These BBQ chicken kabobs with creamy, herby ranch salad is the meal that tastes like summer to me. Sweet smoky chicken fresh off the grill, charred corn, cold crunchy lettuce, creamy avocado, and enough ranch to make everyone at the table happy.

When you grow up a picky eater, you learn pretty quickly how to survive dinner. And for me? The answer was barbecue sauce. If I could dip something in BBQ sauce, there was a very good chance I could choke it down with minimal drama.

These BBQ chicken skewers remind me of those easy days of summer growing up when the sound of the sprinklers were, the lawnmower was my alarm clock, and that hot trampoline with sprinklers set underneath of it was our favorite past time.

I hope you all take things a little slower this week. Do a little outdoor grilling and don’t rush to clean up, just sit and enjoy the sunshine as it lazily slips beneath the trees and night settles in like an old friend wrapping you up in comfort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This BBQ chicken kabobs recipe comes together in a few simple steps and is perfect for easy summer dinners after a long day outside.

Kabobs

• Chicken Breasts: Tender, lean chicken that grills beautifully and soaks up all the smoky BBQ flavor.
• Avocado or Olive Oil: Helps the chicken stay juicy while adding richness and helping the sauce cling to every bite.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the chicken and balances the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
• BBQ Sauce: Adds smoky, sweet, tangy flavor and caramelizes perfectly on the grill.
• Wooden Skewers: Make the kabobs easy to grill and serve. Soaking them helps prevent burning.

Homemade Ranch

• Mayonnaise: Creates a rich, creamy base for the homemade ranch dressing.
• Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and thins the dressing to the perfect consistency.
• Onion Powder: Gives the ranch that classic savory flavor.
• Garlic: Adds bold fresh flavor that makes homemade ranch irresistible.
• Fresh Dill: Brings bright, fresh ranch flavor.
• Fresh Parsley or Basil: Adds freshness and a summery herb

This crispy rice salad is a bold mix of crunchy roasted rice, fresh herbs, creamy avocado, and a tangy soy-lime dressing. Every bite is packed with texture, flavor, and that addictive crispy rice crunch that makes this salad completely unforgettable.

It works as a light lunch, easy dinner, or side dish, and once you make crispy rice this way, you’ll want to add it to everything.

What is Crispy Rice Salad?

Crispy rice salad is a fresh vegetable and herb salad tossed with crunchy roasted rice and a flavorful dressing. It is super viral on TikTok, and I’m a HUUUUGE texture gal, so I just had to try it! This salad hits the spot for me!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This crispy rice salad comes together with simple, fresh ingredients that bring a lot of texture and flavor to every bite.

Rice

• White Rice: Base of the salad that crisps up in the oven or air fryer. Day-old rice works best for texture.
• Gochujang Chili Paste: Adds spicy, savory depth and helps coat the rice for bold flavor and color.
• Vegetable Oil: Helps the rice crisp evenly and turn golden and crunchy.

Salad

• English Cucumber: Cool, crisp crunch that balances the rice.
• Fresh Mint: Bright, cooling flavor that keeps the salad fresh.
• Fresh Cilantro: Fresh, citrusy herb flavor that adds lift.
• Green Onions: Mild onion bite and fresh crunch.
• Shelled Edamame: Adds protein and a slightly sweet, nutty bite.
• Shallot: Light onion flavor with a subtle sharpness.
• Avocado: Creamy texture that balances the crunch.
• Peanuts: Crunchy, salty nuttiness for extra texture and flavor.

Dressing

• Soy Sauce: Adds salty, savory umami flavor and forms the base of the dressing.
• Seasoned Rice Vinegar: Tangy-sweet acidity that brightens the salad.
• Vegetable Oil: Smooths and emulsifies the dressing.
• Brown Sugar: Balances the salty and tangy flavors with a touch of sweetness.
• Lime Juice: Fresh citrus acidity that lifts everything.
• Garlic: Adds bol

If you’re looking for a salad that actually keeps you full, this Grilled Chicken Salad is it. Tender grilled chicken, creamy avocado, sweet grilled corn, crunchy roasted chickpeas, and queso fresco are tossed together with a zesty homemade southwest ranch dressing for a salad that’s hearty enough to be dinner.

