Get ready to enjoy a truly satisfying meal that’s both healthy and bursting with flavor! This Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad is a fantastic choice for a quick weeknight dinner or a refreshing lunch that won’t weigh you down. It’s a complete meal in a bowl, packed with fresh ingredients and vibrant colors.

Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad: A Healthy & Flavorful Meal 16

This recipe takes the classic BLT combination and elevates it with tender chicken and creamy avocado, all served up in a convenient and delicious salad format. It’s designed to be straightforward, making it perfect for busy individuals and families looking for nutritious options without a lot of fuss.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad is a winner for so many reasons, making it a staple in any family’s recipe rotation. First off, it’s incredibly quick to assemble, which is a huge plus on those hectic weeknights when you need a healthy meal on the table fast. It’s perfect for anyone looking to incorporate more fresh vegetables and lean protein into their diet without sacrificing taste. The combination of crispy bacon, juicy chicken, ripe avocado, and crisp lettuce creates a symphony of textures and flavors that will keep you coming back for more.

This salad is also incredibly versatile. It works wonderfully as a light yet filling lunch, an easy dinner, or even as a meal prep option for the week ahead. It’s naturally gluten-free and can be easily adapted to fit various dietary needs. If you’re trying to eat healthier or simply want a delicious, no-fuss meal, this recipe is definitely for you. The vibrant colors also make it an attractive dish to serve, whether it’s for a casual family dinner or a potluck with friends.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients for this Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad is simple, and most items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store. We’re focusing on fresh, wholesome components to build a truly satisfying meal.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
6 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
1 large ripe avocado, diced
4 cups mixed greens (such as romaine, butter lettuce, or spring mix)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste

For the cooked chicken, you can use leftover rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked chicken from the grocery store, or quickly pan-fry or bake some chicken breasts specifically for this recipe. If you’re short on time, pre-cooked bacon bits can be a convenient substitute for cooking bacon from scratch, just be sure to choose a high-quality brand. When selecting your avocado, look for one that yields slightly to gentle pressure, indicating it’s perfectly ripe and creamy. Any type of mixed greens will work well here, so feel free to use your favorite or whatever you have on hand. For the dressing, regular mayonnaise is fine, but you can also opt for a light or avocado oil-based mayonnaise if preferred.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad is designed for speed and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for busy schedules.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 5-10 minutes (if cooking chicken and bacon from scratch)
Total time: 20-25 minutes

The cook time is primarily for preparing the chicken and bacon if you don’t have them ready to go. If you’re using pre-cooked chicken and bacon bits, your total time will be closer to the 15-minute mark, making this an incredibly fast meal to get on the table.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating this delicious Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad is a breeze. Follow these straightforward steps to assemble your flavorful meal.

Prepare the chicken and bacon: If starting with raw chicken, cook it by baking, grilling, or pan-frying until fully cooked and no longer pink. Let it cool slightly, then shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces. For the bacon, cook slices in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease, then crumble once cooled.
Chop the vegetables: While the chicken and bacon are cooling, wash and thoroughly dry your mixed greens. Halve the cherry tomatoes and thinly slice the red onion. Dice the ripe avocado into uniform pieces.
Whisk together the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Assemble the salad base: In a large serving bowl, place the mixed greens. Evenly distribute the shredded or diced chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onion over the greens.
Add the creamy avocado and crispy bacon: Gently add the diced avocado and crumbled bacon over the other salad ingredients.
Dress and serve: Drizzle the prepared dressing generously over the salad. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are coated. Serve immediately and enjoy your fresh and satisfying Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad!

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to customize it to your family’s preferences or what you have on hand.

For a kid-friendly twist, you might want to serve some of the components deconstructed. Kids often prefer to pick and choose, so offering small bowls of shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, cherry tomato halves, and avocado cubes alongside the lettuce and dressing can make it more appealing. You could also offer a milder dressing or a squeeze of lime juice instead of the full dressing.

If you’re looking for simple swaps, feel free to experiment with different greens like spinach or kale for added nutrients. Instead of chicken, you could use grilled salmon or even hard-boiled eggs for a different protein source. For a vegetarian option, consider adding chickpeas or black beans in place of the chicken and bacon. A sprinkle of croutons can add extra crunch, or a handful of sunflower seeds for a nutty flavor and texture.

This salad is fantastic for party or buffet serving because it holds up well. You can arrange the ingredients beautifully on a large platter, with the dressing served on the side, allowing guests to build their own bowls. This prevents the salad from getting soggy if it sits out for a bit.

Optional toppings and dips can elevate this salad even further. A sprinkle of fresh chives or parsley adds a nice herbaceous note. A dash of hot sauce in the dressing can give it a little kick. For a creamier dressing, a dollop of Greek yogurt can be stirred in. You could also serve it with a side of whole-grain crackers or toasted bread for those who like a little something extra.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for will ensure your Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad turns out perfectly every time.

One frequent mistake is over-dressing the salad too early. If you add the dressing to the entire salad too far in advance, especially with tender greens like mixed greens, they can become soggy and wilted. To avoid this, always dress the salad just before serving, or serve the dressing on the side and let everyone add their own.

Another common issue is using an unripe or overripe avocado. An unripe avocado will be hard and lack the creamy texture essential for this salad, while an overripe one can be mushy and brown. To ensure you have a perfectly ripe avocado, gently press on it; it should yield slightly to pressure. If it’s too hard, let it ripen on your counter for a day or two. If it’s too soft or has dark spots, it’s likely past its prime.

Bacon that isn’t crispy enough can also be a letdown. Soggy bacon won’t provide that satisfying crunch. Make sure to cook your bacon until it’s truly crispy, and drain it well on paper towels to remove excess grease. This step is crucial for the “BLT” experience.

Finally, not drying your greens thoroughly can dilute the dressing and make the salad watery. After washing your mixed greens, use a salad spinner or pat them dry with paper towels until there’s no visible moisture. This helps the dressing cling better to the leaves and keeps the salad fresh.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

Making this Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad ahead of time or storing leftovers is entirely possible with a few smart strategies to maintain its freshness and texture.

To store leftovers, the key is to keep the dressed and undressed components separate if possible. If you have already dressed the entire salad, it’s best consumed within a few hours. However, if you anticipate leftovers, store the mixed greens, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, and red onion in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Keep the diced avocado in a separate small container, perhaps with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to prevent browning, or add it fresh when ready to eat. The dressing should also be stored separately in a small sealed

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.

Chicken & Avocado BLT Salad: A Healthy & Flavorful Meal

Table of Contents