Quick Delicious Meal From A Busy Mama: BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad

Quick Delicious Meal From A Busy Mama: As a newborn and family photographer and mother, I find myself having a “busy season” all year round. I love that my business is thriving, and I love my children’s activities and everything they are involved in, but if I’m being honest, sometimes I’m a little burnt out by the end of the day. I always want quick delicious meals. Mainly because I don’t particularly like to cook, it’s more of a necessity, and need to survive than an actual desire to do it. Last week I shared my love for Home Chef meal delivery. This week that love continues. There are so many great things that they offer and here’s one of the meals that were in our delivery this week.

BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad

The weather is starting to warm up here, and whenever there’s warm weather, I’m always a huge fan of salads. Ok, I’m a fan of a salad pretty much any time of the year, for any meal. It’s true, I love them. I eat very little meat, so that likely plays a large role in my love of eating leaves, lol.

I mean it doesn’t get much easier than this, and the flavor is AMAZING!

1. Prepare the Ingredients
   • Hold romaine heart at root end and chop coarsely.
   • Core tomato and cut into ½” dice.
   • Halve and peel onion. Slice halves into thin strips.
   • Pat chicken dry, and season all over with a pinch of pepper

2. Cook the Onion
• Place onion in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a
damp paper towel. Microwave until softened, 1-3 minutes.
• Place a medium non-stick pan over medium heat and add
½ tsp. olive oil. Add onion and a pinch of salt to hot pan.
Stir occasionally until onion is browned, 6-8 minutes.
• Remove from burner and transfer onion to a plate or bowl.
Let cool, at least 5 minutes.
• While onion cooks, cook chicken.

3. Cook the Chicken
   • Place a large non-stick pan over medium heat and add
   ½ tsp. olive oil. Add chicken to hot pan and cook
   undisturbed until lightly charred, 3-5 minutes.
   • Then stir occasionally until browned all over and chicken
   reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees,
   3-5 minutes.
   • Remove from burner and stir in BBQ sauce until coated.

4. Make the Salad
   • Add romaine, spinach, cheese, garlic salt, caramelized
   onion, tomatoes, and dressing to a mixing bowl. Toss or
   gently stir until combined.

5. Finish the Dish
   • Plate dish as pictured on front of card, topping salad with
   chicken and tortilla strips.

If you’re looking for other Quick Delicious Meal From A Busy Mama be sure to check out some of last week’s posts:

• The Safety and Care Behind Every Newborn Pose | Chico Newborn Photographer
• Veterans Day 2024 | Roseville Newborn Photographer
• Fall Family Portrait Session Ideas: How to Make Your Shoot Fun and Memorable- Roseville Photographer
• Why Turnaround Times Matter | Sacramento Photographer
• Unforgettable Family Photography in Roseville, CA