Chicken Bacon Avocado Ranch Salad combines everything that’s delicious in this world into one delicious salad! If you like your salads filling and your flavors big, you’ll love this tasty recipe.
I mentioned this in my Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing post, but I recently found myself craving this very specific combination: chicken, avocado, bacon, tomatoes, pistachios, and feta cheese in the form of a leafy green salad, all tied together with none other than: ranch dressing.
For me, the distinct burning desire was just too great to pass up, so I started by making my homemade ranch dressing then got to chopping.
And I’m so thrilled I did because all of the flavors came together in the most sensational hug for the taste buds. With big bold flavors, plenty of fresh crunchy texture, and a high satiety rate, this salad is the perfect go-to for those times you’re craving a chilled but satisfying meal during the summer months.
The crunchy bacon, creamy avocado, fresh veggies, and creamy dressing is the best way to enjoy the warm months of the year. Say goodbye to boring salads!
While I get that this salad sounds like it contains a high fat content (and it does), I’ll personally take splurging on a high calorie salad over splurging on many different kinds of higher calorie meals.
I’ve mentioned this in the past but I don’t follow a low calorie diet, so for me, big salads like this are a welcome embrace for my soul.Â
For those who follow a low carb diet, salad recipes like this are pure gold, as they contain a great deal of satiating protein in addition to a good dose of healthy fats.
This recipe makes a giant salad to feed 3 hungry individuals, or up to 5 if you’re serving other food or your guests aren’t very hungry.
In this sense, adjust the amounts of ingredients based on how many people you’re feeding.Â
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients needed to make this dreamboat happen! The great news is you can find them at any grocery store.
Ingredients for Chicken Bacon Avocado Ranch Salad:
Leafy Greens of Choice: Pick your favorite leafy greens and give them a good chop! I used greens from my friend’s garden.
Otherwise, I typically use spring green mix and chop everything up so that it’s easy to eat. Crisp romaine lettuce and baby spinach work great here too.
Cooked Chicken: Adding a boost of lean protein to this delicious meal, we need some form of chicken.
You can use store-bought rotisserie chicken (I love this option), grilled chicken, baked chicken, or leftover chicken of any kind. As long as you like it, toss it in!Â
Ripe Avocado: One of my favorite ingredients to add to each and every salad, avocado brings richness and creamy texture to green salads to make them more enticing and nice and filling.
I recommend using 2 but you can also use 1 if your avocado needs are lower than mine.
Thick-Cut Bacon: Cook up some delicious thick-cut bacon to crispy perfection to add so much flavor to this extra flavorful salad! The crispy bacon is everything here!
Cherry Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes bring a juicy pop of freshness to the otherwise rich salad. Substitute for roma tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes if you prefer.
If you love fresh veggies like this, consider adding sliced cucumbers, carrots, or celery too!
Red Onion: Providing a zing of fresh flavor, red onion adds a lovely pop of flavor. Use green onions for milder onion flavor.
Pistachios: Because I can’t possibly have a salad without nuts, I toss some pistachios in.
You can substitute for pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or leave out the nuts and seeds.
Feta Cheese: Another one of my favorite salad ingredients, feta brings a little pop of tangy flavor.
If you prefer different kinds of cheese, like gorgonzola cheese, goat cheese, or even cheddar, feel free to make the swap.
Ranch Dressing: Do as I do and make my dairy-free ranch dressing, or prepare your own homemade ranch dressing, or use store-bought.
We all have our ranch preferences…so be sure to use one you love!
Recipe Customizations:
- If you have fresh herbs, feel free to chop them up and toss them into the salad. We’re already adding fresh herbs like fresh dill, fresh parsley, and chives to the ranch dressing, but might as well throw in a little more!
- Cook chicken breasts according to your preferred method.
- Drizzle a little lemon juice over the salad and use less ranch dressing for a lower fat meal.
- Toss in any of your favorite raw vegetables, like bell peppers, sprouts, cabbage, fresh corn, or broccoli.
- Add kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes for even more flavor.
- Use creamy honey mustard dressing instead of the creamy homemade ranch dressing if you prefer. Any of your favorite dressings will work here!
- Make my Gluten-Free Baked Breaded Chicken if you enjoy golden brown chicken tenders in your salads.
- Shake in some red pepper flakes for a hint of heat.
- Swap out the bacon for a good quality turkey bacon for less fat.
Now that we’re familiar with the basic ingredients for this luscious filling salad recipe, let’s make it!
How to Make Chicken Bacon Avocado Ranch Salad:
Begin by preparing the ranch dressing. If you’re using store-bought ranch, skip this step. Store dressing in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Cook the bacon over medium-high heat on the stove top, flipping every 1-2 minutes, until they reach your desired level of crisp. Transfer the bacon to a cutting board. Once it’s cool enough to handle, chop the cooked bacon into small pieces.
Similarly, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Chop up the salad greens and add them to a large serving bowl.
Add in the chopped chicken, diced avocados, cherry tomatoes, pistachios, feta cheese, and bacon crumbles. Drizzle in your desired amount of ranch dressing and toss everything well until the ingredients are coated with dressing.
Taste the salad for flavor and add black pepper or any additional ingredients to your personal taste. Serve and enjoy!
You can turn this salad into a delicious chicken bacon ranch wrap by stuffing it into a flour tortilla.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.
This salad is best when served fresh so I don’t recommend making it as a meal prep recipe unless you prepare everything in advance and store the ingredients separately.
The next time you’re craving a big filling salad, whip up this refreshing meal! The flavors combine in the most magical experience for your taste buds!
It is currently one of my all time favorite chicken salad recipes due to its huge burst of flavors and its ease of preparation.Â
If you enjoy big filling salads like this Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad, also try out these reader favorites!
More Healthy Salad Recipes:
- Crunchy Cabbage Salad with Peanut Dressing Â
- Italian Salad Â
- Shredded Brussel Sprout Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes Â
- Grilled Salmon Salad with Strawberry Salsa Â
- Southwest Chicken Chopped Salad Â
- Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Â
Enjoy this explosion of flavors!
Chicken Bacon Avocado Ranch Salad
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Spring greens or lettuce chopped
- 3 cups cooked chicken chopped*
- 1 to 2 avocados diced
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon cooked to crispy perfection
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- â…“ cup red onion finely chopped
- â…” cup shelled pistachios
- 6 ounces feta cheese crumbles
- Dairy-free ranch dressing to taste
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the ranch dressing. If you’re using store-bought ranch, skip this step. Store dressing in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
- Cook the bacon over medium-high heat on the stove top, flipping every 1-2 minutes, until they reach your desired level of crisp. Transfer the bacon to a cutting board. Once it’s cool enough to handle, chop the cooked bacon into small pieces.
- Similarly, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Chop up the salad greens and add them to a large serving bowl. Add in the chopped chicken, diced avocados, cherry tomatoes, pistachios, feta cheese, and bacon crumbles. Drizzle in your desired amount of ranch dressing and toss everything well until the ingredients are coated with dressing.
- Taste the salad for flavor and add black pepper or any additional ingredients to your personal taste. Serve and enjoy! You can turn this salad into a delicious chicken bacon ranch wrap by stuffing it into a flour tortilla.
Nutrition
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