BLT Chicken Salad Recipe

If you’re a fan of classic flavors with a fresh, crave-worthy twist, you’ll absolutely fall for this BLT Chicken Salad. It’s the best of a crispy, smoky BLT married with juicy chicken salad—all wrapped up in a creamy, tangy dressing that’s destined to become your new lunch obsession!

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in this BLT Chicken Salad is chosen for maximum flavor, crunch, and satisfaction. You likely have most of them on hand, and each one brings that classic BLT “oomph” to your bowl.

• Cooked chicken breasts: Use rotisserie, leftover, or poached chicken—shredding makes the salad extra scoopable and tender.
• Finely chopped lettuce: Romaine or iceberg add fresh, crisp crunch (and classic BLT vibes).
• Diced celery: Its snap brightens up every bite—don’t skip it!
• Sliced grape tomatoes: Sweet, juicy pops of color just like a BLT sandwich.
• Red onion (diced): Adds sharpness and beautiful color contrast.
• Cooked bacon (chopped): Irresistibly smoky, salty, and crunchy; thick-cut is especially delicious here.
• Plain Greek yogurt: This is the secret to a tangy, protein-rich, and lighter creamy dressing.
• Mayonnaise: For that signature rich, silky texture everyone loves in a chicken salad.
• Dijon mustard: Adds a touch of zippy flavor that wakes everything up.
• Salt & pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing all the flavors together.
• Onion powder & garlic powder: These amp up the savory goodness throughout the salad.

Variations

One of my favorite things about BLT Chicken Salad is just how easy it is to swap in your favorite flavors, use up what’s in your fridge, or fit any diet. Here are some delicious options to get creative!

• Avocado twist: Fold in diced avocado just before serving for creamy texture and healthy fats.
• Make it spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne, diced jalapeño, or a spoonful of hot sauce for a kick.
• Keto-friendly: Omit the tomatoes and serve in lettuce wraps or over a big salad bowl.
• Dairy-free: Swap the Greek yogurt for your favorite unsweetened dairy-free yogurt or more mayo.

How to Make BLT Chicken Salad

Step 1: Shred the Chicken

For the best texture, toss your cooked chicken breasts into a food processor and pulse for about 10 seconds. Prefer a chunkier salad? No problem—just shred the chicken by hand or with two forks.

Step 2: Mix the Main Ingredients

In a big bowl, combine your shredded chicken with the lettuce, celery, tomatoes, red onion, and all that delicious crisp bacon. This step is when the salad starts looking downright irresistible!

Step 3: Whisk the Creamy Dressing

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. You want a smooth, luscious dressing that can coat every bite of salad.

Step 4: Combine and Toss

Pour the creamy dressing over your chicken and veggie mixture. Gently stir to combine, making sure everything gets evenly coated and flavorful. It’s already ready to eat, but chilling it for 30 minutes helps deepen the flavors!

Step 5: Serve Your Way

Spoon hearty scoops onto fresh bread, tuck it into a wrap, serve over crisp greens, or pile it on crackers. Honestly, there’s no wrong way to enjoy BLT Chicken Salad!

How to Serve BLT Chicken Salad

Garnishes

Top your BLT Chicken Salad with an extra sprinkle of crisp bacon, fresh cracked pepper, a handful of chopped scallions, or even a few sprigs of fresh dill or parsley for beautiful color and zing.

Side Dishes

This salad shines with crunchy kettle chips, a handful of pretzels, classic dill pickles, or a simple green salad with vinaigrette. For something a little extra, try a cup of gazpacho or a wedge of juicy watermelon on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

Scoop BLT Chicken Salad into buttery croissant halves, tuck into lettuce cups for a party-ready bite, or fill up halved avocados for an eye-catching lunch spread. It’s as lovely for brunch as it is on your weekday meal prep menu!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover BLT Chicken Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For the freshest crunch, add the lettuce just before serving rather than mixing in advance.

Freezing

BLT Chicken Salad doesn’t freeze well due to the fresh veggies and creamy dressing—they’ll lose their texture and become watery after thawing. It’s best eaten fresh from the fridge within a few days.

Reheating

This salad is meant to be served chilled or at room temperature, so there’s no need to reheat. If you want to refresh the flavors after a day or two in the fridge, stir in a squeeze of lemon juice or a little extra yogurt.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This BLT Chicken Salad is all about comfort, crunch, and seriously irresistible flavor—plus, it comes together in a pinch! I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do, and that it becomes a lunch (or dinner, or snack!) staple in your home. Give it a try, and let yourself fall in love with every creamy, bacon-y bite!

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