Meal Prep BBQ Chicken Salad Bowls — A quick and easy meal to prep for the week ahead! Makes for a satisfying lunch or light dinner.

This post was originally published in 2018, but has since been updated.

Oh, meal prep. sigh. Who feels me?

Here’s the thing. I am an A+ student when it comes to the planning part. Like 12 post-it notes with the same grocery list kinda A+ student. The execution though? We’re pushing a solid D+. Extra credit included. But, taking the extra 30 minutes to an hour to prep ahead some meals like these BBQ Chicken Salad Bowls for the week ahead saves me time, stress, and embarrassingly loud stomach rumbles at 3 o’clock.

Why This Recipe Works

Using leftover rotisserie chicken makes this recipe super quick to prep.

Add whatever veggies you have on hand or prefer.

Make a few of these salads at a time to have lunch for the week.

How To Make These BBQ Chicken Salad Bowls

Start by chopping a large sweet potato into cubes, leaving the skin on. Roast them in the oven, or use my favorite method of an indoor grill for those awesome grill marks.

Combine shredded chicken with 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce. If I don’t have time to bake off chicken ahead of time, I’ll pick up a rotisserie chicken instead. I also look for a lower-sugar BBQ sauce, since a lot of them can be super high in added sugars and corn syrups. Stubb’s is usually my go-to (not sponsored, just the lowest sugar option I can find!)

In three meal-prep bowls, add chopped romaine, fresh or frozen (and thawed) corn, the grilled sweet potatoes, and BBQ chicken. Now you have three meals ready to go for the week!

Pro Tips

Cook and shred chicken ahead of time, or use a rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time.
Prep a batch of the grilled sweet potatoes for these meal prep bowls, and the week ahead!
Add your favorite salad dressing (like this Greek Yogurt Parmesan Peppercorn) just before serving to prevent them from getting too soggy.

FAQs

Do I have to use chicken?

Absolutely not! Swap it out for ground turkey, lentils, tofu, or whatever protein you’re feeling (aka is on sale that week)

How long do these stay good for?

These salads can stay good for up to four days in the refrigerator. Keeping the chicken away from the lettuce helps prevent it from getting soggy, too.

Money-Saving Tips for these BBQ Chicken Salad Bowls:

Buy in bulk. If you’re going to prep more of these, or eat chicken regularly, buy the big package. The family packs cost less per pound, so is a better deal. You can also freeze what you don’t cook if you have the room.
Prep yourself. Rotisserie chicken is the exception since they are often relatively inexpensive. Buying pre-chopped romaine or lettuce however, can be more pricey. Save a few extra $$, and wash/chop it yourself.
Use frozen. If fresh corn isn’t on sale, or doesn’t look good, opt for frozen. Not only is it convenient, but inexpensive, and just as nutritious.

more quick meal-prep recipes:

Vegan Basil BLT Sandwich

Black Pepper and Cranberry Turkey Sandwich

5 Minute Vegetarian Chili

Did you make this recipe? Rate & leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!

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