This Sticky Finger Salad Is So Good, I’ve Made It Three Times This Month

Published on August 5, 2025

As a working mom of two with a packed schedule, I cherish the rare moments when dinner brings everyone to the table—happily. On busy weeknights, I rely on meals that are fast, flavorful, and both kid-friendly and parent-approved. Sticky Finger Salad has become one of those magic recipes in my house. It’s made with crispy chicken tenders, a sweet-and-spicy glaze, chopped lettuce, and homemade ranch dressing. It’s simple, satisfying, and, most importantly, everyone actually eats it.

How to Make Sticky Finger Salad

There are hundreds of recipe variations for Sticky Finger Salad online. I first spotted the dish on TikTok when creator @kiarra.hillman shared her go-to recipe. I knew immediately it would be a hit with my family. Here's a quick look at how to make it at home.

1. Start by grabbing a bag of frozen breaded chicken tenders or nuggets, and cook them in the air fryer according to package directions.
2. While that cooks, make a homemade ranch dressing with mayo, ranch dressing powder, and milk. Hillman recommends following the directions on the ranch dressing mix package but adds a touch more mayo and a little less milk.
3. Next, you'll make the sauce for the chicken. In a saucepan on the stove, combine brown sugar and hot sauce with a touch of water. Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Chop the cooked chicken and toss it with the hot sauce mixture.
4. To assemble the salad, add bagged salad greens to a bowl and top with shredded cheese. Layer on the sauced chicken and finish with a drizzle of homemade ranch dressing.

Tips for Making Sticky Finger Salad

One thing that makes this recipe so fantastic for weeknight family meals is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few things I've learned after making it on repeat.

• Make your homemade ranch dressing the night before. It only gets better as it sits in the fridge. The flavors come together, and the dressing thickens up a bit, which I think adds just the right amount of creamy texture to the dish.
• Choose whatever type of frozen chicken you like. I've tried everything from nuggets to tenders in this dish, and they all work great. The key is evenly chopping the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces so you get a piece in each forkful of salad.
• Any greens work great here, but my family loves the crunchiness of iceberg and romaine here. Shredded cabbage and carrots are delicious additions. My youngest daughter also loves cherry tomatoes and sliced cucumbers on hers.
  
• Don't like spice? You can absolutely decrease the amount of hot sauce. If you're serving kids, toss the cooked chicken with BBQ sauce or honey mustard instead.
• Want to make it vegan? Toss breaded tofu cubes with the sweet and spicy dressing instead. Swap in your favorite vegan shredded cheese and dairy- and egg-free ranch dressing.

The Verdict on Sticky Finger Salad

This has become one of my "back pocket" weeknight dinner recipes. I make it multiple times a month, and it's always a hit. It's a shortcut recipe that still tastes incredibly satisfying, and I love the sweet heat of the sauce. The homemade ranch dressing takes it over the top (though it's almost just as good with a bottled dressing, too). I like to set out all the ingredients, plus plenty of chopped veggies, and let each person assemble their own bowl. Trust me, your entire family will love this dish.