BLT Chicken Salad Recipe

If you love a salad that delivers bold flavor and serious comfort, you’re going to adore this BLT Chicken Salad. It’s the perfect marriage of juicy chicken, smoky bacon, crisp veggies, and a creamy dressing—every bite is fresh, satisfying, and just a little bit indulgent!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each carefully chosen ingredient in this BLT Chicken Salad plays its part—the juicy chicken is deliciously tender, the bacon supplies smoky crunch, and just a handful of fresh produce and creamy mayo brings it all together. Let’s take a look at what makes this salad sing!

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Poach these gently for juicy, shreddable chicken that soaks up all the lovely flavors of the salad.
• Bacon: The real star; fry until perfectly crisp for irresistible crunch and that signature smoky BLT flavor.
• Chopped Green Onion: Adds a burst of freshness and a gentle bite, balancing out the creamy, savory notes.
• Quartered Cherry Tomatoes: These tiny tomatoes bring juicy sweetness, lively color, and summer vibes to every forkful.
• Mayonnaise: A creamy base that ties everything together—feel free to use your favorite or a Whole30 compliant brand if needed.
• Black Pepper: A pinch of freshly cracked black pepper gives a peppery pop, rounding out the salad beautifully.

Variations

This BLT Chicken Salad is a blank canvas for your kitchen creativity, and it’s ultra-easy to adjust based on what you have on hand, your personal taste, or dietary preferences. Here are a few of my favorite twists:

• Go Greek: Toss in a big handful of chopped cucumber, a sprinkle of crumbled feta, and swap the mayo for Greek yogurt for a lighter twist.
• Low-Carb Lettuce Cups: Scoop the salad into crisp butter lettuce leaves for a fresh, hand-held version that’s picnic-perfect.
• Avocado Boost: Stir in diced avocado for extra creaminess and healthy fats (plus that irresistible BLAT vibe!).
• Egg-cellent: Add a chopped hard-boiled egg for more protein and a fun take on the classic Cobb/Bacon Chicken Salad fusion.

How to Make BLT Chicken Salad

Step 1: Poach the Chicken

Start by placing the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan and covering them with cold water. Bring the water to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 14 minutes with the lid on. This easy poaching method keeps your chicken moist, tender, and oh-so-shreddable for the salad.

Step 2: Crisp Your Bacon

While the chicken simmers, fry up your bacon strips in a skillet over medium-low heat. Go low and slow—this ensures ultra-crispy bacon without burning. Once cooked, transfer to a paper towel to drain and then chop into delicious little bite-sized bits.

Step 3: Mix the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sliced green onion, and black pepper. This quick, creamy blend forms the dream dressing that’ll coat every morsel with tangy, peppery goodness.

Step 4: Shred and Combine

Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it using two forks—it should come apart with barely any effort. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken with the mayo mixture, quartered cherry tomatoes, and your crispy bacon. Toss well until everything is evenly coated and the bacon is distributed throughout (the more, the merrier!).

Step 5: Serve or Store

Dive in right away while the bacon’s at its crispiest, or pop the finished BLT Chicken Salad in an airtight container to chill and let the flavors mingle—it’s magic either way. Perfect for meal prep or for a fuss-free make-ahead lunch!

How to Serve BLT Chicken Salad

Garnishes

For a restaurant-worthy touch, sprinkle extra sliced green onion or freshly ground black pepper over the top, or scatter a few halved cherry tomatoes for a fresh pop of color. You can also toss on some chopped chives or a handful of microgreens if you’re feeling fancy—they make this BLT Chicken Salad look as good as it tastes!

Side Dishes

This salad plays well with almost anything! Serve it with a buttery croissant, on a toasted slice of sourdough, or enjoy it alongside a chilled cup of gazpacho or classic potato chips. For a lighter pairing, a side of crisp cucumber spears or a fresh fruit salad is absolute perfection.

Creative Ways to Present

Spoon your BLT Chicken Salad into hollowed-out tomatoes or avocados for a gorgeous party-ready app, or pack it in mason jars with layers of lettuce for a super-portable desk lunch. And for a shareable platter, heap the salad on a bed of baby greens and let everyone build their own sandwich or wrap!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you somehow manage to resist eating the whole bowl, BLT Chicken Salad stores beautifully in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just give it a quick stir before serving to refresh any settled dressing and make those flavors pop again.

Freezing

Generally, I don’t recommend freezing BLT Chicken Salad since the mayo dressing and fresh veggies can get a little watery and lose their pleasant textures upon thawing. This is definitely a salad meant to be enjoyed fresh or stored in the fridge, not the freezer.

Reheating

BLT Chicken Salad is best served chilled or at room temperature. If you like, you can let it sit out for a few minutes to take the chill off before serving, but I wouldn’t heat it up—the mayo-based dressing doesn’t play nicely when warmed!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I really hope you fall in love with BLT Chicken Salad as much as I have! It’s crave-able, easy to customize, and absolutely perfect for busy weekdays or laid-back weekends. Don’t wait—grab those simple ingredients and treat yourself to a bowlful of absolute flavor joy!

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