Spicy Broccoli Slaw and Chicken Salad: Blog With Friends, Hot Fun

Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends theme collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about this partnership is that it’s not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may have a recipe, sewing tutorial, crafts projects, book review and/or a technology post all related to the theme of the month.

This month's theme is Hot Fun.

There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here’s a peek at what we all came up with:

I'm sharing the recipe for my Spicy Broccoli Slaw and Chicken Salad.

Spicy Broccoli Slaw and Chicken Salad
with Fiesta Quick Bread

Often over the hot summer months, I choose to serve a cold dinner. There are three reasons for this. First, a cold meal is refreshing on a hot night. Second, it keeps me from having to turn on the oven, further heating the house. The main reason, though, is because it can be made ahead. In fact, this salad really needs to be made in advance so the ingredients can soak up the sauce. We can go to the pool or the park or whatever we happen to be doing to cool off and have fun knowing that I have no time constraints. Whenever we get home, dinner will be ready.

Because I live in a house full of grown men, a cold dinner cannot just be light. That would be fine for me, but for them there has to be some substance or they'll walk away still hungry. This salad has a protein, plenty of optional toppings, and I serve it with a fruit salad and my Fiesta Quick Bread, both of which can also be made in advance. The only thing I do for serving, since the bread is best served hot, is toast slices of the bread.

It's a very simple salad to throw together. I use a bag of prepackaged broccoli slaw, leftover chicken, and my homemade Pico de Gallo. If you need to, you could substitute salsa.

The dressing, with just 3 ingredients, comes together in seconds. I add the chicken to the broccoli slaw, then the dressing.

Cover and refrigerate. Really. That simple. To serve, mix in whatever toppings your family likes.

And provide more toppings so everyone can customize their own serving.

Creamy, spicy, delish. And best of all, a perfect dinner after a day of hot fun!

As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!

Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:

Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares a fun family project, Repurposed Porch Decor.

Kia of Think in English shares Activities that Keep your English Classes Laughing and Learning. 

Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares Lighted Lighthouse Porch Decorations. 

  Eileen of Eileen's Perpetually Busy shares Packing Tips for Your Next Caribbean Cruise.

Rabia of The Lieber Family Blog shares Backyard Fun in the Summer. 

  Minette of Southern Belle Charm shares a DIY Red White and Blue Wreath.

Spicy Broccoli Slaw and Chicken Salad       
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Chipotle Ranch Dressing
3 TBSP fresh lime juice
1/2 cup Pico de Gallo
1 bag (1#) broccoli slaw
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, chopped

Topping options: chopped tomatoes, chopped avocado, Queso Fresco cheese, cilantro, roasted Pepitas and/or Chili Cheese flavored Fritos for serving 
  
Directions:
*Mix together the Chipotle Ranch Dressing, lime juice and Pico de Gallo. 
*Add chicken to broccoli slaw. Pour the dressing over the chicken and slaw, mix well.
*Cover and refrigerate, stirring now and then, at least 2 hours. 
*Add toppings of your choice or plate the toppings and allow everyone to choose their own.