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Chicken Salad – Quick, Easy, BIG! Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 78 reviews

A quick and easy large chicken salad packed with fresh vegetables, shredded roast chicken, and a tangy homemade dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner, this colorful salad combines crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and optional crispy bacon for extra flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 3 cups store bought roast chicken, shredded
  • 12 cups cos / romaine lettuce (2 medium, 1 giant), chopped into bite size pieces (or other leafy greens)
  • 1 cup corn kernels, drained (about 2/3 can)
  • 1/2 red onion, finely sliced
  • 300g / 10oz cherry or grape tomatoes, or 2 normal tomatoes chopped
  • 2 cucumbers, halved lengthwise then sliced 1cm / 1/3″ (or 1 long English/telegraph cucumber)
  • 2 avocados, cut into bite size chunks (or 1 giant one)
  • 150g / 5oz bacon, cooked until crisp then chopped (optional)

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced (~1 tsp)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard (or any smooth, non spicy mustard, optional)
  • 2 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional)
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Make the Dressing: Place cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, dried mixed herbs, sugar (if using), salt, and black pepper into a jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until well combined. Set the dressing aside for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and develop.
  2. Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the shredded roast chicken, chopped lettuce, drained corn kernels, finely sliced red onion, halved and sliced cucumbers, chopped tomatoes, and bite-sized avocado chunks. Drizzle most of the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
  3. Serve: Transfer the tossed salad to a serving bowl. Drizzle the remaining dressing on top, then sprinkle the crispy chopped bacon over the salad. Serve immediately to maintain freshness and texture.

Notes

  • Note 1: Using store-bought roast chicken saves time and adds flavor, but leftover homemade roast chicken works great too.
  • Note 2: The cider vinegar adds a bright tang to the dressing; white wine vinegar may be used as a substitute.
  • Note 3: Dried mixed herbs usually include oregano, thyme, and basil, but feel free to substitute with Italian seasoning or your favorite herb blend.
  • Note 4: Sugar is optional and used to balance acidity in the dressing; you can omit it for a lower sugar version.
  • You can omit bacon to make this salad vegetarian.

Keywords: Chicken salad, easy chicken salad, quick salad, healthy salad, roast chicken salad, avocado salad, bacon salad

Find it online: https://cookwithyana.com/chicken-salad-quick-easy-big-recipe/