BLT Chicken Salad
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes*
*Cooking time assumes you already have cooked chicken and cooked bacon available.
Description
This BLT chicken salad combines everything you love about a classic BLT sandwich—savoury bacon, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and creamy dressing—with tender shredded chicken for a filling, protein-rich meal. It is fresh, crunchy, creamy, and incredibly easy to put together.
The chicken makes this salad substantially more satisfying than a traditional BLT, while the tomatoes add brightness and natural sweetness. A creamy mayonnaise-based dressing brings all the ingredients together with a tangy, savoury flavour.
It is perfect for a quick lunch, light dinner, meal prep, picnics, or an easy summer meal. You can serve it over lettuce, spoon it into lettuce wraps, pile it onto toasted bread, or simply enjoy it straight from the bowl.
Ingredients
For the Salad Mix
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
4 cups romaine lettuce or mixed greens, chopped
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
1/4 cup avocado, diced, optional
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives, optional
For the Creamy BLT Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1–2 teaspoons water or milk, if needed to thin
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken
If using freshly cooked chicken, allow it to cool slightly before shredding or chopping. You can use chicken breast, chicken thighs, or leftover roasted chicken.
For the best texture, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces rather than making it extremely fine. If you’re using leftover chicken from the refrigerator, make sure it has been stored safely and is still within its recommended storage period.
Place the prepared chicken into a large mixing bowl.
2. Prepare the Bacon
Cook the bacon until crisp, then drain it on paper towels to remove excess grease. Once cool enough to handle, crumble or chop it into small pieces.
For this salad, crisp bacon works especially well because it provides a delicious contrast to the tender chicken and creamy dressing.
Add the bacon to the bowl with the chicken.
3. Add the Vegetables
Add the halved cherry tomatoes, chopped lettuce, and finely diced red onion.
If you’re using cheddar cheese, avocado, parsley, or chives, add those as well.
The tomatoes provide juicy freshness, while the lettuce adds plenty of crunch. Red onion gives the salad a mild sharpness that balances the richness of the bacon and dressing.
4. Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yoghurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning according to your preference.
If the dressing seems too thick, whisk in 1–2 teaspoons of water or milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
5. Combine Everything
Pour the dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture.
Using a large spoon or spatula, gently toss everything together until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated.
Avoid aggressively mixing the salad, especially if you’ve added avocado, because it can become mashed.
6. Chill
For the best flavour, cover the salad and refrigerate it for about 20–30 minutes before serving.
This short resting time allows the flavours to blend together while keeping the vegetables fresh and crunchy.
7. Serve
Serve the BLT Chicken Salad chilled.
You can enjoy it in several ways:
Over a bed of lettuce
Inside lettuce wraps
With whole-grain toast
In a sandwich or wrap
Over cucumber slices
With crackers
In avocado halves
Straight from the bowl
For a low-carb option, lettuce wraps or avocado halves are especially delicious.
Recipe Notes
Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a convenient option when you’re short on time. Remove the skin and shred the meat before adding it to the salad.
Bacon: Extra-crispy bacon gives this recipe the most satisfying texture. Turkey bacon can also be used if preferred.
Lettuce: Romaine is ideal because it stays crisp, but iceberg, butter lettuce, spring greens, or chopped spinach can also work.
Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes are recommended because they are juicy but hold their shape well. If using larger tomatoes, remove some excess seeds and dice them.
Dressing: Greek yoghurt lightens the dressing while adding protein and tang. You can use all mayonnaise if you prefer a richer dressing.
Make it dairy-free: Simply leave out the cheese and use a dairy-free yoghurt in the dressing.
Make it lower carb: Skip the bread or crackers and serve the salad in lettuce cups or over greens.
Helpful Tips for the Best BLT Chicken Salad
Use chilled ingredients
Cold chicken, vegetables, and dressing make the salad especially refreshing. Allow freshly cooked ingredients to cool before combining them.
Don’t overdress the salad
Start by adding about three-quarters of the dressing. Toss everything together, then add more if necessary. This prevents the salad from becoming overly wet.
Keep bacon crispy
If you’re preparing this salad ahead of time, consider keeping some of the bacon separate and sprinkling it over the salad immediately before serving. This keeps the bacon crunchy.
Add avocado at the end
Avocado is delicious in this salad but can soften quickly. Dice it immediately before serving and gently fold it in.
