Have you ever eaten a salad only to find yourself hungry again just minutes later? Prepare to tackle that with the best hearty Spanish recipes.
The chicken bacon salad is the ideal dish for when you want to blend fresh vegetables with satisfying ingredients like chicken and bacon.
Read this article to learn how to make it in the comfort of your home, with the best tips for storage, serving, and adjusting the ingredients.
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Background of the Dish
The chicken bacon salad is a traditional Andalusian dish that beautifully combines elements from both European and North American cuisines.
While chicken salads and bacon in salads have roots in the United States, this particular version features a distinctive blend of regional vegetables and a classic Spanish dressing, giving it a unique twist.
Today, it shares the spotlight with other well-known salads, such as the chicken salad with carrots, the Spanish vegetable salad, and the Ensalada de pollo, but it manages to stand out thanks to the fusion of crispy bacon and tender chicken, making it a memorable and satisfying choice.
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Things You’ll Need for Chicken Bacon Salad
To prepare one of the best chicken and bacon salads you will need chicken, bacon, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, mixed greens, onion, garlic clove, olive oil, and vinegar as the main ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 slices of bacon
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 onion
- 1 cup (160gr) cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Toasted and chopped nuts (optional, for serving)
How to Make Chicken Bacon Salad – Step by Step Guide
- To start making this Spanish chicken salad recipe with bacon, you have to season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook them in a pan over medium heat for 8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Let them cool.
- After that, cook the bacon in a pan until crispy. Drain it with paper towels and crumble into pieces.
- Then, cut the bell pepper in half, discard the seeds, and dice it. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Wash the mixed greens and drain them.
- To prepare the dressing for this bacon chicken salad recipe, grab a small bowl and mix olive oil, minced garlic, and red wine vinegar until combined.
- For the next step, grab a large bowl and mix the vegetables of this salad with chicken and bacon. Shred the chicken or cut it into bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl with the bacon bits.
- Now, season the bacon chicken salad with salt and pepper. Pour the dressing on top of it and gently toss it around so that everything gets coated.
- As a key step, let the chicken bacon salad cool down in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- To finish this recipe, you can serve the chicken bacon salad cold and top it with chopped and toasted nuts if desired.
Substitution of Ingredients
While we were crafting this chicken bacon salad recipe, our priority was to ensure it could be made with easy-to-find ingredients, so you can enjoy a delicious and convenient meal without any hassle.
However, to make sure that anyone can make this recipe, here are some substitutions that you can follow to customize the delicious salad with bacon and chicken.
First, instead of using mixed greens, you can stick to just lettuce, such as romaine or iceberg, as they will provide a crisp, refreshing base for the salad.
Besides that, feel free to include your favorite vegetables in the mix, such as carrots, cucumber, regular tomatoes, green bell peppers, boiled potatoes, etc.
Some Spanish salad recipes, like the apple salad with chicken and the chicken mango salad, aren’t afraid to experiment with sweet and savory flavors, so you might consider adding fruits for a touch of sweetness to this chicken bacon salad.
Tips on Serving Chicken Bacon Salad
This hearty chicken bacon salad works well as a satisfying main course or as a flavorful accompaniment, making it a versatile choice for any meal.
Similar to the chicken salad with tostadas, if you want to serve this one as an appetizer or tapas, then consider portioning it into smaller servings or serving it on a platter with some crusty bread or crackers.
Besides that, feel free to use a creamier dressing for this chicken bacon salad, such as a classic ranch, a tangy blue cheese, or a creamy garlic dressing, adding richness and depth to the flavors.
Are you a fan of hearty traditional Spanish salads? Then you’ll love our crispy chicken salad, fajita chicken salad, and hot chicken salad recipe.
How to Store Chicken Bacon Salad
Once you finish preparing the chicken bacon salad, you will be able to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Just prepare the traditional Spanish salad as described but avoid adding the dressing, otherwise, the salad may become soggy over time.
When ready to serve, pour the dressing and gently toss the salad so that everything gets coated (taste and adjust the seasoning or dressing as needed).
Other Spanish salads that you can store for a couple of days in the fridge are the classic Spanish grilled chicken and the innovative cranberry chicken pecan salad.
Recipe Card: Chicken Bacon Salad
Chicken Bacon Salad Recipe
Have you ever eaten a salad only to find yourself hungry again just minutes later? Prepare to tackle that with the best hearty Spanish recipes.
The chicken bacon salad is the ideal dish for when you want to blend fresh vegetables with satisfying ingredients like chicken and bacon.
Read this article to learn how to make it in the comfort of your home, with the best tips for storage, serving, and adjustments you can make to the ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 slices of bacon
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 onion
- 1 cup (160gr) cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Toasted and chopped nuts (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook them in a pan over medium heat for 8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Let them cool.
- Cook the bacon in a pan until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble into pieces.
- Cut the bell pepper in half, discard the seeds, and dice it. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Wash the mixed greens and drain them.
- In a small bowl prepare the Spanish salad dressing. For that, mix olive oil, minced garlic, and red wine vinegar until combined.
- To continue with this Spanish salad recipe, grab a large bowl and mix the vegetables. Shred the chicken or cut it into bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl with the bacon bits.
- Season the bacon and chicken salad with salt and pepper. Pour the dressing on top of it and gently toss it around so that everything gets coated.
- Let the chicken salad with bacon cool down in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve the chicken bacon salad cold and optionally top it with chopped and toasted nuts.
Notes
Take this Spanish chicken salad to the next level by topping it with grated manchego or parmesan cheese for added flavor and texture.
For a fully Andalusian chicken and bacon salad you can add some pieces of Spanish chorizo and an extra drizzle of rich olive oil.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 208Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 2.8gCholesterol 33mgSodium 273mgCarbohydrates 10.5gFiber 2gSugar 2.6gProtein 12.7g
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