Description
Crisp bacon dances with fresh lettuce in this ultimate BLT Salad, bringing classic sandwich flavors into a lighter, refreshing form. Tangy dressing and crunchy croutons elevate this simple summer dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 chicken breasts
Vegetables:
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cucumber
Dressing and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp buttermilk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp chopped chives
- 1/4 cup croutons
Instructions
- Prepare bacon by laying slices in a cold skillet and cooking over medium heat until crisp and golden, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease.
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then grill or pan-sear at 375°F for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
- Wash and chop mixed salad greens, ensuring they are thoroughly dried to prevent soggy texture.
- Dice tomatoes and cucumber into uniform bite-sized pieces, halve cherry tomatoes.
- Whisk mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl until smooth and well-combined.
- Crumble cooled bacon into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble salad by layering greens as base, then top with sliced chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, and crumbled bacon.
- Drizzle prepared dressing evenly over salad.
- Sprinkle chopped chives and croutons on top for added crunch and flavor.
- Serve immediately to maintain salad’s freshness and crisp texture.
Notes
- Pat bacon dry before cooking to ensure maximum crispiness and even browning.
- Slice chicken when it’s slightly warm to prevent drying out and maintain juiciness.
- Use fresh, crisp greens and drain well to prevent watery, limp salad texture.
- Customize dressing by swapping buttermilk with Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg