Go Back
+ servings
BBQ chicken salad bowl in white dish with all the toppings including avocado, roasted veggies and cauli rice. This dish is Paleo, AIP and GAPS diet.
Print

BBQ Chicken Salad Bowl (Paleo & AIP)

If you love a little spicy BBQ sauce but miss it while avoiding nightshades, you'll love this wonderful Paleo AIP BBQ sauce and this fresh nutrient-dense comfort food salad.
Course DInner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword aip, BBQ, bowl, chicken, gaps diet, nightshade-free, no-tomato sauce, paleo, salad
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 1139kcal
Author Megan
Cost $9

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Nightshade-free BBQ sauce see BBQ Sauce recipe just below
  • 2 pounds chicken thighs cooked: Quick Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs, or use leftover chicken
  • 2 large sweet potatoes or 5-6 small, peeled and cut into 3/4" bite-size cubes; use winter squash for GAPS; or choose rutabaga
  • 2 large beets yellow, peeled and in 3/4" cubes, or 1 large head cauliflower, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil or preferred fat of choice such as avocado oil or melted lard
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar optional, omit for GAPS
  • 1 large head romaine lettuce or 2 small heads, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 to 2 whole avocados chopped
  • 3 cups cauliflower rice , cooked
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro and/or sliced radishes optional for garnish
  • optional probiotic dill pickles and plantain chips for garnish

Nightshade-free BBQ Sauce (can be made ahead for quick assembly of dinner)

Instructions

BBQ Sauce -- Begin this first.

  • Place carrots, beets and onion in steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and cook until very tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Place steamed veggies in high powered blender with the remaining ingredients (OR if using the Nomato Sauce option, use 2 cups Nomato Sauce in place of the steamed veggies and bone broth): bone broth (omit if using Nomato Sauce shortcut), apple cider vinegar, optional bacon fat, maple syrup, coconut amino acids, fresh ginger and garlic, sea salt and optional fish sauce and molasses.
    Blend on lowest speed, and increase as motor moves with ease. Blend on medium to medium-high speed for about 45 seconds until sauce is smooth.

Chicken and Roasted Veggie prep

  • While sauce veggies steam: Preheat oven to 425℉. Place sweet potatoes and beets in large mixing bowl. Add olive oil, garlic and sea salt, stirring to coat. Spread veggies out onto one to two shallow baking pans, depending on their size. Roast until sweet potatoes are fork-tender, about 30 to 35 minutes; stir and turn over vegetables occasionally during cooking so dark bottoms get flipped. Drizzle with optional balsamic vinegar and keep warm in oven at lowest temperature until ready to serve.
  • Place chicken in medium-size bowl and shred using two forks. Add 1-½ cups BBQ sauce and lightly stir to coat.
    Reserve remaining BBQ Sauce to drizzle over bowls.

Assembly

  • Place each ingredient in serving bowls separately, side-by-side, to create a composed salad bowl; or, layer ingredients with romaine lettuce on the bottom and chicken on the top with other toppings around the sides: roasted veggies with any pan drippings, cauli rice, chopped avocado; garnish with probiotic dill pickles, fresh cilantro and/or plantain chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 1139kcal | Carbohydrates: 112g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 2208mg | Potassium: 2357mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 64g | Vitamin A: 30825IU | Vitamin C: 67mg | Calcium: 201mg | Iron: 6mg