner salad made popular by Bob Evans. It combines lettuce, chicken, corn, cheese, tomatoes, onion, and crunchy tortilla strips, all topped with a creamy barbecue ranch dressing.
It’s different from a traditional chicken salad because it’s:
- Finished with a creamy, tangy dressing instead of vinaigrette
- Hearty enough for dinner thanks to fried chicken tenders
- Built with bold BBQ flavor
What is wildfire ranch dressing?
Wildfire ranch dressing is simply equal parts barbecue sauce and ranch dressing, but the balance matters.
Use a barbecue sauce that isn’t overly sweet so the ranch can come through. If your BBQ sauce is strong or smoky, start with slightly more ranch and adjust to taste.
This dressing should lightly coat the salad, not drown it.
What kind of chicken works best?
You can use grilled or fried chicken, but here’s the easiest way to decide:
- Grilled chicken: best for a lighter, everyday dinner
- Fried or baked chicken tenders: closest to the restaurant version
- Rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken: fastest option for weeknights
If your chicken is already cooked, toss it in a little barbecue sauce before adding it to the salad. That small step makes a big difference in flavor.
What you’ll need:
- Lettuce. Romaine lettuce works great, but Iceberg or spring mix work well, too.
- Corn. If you have corn on the cob, steam the cobs, then cut the corn off. You can also use frozen corn that you’ve allowed to thaw.
- Grape tomatoes
- Cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese or Monterey jack cheese.
- Onion
- Chicken. This can be boneless skinless chicken breast that you grill with some bbq sauce, rotisserie chicken or fried chicken. Cut the chicken into bite size pieces so it is easier to eat the salad.
- Crunchy tortilla strips. Crushed tortilla chips work well too. You can find tortilla strips to top your salad around the produce section of your grocery store.
- Barbecue sauce & Ranch dressing.
How to make wildfire chicken salad
This salad is more about layering than cooking, so focus on balance in each bite.
- Start with a base of chopped lettuce on a plate or in a bowl
- Add corn, tomatoes, onion, and shredded cheese
- Top with warm or room temperature chicken pieces
- Mix equal parts barbecue sauce and ranch dressing
- Drizzle lightly over the salad
- Finish with tortilla strips right before serving
Tip: Add the dressing just before serving so the lettuce stays crisp.
Tips for the best flavor and texture
- Don’t overdress the wildfire chicken salad. Start light and add more if needed
- Use warm chicken for the best contrast with the cold veggies
- Add tortilla strips last so they stay crunchy
- Chop everything into bite-sized pieces so it’s easier to eat
Recipe Variations
- Add black beans. They’ll add protein. This will be similar to Panera’s bbq chicken salad that became so popular recently.
- Add cucumbers for a little extra crunch.
- Chop up an avocado and add it to the salad for an extra bit of creaminess.
- Add peppers such as red bell peppers or even jalapeño peppers for heat.
- Make the salads in a mason jar. Layer the dressing, chicken, cheese, corn, onion and tomato. Then top with the lettuce. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Easy meal prep!
- To serve a crowd, place the ingredients in a large bowl and mix just before serving.
You might enjoy reading about our visit to the original Bob Evans Restaurant. We also partnered with Bob Evans to create Potato Sausage Hand Pies.
Bob Evans Wildfire Chicken Salad (Copycat Recipe)
This Barbecue Chicken Salad is a copycat of Bob Evans’ Wildfire Chicken Salad. Tangy barbecue chicken tops a bed of fresh veggies. Top with a simple 2-ingredient barbecue ranch dressing.
Servings 1
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
IngredientsÂ
- 2 cups lettuce Romaine, Spinach, Iceberg
- 1/4 cup corn
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 3 slices red onion
- 1 barbecued chicken breast or fried chicken strips
- 1/3 cup Santa Fe-style crunchy tortilla strips
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
InstructionsÂ
- Layer the lettuce, corn, tomatoes, cheese, onion and sliced chicken on a plate.
- Mix barbecue sauce and ranch dressing in a small bowl. Drizzle over the top of your salad.
- Sprinkle with Santa Fe tortilla strips, if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
*I sometimes toss my chopped chicken in barbecue sauce if it is leftover and has dried out a bit.
*I used Fresh Gourmet’s Santa Fe Tortilla Strips.
*This recipe is for one salad, but it is easily adapted to make more than one.
Nutrition
Calories: 722kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1175mg | Potassium: 1106mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 1805IU | Vitamin C: 21.9mg | Calcium: 308mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Looks delicious! Suggest gluten free tortilla chips for gluten intolerance!
All nice salads. Thank you.
Saw this on Saturday dishes…. I love salads and this looks awesome. Pinned!
We just loved your post and your blog and we’re so glad to have you join us at our One Sharendipity Place Link-up Party this past weekend!! It has been so much fun finding your site and others like yours out there!! We hope you’ll join us again this weekend!!
Thanks again & God bless,
Sue @ thet2women.com
This looks delicious! Adding it to our meal plan this week!
Thanks for linking up at One Sharendipity Place! This looks great (and easy) for the upcoming summer nights!
OH, wow.
This looks SO good!!!
Love ya, Grandma Clark