Description
Whip up a satisfying BLT chicken salad with crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and creamy dressing. It’s a quick, delicious meal for any day!
Ingredients
Scale
- Hearty Base:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 8 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- Fresh & Crisp:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, finely chopped
- Creamy Dressing Essentials:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Prep Your Chicken: First things first, get that chicken ready. If you’re like me and have leftover roasted chicken, just shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces. I love how the tender chicken just falls apart, ready to soak up all that creamy dressing. If you’re cooking fresh, a quick boil or bake works perfectly. Just make sure it’s cooled down before you start mixing, nobody wants warm BLT chicken salad! I always aim for roughly 2 cups of shredded chicken.
- Crisp Up the Bacon: Now for the star: the bacon! I usually lay my bacon strips on a baking sheet and pop them in a cold oven, then set it to 400°F (200°C). This slow-cook method yields perfectly crispy bacon every time, no splattering mess on the stovetop! Once it’s golden and crisp, drain it on paper towels and let it cool. This is where I always sneak a piece, honestly, it’s irresistible. Crumble it into small pieces; you want that bacon goodness in every bite of your BLT chicken salad.
- Chop Your Veggies: Next up, the fresh stuff! Halve or quarter your cherry tomatoes. I just love the vibrant red against the green lettuce. Then, finely chop your romaine lettuce. I find a fine chop really integrates the lettuce into the BLT chicken salad, rather than having big floppy pieces. It’s all about that perfect texture balance, you know? This step always makes my kitchen smell so fresh!
- Whip Up the Dressing: Time to make the magic happen for our BLT chicken salad dressing! In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Whisk it all together until it’s smooth and creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to your liking. Taste it! Does it need more tang? More pepper? This is your moment to adjust. I usually add a little extra pepper; it just feels right.
- Combine Everything: Now for the fun part! In a large bowl, gently combine your shredded chicken, the crispy crumbled bacon, the chopped tomatoes, and the romaine lettuce. Pour that luscious dressing over the top. Gently fold everything together until all the ingredients are beautifully coated. You want to see every piece of chicken, bacon, and tomato glistening with that creamy dressing. Don’t overmix, though; we still want some texture in our BLT chicken salad.
- Chill and Serve Your BLT Chicken Salad: Once everything is mixed, I like to pop the BLT chicken salad into the fridge for at least 15-20 minutes. This gives the flavors a chance to meld and chill down, which is just divine, especially on a warm day. It makes such a difference, honestly. When it’s ready, serve it up on its own, in lettuce cups, or on your favorite bread. The perfect BLT chicken salad, ready to enjoy!