Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Dressing

Name: Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Dressing
Total time: 2 h 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts; 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled; 2 cups of cherry tomatoes halved; 1 avocado; 10 cups 50/50 spring mix greens; ¼ c. olive oil; 1 Tbsp garlic chopped; 2 Tbsp Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar; 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce; Juice of 1 limes; Juice of 1 lemon; 2 Tbsp. Olive oil; 2 Tbsp. champagne vinegar could also use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar; 2 Tbsp Honey; 2 Tbsp. water; 2 tsp. chopped garlic; 2 tsp. Dijon mustard; ½ bunch cilantro chopped; ½ Tomatillo roughly chopped; Dash of salt and pepper

Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Dressing is a hearty and healthy recipe, with marinated chicken served on a bed of fresh vegetables and crispy bacon for a delicious dinner salad you will love!

Prep2 hrs
Cook20 minutes
Total2 hrs 20 min
Serves4

Published 21 Feb 2020

Chicken BLT Salad

This chicken BLT salad is so fresh and filling for a great meal on a summer day with it’s flavorful tangy citrus tomatillo dressing… or a cold winter day dreaming about the freshness of summer coming back! Haha

I think every single person in my family loves BLTs, particularly with some fresh garden tomatoes. Some people might want to leave a little of this off and add a little of that, but at the end of the day, Bacon, lettuce and tomato are a timeless and wonderful combination for the ages!

I decided to lighten up this classic in the form a a bright summery salad. Instead of mayonnaise slathered on some bread, we are serving up our BLT on a bed of greens dressed with a fresh citrus tomatillo dressing with some marinated chicken and avocado for a healthy, filling and delicious entree salad.

How to Make Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Vinaigrette

To get started, pound out the chicken breasts or they won’t cook evenly and be as tender. While this is never my favorite part of making chicken breasts, it makes such an impactfull difference in how tender the chicken turns out and therefore so worth the extra few minutes.

Once the chicken is tenderized, add it to a large ziploc bag with the marinade ingredients. Marinate your chicken breasts for at least 20 minutes and up to 24 hours. The longer you are able to marinade the chicken, the more flavorful they will be! Remove the chicken from the marinade and place in a hot saute pan with olive oil. Saute the chicken breasts about 4 minutes on each side, until cooked thoroughly.

Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting it up into 1/2″ strips. This will allow the juices to set, and your chicken to stay nice and moist.

Tomatillo Dressing

Next up, combine all of the dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender. Personally, I like to put them in a bowl and use my immersion blender for a quick blend, and most importantly, for fewer dishes to clean!

If you haven’t already purchase a citrus juicer, I highly recommend getting one. I’m not a big fan of most kitchen gadgets because they mean more dishes. Citrus juicers are one of the few exceptions in my book. Not only do I not have to wince in pain when the lemon juice hits that one random paper cut on your finger, but it gets ALL of the fresh juice from the citrus.

Citrus Tomatillo Dressing with lemons and limes

Family Style Dinner Salad

After you have everything prepped, begin assembling the salad by tossing the greens with the dressing and layering with the remaining ingredients. Save a little dressing to drizzle on top and you are ready to serve this colorful and flavorful salad.

Serve the salad family style and come together as a family with a recipe everyone will enjoy. Bacon and grilled chicken are a pretty universal win with picky eaters. Hopefully those staples will get them to try a few other fresh and healthy ingredients like avocados and a bright salad dressing.

You can always leave the dressing off for the most family friendly option and let everyone choose their own option. Even if it means letting the kids eat the salad coated in store bought ranch dressing, it’s still a win in my book because they are filling up on vegetables with all the great nutrients.

Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Dressing served with avocado

More Salad Dressing Options for Chicken BLT Salad

If you don’t have access to tomatillos or none on hand, there are a few other homemade salad dressings that would pair wonderfully with this Chicken BLT Salad.

Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Dressing served in large bowl

Healthy Salad Meal Prep

This salad makes for a great lunch the next day too, if you hold off on dressing the greens and store the ingredients in separate air tight containers. It is so easy to assemble at the office or on the run!

One important tip for storing cut avocados, is to toss them them with some citrus so they don’t brown. Seeing there was so much citrus in my dressing already, I just dipped the avocado in that to keep it fresh until the next day.

Chicken BLT Salad with Citrus Tomatillo Dressing - leftovers for lunch

More healthy dinner salad recipes!

Notes

Recipe adapted from Oh Sweet Basil

Ingredients

Salad

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
2 cups of cherry tomatoes halved
1 avocado
10 cups 50/50 spring mix greens

Marinade

¼ c. olive oil
1 Tbsp garlic chopped
2 Tbsp Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Citrus Tomatillo Dressing

Juice of 1 limes
Juice of 1 lemon
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
2 Tbsp. champagne vinegar could also use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
½ bunch cilantro chopped
½ Tomatillo roughly chopped
Dash of salt and pepper

Steps

Place chicken breasts between two layers of cling wrap and use a rolling pin or any blunt object to pound out the chicken breasts until about ½ inch thick.
Combine all marinade ingredients in gallon zip lock bag with the tenderized chicken breasts and squeeze the marinade around the chicken so the chicken is well coated. Seal the bag with as little air possible and allow to marinade at least 20 minutes or overnight.
Combine all dressing ingredients in blender or food processor until well combined and set aside.
In a large saute pan over medium heat add a drizzle of olive oil. Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side or until the internal temperate reaches 165°.
When the chicken is done cooking, remove from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice it into ½ inch strips.
Meanwhile, in large bowl toss the greens with the vinaigrette until evenly coated. Top with the tomatoes, chopped avocado and crumbled bacon and chicken. Enjoy!

More recipes

See the category

Desserts

Light Coconut Cream Easter Bunny Cupcakes

Light Coconut Cream Easter Bunny Cupcakes are a fun and healthy spring dessert recipe. Lightened up cupcakes are topped with bunny ears made from fruit, for a holiday treat kids and adults will LOVE! This post brought to you by Bakery Crafts. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Lavibu. Light Coconut

1 hr · 24 servings

Main Dishes

Ham and Goat Cheese Quiche

Ham and Goat Cheese Quiche is an easy and delicious breakfast recipe using leftover ham, soft chèvre goat cheese, Parmesan and green onions. The cheesy flavors in this classic dish make for an impressive brunch idea! Ham & Cheese Quiche Recipe I used to be intimidated by the idea of making quiches until I started making

1 hr 10 min · 8 servings

Desserts

Rhubarb Custard Oatmeal Bars

Rhubarb Custard Oatmeal Bars are a fun twist on a favorite summer treat. Fresh rhubarb and custard are layered with chewy oatmeal layers for a dessert that everyone will love! Rhubarb Custard Oatmeal Bars Rhubarb has a short season, but while it is around in the garden, I can’t get enough of it! Rhubarb Custard

1 hr · 18 servings

Desserts

Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

These Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats are the best rice krispies you will ever eat! This simple 4 ingredient recipe is transformed into something extra special in just a matter of minutes by browning the butter until it is toasty and nutty.

14 minutes

Desserts

Spiralized Apple Crisp Recipe

Spiralized Apple Crisp Recipe is a classic dessert made easier with the modern convenience of a spiralizer! Tart apples are layered between oatmeal and brown sugar for a sweet treat perfect for fall. Spiralized Apple Crisp Recipe Apple crisp is as American as it comes and the perfect way to enjoy the cool fall weather.

1 hr 15 min · 8 servings

Main Dishes

Creamy Chardonnay Turkey Crescent Braid

Creamy Chardonnay Turkey Crescent Braid is an easy and delicious dinner recipe to use up your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or rotisserie chicken. The cheesy Chardonnay turkey paired with the flaky crescent braid and crispy onions on top, make for the perfect post-holiday meal! I had some of my favorite Chardonnay sitting in the fridge along with

20 minutes · 4 servings

Main Dishes

Pulled Pork Burrito

This simple and delicious pulled pork burrito is made with leftover pulled pork, rice, beans, sour cream, cheese and lettuce for an easy packed lunch idea or quick dinner the whole family will enjoy.

10 minutes · 6 servings

Main Dishes

Pressure Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese

This Pressure Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese is an easy family friendly recipe in your Instant Pot that you can have on the dinner table in under 30 minutes!

24 minutes · 6 servings