BBQ Chicken Salad

There is a bagged salad by Marketplace that I buy every once in a while at the grocery store that is a BBQ Ranch salad. It is super yummy and I love it, even if it means a few extra calories when I am trying to eat healthy. This recipe made me think of that salad and I thought that a homemade version would be so much yummier (and healthier), so I knew that I needed to try it. I was right - it was fantastic!! Also, it had the added bonus of chicken involved so it was perfect for a main meal at my house. I doubled the recipe and threw in whole cans of everything canned and the whole fam gobbled it up. In fact my two oldest boys took it for lunch the next day as well. It was fabulous and another redo at this house!

BBQ Chicken Salad
(Recipe found at damndelicious.net via Pinterest)

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 boneless, skinless thin-sliced chicken breasts
salt and pepper, to taste
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 tomato, diced
3/4 cup canned corn kernels, drained
3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Ranch dressing
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup tortilla strips

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, to taste. Add to skillet and cook, flipping once, until cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces. To assemble the salad, place romaine lettuce in a large bowl; top with chicken, tomato, corn, beans, onion and cheeses. Pour ranch dressing and BBQ sauce on top of the salad and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately, topped with tortilla strips.