Dress the top of the salad with my homemade balsamic vinaigrette and sprinkle on bleu cheese too if you’re feeling up to it! This salad hits the spot every.single.time! Chicken salads are a favorite of mine, I am equally as obsessed with this buffalo chicken salad, chicken macaroni salad, and this chopped chicken salad with sesame dressing. There is an abundance of fresh ingredients in this salad, plus lots of protein which I love for a satisfying lunch or dinner. It’s the perfect summer salad when I am craving lots of flavor, texture, and something cool and crisp. I love how all of the ingredients play together from the creamy hard boiled eggs to the crunchy romaine lettuce. The salad is enough to serve as is or with some crusty bread and your favorite summer cocktail!
Why this recipe works
Can be made ahead of time (keep dressing on the side) Uses plenty of fresh produce Packed with protein for a filling meal! Great for meal prep during warmer months Easy to customize with different proteins or dressings
Chicken: I love this recipe with my crispy cornflake chicken (recipe is below). But feel free to use grilled chicken or any leftover baked or roasted chicken you have. Lettuce: I’m using romaine lettuce, I love its crunch and how it holds up in the salad with all of the other layers of ingredients. Tomatoes: cherry tomatoes or juicy Roma tomatoes are both great options. Make sure they are nice and ripe! Eggs: hard boiled or a medium-set jammy yolk, whichever you prefer. Bacon: thick-cut bacon is a non-negotiable!
Red onion: you can also use green onions or shallots. I love the color and flavor the red onion adds! Avocado: make sure the avocado is nice and ripe. I like to not only feel the avocado (it should yield to firm gentle pressure) but also check under the stem. If you peel off the stem and it comes off easily and is green, it’s a good avocado. If it’s brown you have an overripe avocado that most likely has spots of brown within it. Dressing: you’ll need balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon, honey, garlic powder, salt, pepper and chili flakes (optional).
