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Who says game day eats can't be healthy? Lose the deep-fried wings and keep the hot sauce with this lightened up habanero Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich.
I am so done with painting. Yesterday was a never-ending Benjamin-Moore-fest. Priming. 2 coats. Inside closets. All the trim. 4 closet doors (and as I found out, painting closet doors are especially sucky). I really don't know how the pros out there do this every single day. It's crazy tedious work.
But it was all totally worth it. My wife is ecstatic. And making her happy, well, is always worth it. Last night, for the first time ever, we were finally able sleep in our master bedroom.
When we bought the house, the bedroom had floor to ceiling mirrors on one wall. Like, skeevy 70's motel style. Once they were taken down, the sheetrock needed to be replaced and an ancient in-the-wall A/C was taken out. Sounds easy, right? Ugh... why do projects always take 10x longer than you think they are going to take?
So for the first two months in our new house, our makeshift master bedroom was the spare across the hall... which is on the side of the house where the sun rises. Asheley needs pitch black to sleep, so it was no bueno for her.
When she woke up this morning, Asheley was all smiles. She never wakes up with a smile. Normally it involves groaning and complaining. The best night sleep in 2 months. Like I said, all worth it.
So when we finally finished painting yesterday, we were beyond starving... and exhausted. Since I'm back on the whole operation stop being a fatty thing, something on the light side was a necessity.... as was super uick and easy.
People. This Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich. Asheley declared it the best sandwich she had in a very long time.
I know. This doesn't look too healthy, does it? The secret, Greek yogurt. When mixed with the hot sauce and ranch salad dressing mix, something magical happens. Healthy buffalo chicken salad magic.
I was seriously skeptical of the whole Greek yogurt thing. I thought it was going to be a sad excuse for a healthy replacement. But it totally works. Like, just as good as all mayo. Asheley couldn't even tell the difference.
I grabbed my El Yucateco Hot Sauce at Walmart... including their Black Label Reserve, which is only available at Walmart. That's right, an exclusive flavor. Boom.
El Yucateco also carries Red Habanero Sauce, Green Habanero Sauce, and XXXtra Hot Kutbil-ik Sauce. So much habanero hot, so little time.
How perfect would these be for some game day eats? Because really, who says you need to eat greasy and deep fried? This is a healthy football snack that... well, doesn't taste at all healthy.
Ladies... I'm 99% sure that you can totally slip these to your men and they wouldn't even know the difference. It's got tremendous buffalo flavor, just without the fatness of deep fried buffalo wings.
A few tips for building the perfect quick + easy Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich...
Bread. Make sure it's high quality stuff. I'm talking crusty with a good, airy hole structure. And then give it a good toasting.
Avocado. Avocado always makes for a better sandwich.
Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken... those things are great for last minute, quick meals.
You could add in some finely chopped celery into the buffalo chicken salad if you're into that sort of thing. I'm just personally not a fan of celery... blekhhhh.
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken*
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
- ½ to 1 tablespoon hot sauce (depending how spicy you want it)
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry ranch salad dressing mix
- Kosher salt
- Fresly ground black pepper
- 8 slices good-quality crusty bread
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- Lettuce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, hot sauce, and dry ranch dressing mix. Stir in chicken.
- Toast bread. Top with buffalo chicken salad, lettuce, avocado, and tomato. Serve with carrots and celery, if desired. Devour immediately.
Notes
*For a super quick meal, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
You can feel free to add finely chopped celery in to the buffalo chicken salad if you're into that sort of thing. I'm just not a fan of celery (that's right, I said it).
- Prep Time: 10 mins
CakePants
Uhh, that looks ridiculously delicious and I want one in my belly right now. Brilliant idea, subbing in Greek yogurt for mayo (perfect for me especially, since I only baaarrrely tolerate mayo in salad sandwiches)! I'll definitely be trying these - because you're very right, things always seem to take way longer in reality than I imagine they will, and all too often lately it's dinnertime and I have no ideas for dinner...habanero buffalo chicken salad sandwiches to the rescue!
Chris
Hahaha I'm right there with you... I draw blanks all the time when dinner calls. This is a great last-minute save!
Alyssa
This looks ah-maaazing, Chris! Buffalo chicken anything is a winner to me, and I love that this is lightened up! Picking up a rotisserie chicken is one of my favorite weeknight shortcuts...that may or may not be happening with this sandwich this week! Glad to hear you're making strides with your new digs! 🙂
Chris
Thanks Alyssa! Yup, the rotisserie chicken trick is a great mid-week cheat!
David
Umm...anything buffalo chicken is pretty much amazeballs in my book. And then you turn it into a sandwich, which is my favorite food group of all time? Yes, please. I'll take 2 of these. Delivered at noon today. Thanks! That hot sauce is delicious, too! #WolfpackEats
Chris
Amazeballs indeed... haha sandwiches are a pretty great food group, especially for the wolfpack. Noon... hmmm, how about 1 pm?
Bianca
I have a slight obsession with hot sauce any anything spicy. Tho sandwich looks insane!
Chris
We share the same obsession Bianca 🙂
Amy | Club Narwhal
Hooray for the end of painting! I bet it looks awesome, too--as awesome as this sandwich! I am excited to make this since I always crave buffalo chicken (but the deep fried version). This healthier version looks divine!
Chris
Yea, it looks super awesome! We are so excited. Buffalo chicken is the bomb dot com! Especially when it's healthy and you can eat tons of it 🙂
Renee | Two in the Kitchen
Avocado always makes for a better sandwich: Truer words were never spoken!! How wonderful that you finished painting your bedroom!! I started painting ours in the summer and once school started, I STILL have not finished the last wall.....maybe by next summer! 😉
Chris
Hahaha truth indeed! I know... it's so hard to get stuff started once school starts!
Oriana
I love using greek yogurt as a substitute of mayo. Next time I'll spicy it up with El Yucateco. Love the photos. Thanks! #client
Chris
Thanks Oriana!
Shashi
Greek yogurt and hot sauce - ooh now this is my kinda chicken salad! Congrats on finishing painting! I have to confess, I have been in my home almost 5 years and only 2 rooms have been painted! GAH!
Chris
You gotta up your painting game Shashi! I know... it's so hard to get motivated with house projects sometimes!
Sandra
Oh see you totally should have just left the mirrors!!! LOL Thank you, finally someone on my side about celery...bleck!!! I always put some of my green tomato relish in egg or chicken salad 🙂
Chris
Hahahaha 70s motel style! Oooo green tomato relish!!!! That sounds awesome!