It’s fresh, colorful, packed with protein, and loaded with bold Southwest flavors in every bite. Whether you’re meal prepping lunches or serving dinner on a warm summer night, this is one of those salads everyone gets excited to eat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Don’t let the ingredient list fool you—everything in this southwest salad with roasted chickpeas is easy to find and worth every bite.

Roasted Chickpeas

• Chickpeas: Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas become wonderfully crispy in the oven and add protein, fiber, and crunch to the salad.
• Olive Oil: Helps the chickpeas crisp up while adding rich flavor and helping the seasonings adhere.
• Paprika: Adds a mild smoky sweetness and beautiful color to the roasted chickpeas.
• Ground Cumin: Brings warm, earthy Southwest flavor that pairs perfectly with the chicken and corn.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances all the flavors and helps season the chickpeas from the inside out.

Southwest Ranch Dressing

• Sour Cream: Creates a creamy, tangy base for the dressing.
• Mayonnaise: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, classic ranch texture.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the dressing and balances the richness with fresh acidity.
• Fresh Dill: Gives the dressing that signature ranch flavor and fresh herbaceous taste.
• Garlic Powder: Adds savory depth without overpowering the dressing.
• Chili Powder: Brings mild heat and smoky Southwest flavor.
• Taco Seasoning: Adds extra layers of spices and enhances the Southwestern flavor profile.
  • PRO TIP: This is the key to this salad!

For the Salad

Read more

If you’re looking for the best cilantro lime dressing, this creamy version is fresh, tangy, and packed with flavor. Made with avocado, fresh lime juice, cilantro, and garlic, this cilantro lime salad dressing blends up in just minutes and works on almost everything. Drizzle it over salads, tacos, burrito bowls, grilled chicken, or use it as a dip for veggies.

The avocado gives the dressing a naturally creamy texture without any dairy, while the lime and cilantro add that bright, zesty flavor that makes everything taste better. Basically, once you make this cilantro lime dressing recipe, you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge at all times.

Salad Dressing Recipes

I’m slowly but surely gathering up all of my favorite salad dressing recipes… for my mom. Haha! I mean, I’m doing it for all of you as well, but this stems from a comment my mom made that I’m not completely ruminating on. 🙂 She said she doesn’t know how to make a good salad. AND, FURTHERMORE, she doesn’t really eat salad in the winter because she associates it with summer. 

Oh heck no. 

Salad is one of the greatest things of my life, so I absolutely have to help her out! Salads are the easiest recipe because literally anything goes. You wanna add roasted sweet potatoes? DO IT! You want to mix cottage cheese in? IT’S DELICIOUS!

So, first up, Cilantro Lime Avocado Dressing because it’s healthy, and so bright and zesty! And look at that green color! All the heart eyes!

Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Dressing

• Ready in 5 minutes
• Naturally creamy from avocado
• Fresh and tangy flavor
• Great for salads, tacos, bowls, and wraps
• Gluten-free and dairy-free

Ingredients You’ll Need

This creamy cilantro lime dressing uses simple fresh ingredients that blend into a bright and flavorful sauce.

Summer Grilled Chicken Salad w/ Creamy Basil Dressing

During the summer I love to make a big, satisfying salad that packs in a lean protein and is full of flavor without the fuss and mess of the oven. I use grilled chicken with our favorite chicken marinade, charred corn on the cob, crispy bacon, smoky and salty cheeses and of course, our summer basil herb dressing! It’s the best grilled chicken salad recipe on the internet for a reason!

Watch How We Make This Fabulous Summer Salad…

If you’re looking for the most delicious dinner to make on a hot summer day that does not include the oven, this is it! I’m utterly obsessed with the dressing and have been keeping all ingredients on hand to make every version of this summer salad possible.

Sometimes I skip the berries or only add one of the cheeses. Other times I sub out the chicken for another protein or even shove it all in a big fat wrap. No matter how you make it, this is the best summer salad ever. 

Ingredients for the Best Summer Salad

As with most salads, this salad is highly customizable depending on what you have on hand and what your family loves. There are two things I wouldn’t skip…the chicken and the dressing! I can’t say enough about this homemade basil dressing! Most salads use vinaigrettes or ranch dressing, but this unique creamy basil dressing is fresh, light and irresistible!

• Mixed Greens: You can grab any type of green you want…baby spinach, arugula, spring mix, romaine lettuce, etc.
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Brea