How to Make a Picnic Salad with BBQ Sauce Dressing
This Vegetarian BBQ Salad Recipe is delicious and healthy to enjoy at a Summer barbecue, picnic, party or weeknight dinner.
The flavorful salad is packed with vegetables, protein, and fiber, and it is topped with a creamy barbecue sauce salad dressing.
It is sure to be a hit with kids and adults, since barbecue is always popular.
This salad can be served as a side dish at your next party or backyard barbecue or it can even be a main dish, if you’d like.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is a crispy and delicious salad green that is perfect for a salad served at a party or set out on a buffet table.
The crispy lettuce stays more crisp than other delicate greens.
It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium.
Romaine lettuce is also a good source of fiber, which can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied.
There are many different ways to enjoy romaine lettuce.
It can be eaten raw in salads, chopped and cooked in soups and stews, or even used as a wrap for sandwiches.
Romaine lettuce is a versatile and flavorful vegetable that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Frozen, Canned or Fresh Corn
Corn is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
It is also a low-calorie food.
This yellow vegetable is a good addition to salads because it adds nutrients, flavor, and texture.
For this recipe, you can use frozen corn that has been thawed, canned corn as is or fresh corn that is raw, grilled or cooked another way.
Corn is a good source of vitamins C and E, as well as niacin, thiamin, and pantothenic acid.
It also contains small amounts of other vitamins and minerals, such as folate, potassium, and magnesium.
Corn is a good source of fiber, with about 3 grams of fiber per cup of cooked corn.
Fiber is important for digestive health and can help to lower cholesterol levels.
Corn is a good addition to salads because it adds nutrients, flavor, texture and a beautiful pop of color.
The nutrients in corn are a good part of a healthy diet, while the flavor and texture of corn add to the appeal of this salad.
Black Beans
Black beans are a great addition to salads for a number of reasons.
They are a good source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants, and they add a hearty and satisfying texture to salads.
There are about 15 grams of protein per cup of cooked black beans.
Protein is important for building and maintaining muscle mass, and it can also help to keep you feeling full after eating.
Black beans are a good source of fiber, with about 15 grams of fiber per cup of cooked black beans.
Fiber is important for digestive health and can help to lower cholesterol levels.
Black beans are a good source of antioxidants and they add a hearty and satisfying texture to salads.
They are a good choice for people who are looking for a vegetarian salad that is both filling and healthy.
I used dry black beans that I cooked myself, but you can also save time by using canned black beans.
Red Onion
When I am going to use raw onion in a salad, red onions are my first choice.
These pretty onions have purplish-red skin and white flesh tinged with red.
A red onion has a sweet, mellow flavor and a crunchy texture, so this onion is good to eat raw or cooked.
I used Melissa’s Organic Red Onions, which were have a lovely sweet flavor.
Chopped red onion is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium, and, also, a good source of fiber.
When buying red onions, choose ones that are firm and have a deep red color.
Store them in a cool, dark place at home, so that they will keep fresh longer.
BBQ Sauce Salad Dressing
Barbecue sauce is a sauce used as a marinade, basting, condiment, or topping for meat cooked in the barbecue cooking style.
It is an especially popular condiment in the Southern United States where it is used on many other foods as well.
The two main ingredients for the salad dressing on the vegetarian BBQ salad are barbecue sauce and plain yogurt, so it is creamy, flavorful and tangy.
I used Boo & Henry’s Memphis Pit BBQ Sauce for the dressing, which was a big hit in my home.
Barbecue sauce is typically made from a tomato base, vinegar, sugar, and spices.
The spices can vary widely, but common ingredients include paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
Barbecue sauce can also be made with other ingredients, such as mustard, honey, or molasses.
There are many different styles of barbecue sauce, so this recipe can be made with whatever style you prefer and what will go best with the other dishes you are serving.
Some popular styles of barbecue sauce include:
- Kansas City-style barbecue sauce is thick and sweet, with a strong tomato flavor.
- Memphis-style barbecue sauce is thinner and vinegar-based, with a more assertive flavor.
- Carolina-style barbecue sauce is vinegar-based and has a smoky flavor.
Serving a Picnic or Party Salad
This simple salad recipe is easy to assemble, so it is a great addition to a party buffet.
It is a pretty salad that is bursting with flavor, so it is a real crowd pleaser.
The dressing can be prepared ahead of time, if you’d like.
Then the salad itself can be tossed together with the creamy BBQ dressing just before serving.
Enjoy!
Vegetarian BBQ Salad Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: none
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
Salad:
1 head Romaine Lettuce, chopped
½ medium Red Onion, chopped
1 ½ cups Corn
1 ½ cups Black Beans, drained
Dressing:
¼ cup BBQ Sauce
¼ cup Plain Yogurt
2 T Apple Cider Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Supplies
Salad Bowl or Platter
Chef Knife
Tongs
Small Bowl
Measuring Cup
Measuring Spoon
Whisk
Instructions
1) Roughly chop romaine lettuce into bite sized pieces and place in a salad bowl or on a platter.
2) Top romaine with chopped onion, corn and black beans. Set aside.
3) Make the salad dressing in a small bowl. Add all ingredients and whisk together until creamy and thoroughly combined.
4) Just before serving, drizzle the dressing on top of the salad and toss together gently with tongs.
5) Serve and enjoy!
More from Mama Likes To Cook
Check out my vegetarian recipes, so you can get more great ideas for baking, cooking, blending and juicing.
Salad Recipes
- Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad
- Vegetarian BBQ Salad
- Cucumber Radish Salad
- Arugula Apple Salad with Blue Cheese
- Napa Cabbage Salad
- Orange Pomegranate Salad
- Mandarin Salad with Sriracha Peanut Dressing
- Sugar Snap Pea Salad
- Fig and Fennel Salad with Lemon Dressing
- Vegan Mexican Avocado Salad
- Zucchini Mushroom Salad
- Blue Cheese and Roasted Pear Salad
- Roasted Beet Citrus Salad
- Pistachio Golden Beet Salad
- Grilled Corn Salad
- Authentic Caesar Salad
- Blueberry Blue Cheese Salad
- Berry Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Fennel Salad with Feta
- Edamame Peanut Salad
- Strawberry Fennel Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Black Bean Recipes
- Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice
- Vegetarian BBQ Salad
- Black Bean Lettuce Wrap
- Vegan Black Bean Stew
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Burrito
- Vegetarian Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Corn Recipes
- Air Fryer Corn on The Cob
- Easy Cheesy Warm Corn Dip
- Vegan Sweet Corn Chowder
- Vegetarian BBQ Salad
- Vegan Grilled Corn Salad
Are you ready to have some delicious fun in the kitchen?