Most of us could always afford to add more vegetables into our diets. I personally love them, but sometimes run out of steam after preparing a main course to keep on going with much more than a bagged salad!
So finding a meal that is an all-in-one is a major bonus for this busy mom!!
I’ve been making this recipe for years, a really scrumptious full meal deal. It is definitely in our regular rotation of meals as both my husband and I can’t get enough of it!
In the summer, I can’t wait until I have fresh garden tomatoes to add in….their flavor and texture simple can’t compare to the vast majority of grocery store finds…at least in my experience!
Picky kids? Gluten free BLT pasta option?
I’d like to say my kids happily eat salads. But that would be a lie. A big fat HUGE lie.
The eldest is slowly coming around…the trick of course finding a dressing she can hide the greens in.
I get it. I was the same way…and now vegetables are my favorite food group! So I hang on to hope people!!
Since I assemble the salad ingredients at the end…I just toss theirs with some favorite gluten free noodles. That way, everyone is still eating MOSTLY the same thing and I am not stretched too thin!
Special tools for making the best BLT salad:
- Without a doubt, whenever I need to crisp anything, I will ALWAYS use my favorite cast iron pan. In all honesty…it is the only pan I use anymore!! I HIGHLY recommend you try cooking with one…this one even comes pre-seasoned!! I just am careful never to use too high of heat (it conducts SUPER well), and I never wash it with soap, just warm water when necessary.
- I also find a sturdy spatula is handy for all cooking in my cast iron!
Want some more full meal salad ideas?
- Mexican Quinoa Salad is a full meal deal with pinto beans and a zesty chipotle vinaigrette.
- Vietnamese Fried Chicken Salad is AAAAmazing!! I could eat this weekly!
- Grilled Chicken Chimichurri Salad
- This Asian sesame chicken salad is right up my alley!
If you feel like adding some crunch to your BLT, try these gluten free croutons!
Warm Chicken BLT Salad Recipe:
Chicken BLT Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bag baby greens I sometimes add some chopped romaine for crunch, OR 1-2 head red leaf or green leaf, chopped
- 8 oz cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 medium sweet bell pepper chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions thinly sliced
- 4 slices bacon chopped (my favorite is Trader Joe's Applewood Smoked, Nitrate -Free, it's the most meaty I've found)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs chopped small bite size pieces
DRESSING:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise I use my homemade version
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients, set aside.
- Cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, remove from heat to paper towels.
- Discard all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease, and saute the chicken, increasing the heat to medium-high.
- You want the chicken to be browned.
- When cooked through, pour all the contents over the salad and vegetables and toss with the dressing (to taste).
Nutrition
All the goodness of a BLT in a beautiful salad! Crispy bacon, sweet tomatoes and fresh lettuce with amazing dressing!
That crunchy bacon must be making this salad sooo goood! Fantastic meal that gets even better with that mayo dressing!
This is the kind of salad even my kids will eat! They can’t say no to the bacon!
I never get tired of the BLT combo, but this salad is really next level with that creamy dressing!
I love hearty salads full of lots of different hearty ingredients. That dressing is so delicious!
I will take a BLT anyway I can get it! Yum!
This is such a great idea to make a salad out of a BLT! Love all the colors and textures you got going on here. I’m definitely making this for my packed lunches soon.
I’m sure my tomato and bacon loving family would be all over this salad! Perfect way to get them to eat fresh spinach, too… haha.
I’ll take a salad with bacon any day! haha! But seriously, this sounds just too good, and perfect for meal prep for the week!
I loved this salad – so many of my favourite ingredients! We had it for lunch yesterday – yum!
This looks so flavorful! Love a good BLT. Who needs the bread, the best part is the filling!
Can’t get any simpler than this. And who needs bread when you got this yummy BLT in disguise!
Yay for Salads!
Simple yummy and totally delicious ! I love it !
YUM! This is the PERFECT salad! I mean… BACON!!
You had me at bacon! Yum- Tessa!
MMMM i love a warm salad… creamy with wilted greens… suh good!
Definitely my kind of salad! Packed with veggies and tossed in a yummy creamy salad. Looks like a yummy meal.
Do NOT underestimate this awesome salad! We loved this as a meal! One little tip- we bought the pre-cooked nitrate free bacon at Trader Joes and it worked great. So delicious!
Yum!