Taste before serving
Bacon and mayonnaise can both contain salt, so taste the finished salad before adding additional salt.
Make it meal-prep friendly
For meal prep, store the chicken mixture, dressing, and lettuce separately when possible. Add the dressing and lettuce shortly before eating to preserve the best texture.
Serving Suggestions
This salad is filling enough to be a complete meal, but you can pair it with a simple side.
Try serving it with:
Fresh fruit
Cucumber slices
Roasted vegetables
Vegetable soup
Sweet potato wedges
A simple green salad
Whole-grain crackers
For entertaining, spoon the chicken salad into small lettuce cups and garnish with crispy bacon and halved cherry tomatoes.
Storage
Store leftover BLT chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Because the salad contains mayonnaise, chicken, and fresh vegetables, keep it properly chilled and avoid leaving it at room temperature for extended periods.
For the best texture, consume within 3–4 days, provided the ingredients were fresh and properly refrigerated.
If you know you’ll be storing the salad for several days, keep the dressing separate from the lettuce and tomatoes and combine them just before serving.
Nutritional Information
Approximate values per serving and will vary depending on the specific chicken, bacon, mayonnaise, yoghurt, and optional ingredients used.
Calories: approximately 430
Protein: approximately 34 g
Carbohydrates: approximately 8 g
Fat: approximately 29 g
Saturated Fat: approximately 7 g
Fiber: approximately 2 g
Sugar: approximately 3 g
Sodium: approximately 800 mg
Adding avocado or cheese will increase the calorie and fat content, while using light mayonnaise or Greek yoghurt can reduce it.
Benefits of BLT Chicken Salad
Protein-rich
Chicken provides a substantial amount of protein, making this salad more satisfying and suitable for a protein-focused meal.
Includes fresh vegetables
Tomatoes and leafy greens contribute vitamins, minerals, water, and beneficial plant compounds to the meal.
Customizable
You can easily adjust this recipe based on your dietary preferences. Add avocado for healthy fats, increase the vegetables, change the dressing, or serve it in lettuce wraps instead of bread.
Convenient
Using leftover chicken makes this recipe extremely quick. It’s a practical way to transform leftover cooked chicken into an entirely different meal.
Satisfying texture
The combination of tender chicken, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy dressing, and crunchy bacon creates a variety of textures in every bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely. Rotisserie chicken is one of the easiest choices for this recipe. Simply shred or chop the meat and remove excess skin if desired.
Can I make BLT chicken salad ahead of time?
Yes. For the best results, prepare the chicken and dressing ahead of time, but keep the lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon separate until you’re ready to serve.
Can I use Greek yoghurt instead of mayonnaise?
Yes. You can replace some or all of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yoghurt. The result will be lighter and tangier.
Can I make this salad without bacon?
Yes. The bacon provides the traditional BLT flavour, but you can omit it if desired. You could add smoked paprika to the dressing to retain some smoky flavour.
Is this salad good for meal prep?
Yes. Store the components separately and assemble individual portions when you’re ready to eat. This helps keep the vegetables crisp and prevents the dressing from making the lettuce soggy.
Can I turn this into a sandwich?
Definitely. Spoon the prepared chicken salad between slices of toasted bread and add extra lettuce and tomato for a delicious BLT-inspired chicken sandwich.
What can I use instead of romaine?
Iceberg, butter lettuce, spinach, spring greens, or kale can all work. Romaine and iceberg provide the most crunch.
Can I add avocado?
Yes. Avocado is an excellent addition. Add it shortly before serving so it stays fresh and doesn’t become overly soft.
How can I make it spicier?
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or finely chopped jalapeño to the dressing.
What makes this different from regular chicken salad?
Traditional chicken salad is often centred around chicken, mayonnaise, and ingredients such as celery or grapes. This version takes inspiration from a BLT sandwich, combining chicken with bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and a creamy, tangy dressing.
Final Thoughts
This BLT chicken salad is proof that a simple combination of everyday ingredients can create a seriously satisfying meal. Tender chicken provides protein, crispy bacon delivers smoky richness, juicy tomatoes add freshness, and crunchy lettuce brings everything together.
The creamy Dijon dressing ties the ingredients together without overpowering them. Whether you serve it in lettuce wraps, over greens, between slices of bread, or straight from the bowl, it’s an easy recipe you’ll want to make again and again.