American · Salads & bowls

Chicken ranch chopped salad

Name: Chicken ranch chopped salad
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded 3/4 inch thick; 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 1/3 cup buttermilk; 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons chopped dill; 2 tablespoons chopped chives; 1 small garlic clove, finely grated; 1 small head romaine, chopped and thoroughly dried; 3 cups thinly sliced green cabbage; 1 cup corn kernels, thawed if frozen; 1 English cucumber, diced; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; 3 ounces sharp cheddar, grated; 1/3 cup roasted salted pepitas

Juicy seasoned chicken, romaine, cabbage, corn, tomatoes, cucumber, cheddar, and pepitas tossed with fresh buttermilk-herb ranch.

About 50 minTotal

About 40 minActive

$$Cost

EasyDifficulty

Makes 4 servings

Equipment

Use another covered 12-inch oven-safe skillet or transfer before the oven finish.
Best large covered skillet
All-Clad D3 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid · 41126
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use another covered 12-inch oven-safe skillet or transfer before the oven finish.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched the twelve-inch footprint, fitted lid, tri-ply heat distribution, 600°F oven and broiler rating, current model 41126 and UPC, ownership burden, and exact Amazon identity. Kwilt has not cooked with this pan.
All-Clad D3 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid · 41126: Its twelve-inch cooking surface gives rice, shrimp, meat, and vegetables room to cook evenly, while the fitted lid and 600°F oven rating cover both the lidded stovetop method and the shepherd's-pie oven finish. Trade-off: It is a premium-priced pan, food can stick without sound preheating and fat control, and the long handle plus lid need more storage room than a basic skillet.
Another workable path: Use another oven-safe 12-inch skillet with a well-fitting lid; if the handle has a lower heat limit, transfer oven-finished food to a suitable baking dish.
Sources
All-Clad model 41126 specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 4 servings

1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded 3/4 inch thick
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped dill
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
1 small head romaine, chopped and thoroughly dried
3 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
1 cup corn kernels, thawed if frozen
1 English cucumber, diced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3 ounces sharp cheddar, grated
1/3 cup roasted salted pepitas

Instructions

Season chicken with 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Heat olive oil in a and cook chicken 5 to 7 minutes per side until 165°F. Rest 10 minutes, then dice.
Whisk mayonnaise, buttermilk, yogurt, lemon, dill, chives, grated garlic, remaining salt, and remaining pepper until pourable and evenly flecked. Taste for a cool, tangy herb balance.
Combine romaine, cabbage, corn, cucumber, and tomatoes in a very large bowl. Add chicken, cheddar, and two-thirds of the pepitas.
Add only enough ranch to coat and toss thoroughly from the bottom so the chopped ingredients distribute evenly. Taste before adding more salt because cheddar and pepitas are seasoned.
Divide among bowls, top with remaining pepitas, and serve extra ranch alongside. For meal prep, store chicken, ranch, pepitas, and chopped vegetables separately and combine when eating.

CaliforniaCalifornian ranch and grain-bowl cooking

From the table

About this recipe

Ranch began as a California dude-ranch dressing and became an American household standard; a chopped salad succeeds when similarly sized ingredients distribute through every bite.

Ranch began as a California dude-ranch dressing and became an American household default. A chopped salad earns its name when ingredients are similarly fork-sized and distributed through every bite. This version leaves out bacon and avocado, already central to Cobb salad, and uses corn, cabbage, cheddar, and pepitas to create a more everyday crunchy identity. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Retain the high-rated chopped chicken-ranch structure, answer review complaints by removing separate bacon and breadcrumb steps, and use cabbage, corn, cheddar, and pepitas for a distinct one-skillet household salad.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe