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Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Chicken bacon ranch salad has juicy baked chicken breasts with a homemade ranch seasoning mix and crispy bacon, on a bed of vegetables served with a creamy homemade ranch dressing. This easy recipe is dairy free and gluten free.

Looking for more salad recipes? Try my chicken mango saladsalmon mango salad, or taco salad bowls.

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

  • Satiating – This bacon ranch chicken salad is loaded with protein and healthy fats which makes it a great main dish. I love to enjoy the leftovers for easy lunches.
  • Fresh – Fresh veggies make up the base of this salad, and you can always add more if you’d like.
  • Customizable – This bacon and chicken salad with ranch dressing is extremely customizable. There are endless ways to customize it. I’ve given several variations in the ‘Make it your way’ section below depending on personal preference. 

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this ranch chicken salad recipe:

  • Homemade seasoning blend to season the chicken – dried dill, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
  • Chicken breasts
  • Romaine – gives this salad the best texture.
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Bell pepper
  • Avocado
  • Oven cooked bacon
  • Panko bread crumbs
  • Dairy free creamy homemade ranch dressing – this dressing comes together in minutes.

How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad: Step By Step

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions and ingredient list will be in the printable recipe card below!

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC. 

2. Make the spice blend. Whisk the spices in a small bowl until combined. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with the homemade ranch seasoning mix.

3. Cook the chicken. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat with olive oil. Cook the seasoned chicken breast on one side for 5 minutes until golden brown, flip the chicken over, and transfer the skillet to the middle rack of the oven. Cook for 13 minutes then remove it from the oven and let it rest for another few minutes before cutting it into small pieces.

4. Assemble the salads. To each bowl, add the chopped romaine, cherry tomato halves, diced bell pepper, crumbled bacon, chopped chicken, cubed avocado, and a sprinkle of bread crumbs. Season to taste with homemade ranch.

Helpful Tips

Quick Tip: Cook the bacon at the same time as the chicken since they both are cooked at the same oven temperature.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Add the dressing just before serving.

Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations

Please remember that recipes are just a starting point.

How can you make this chicken bacon ranch salad recipe using what you already have? Here are some ideas…

  • No chicken breasts? – use another type of chicken such as chicken thighs or chicken tenders. 
  • Make it quicker – use already-cooked chicken (leftover chicken) or leftover rotisserie chicken and meal prep the dressing.
  • Make it gluten free – use gluten free panko bread crumbs or leave them out.
  • Add-ins – thinly sliced red onion, green onions, sliced snap peas, sweet corn, dairy free cheddar cheese, etc.

Variations

  • Chicken salad sandwiches – leave the romaine whole and serve between two pieces of bread.
  • Chicken bacon ranch fries – serve on a bed of fries or crispy roasted potatoes with onions instead of lettuce.
  • Bacon chicken ranch sliders – add to your favorite burger buns.
  • Bacon ranch chicken pasta salad – instead of romaine, serve on a bed of cooked pasta with fresh spinach.
  • Chicken bacon ranch tacos – add the filling to warm flour or corn tortillas.
  • Chicken bacon ranch baked potato – serve the filling over a baked potato.
  • Chicken bacon lettuce wrap – serve the salad in a romaine lettuce wrap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I meal prep this recipe?

Yes, you can meal prep this chicken bacon salad to enjoy throughout the week.

Can I use a different type of salad dressing?

Absolutely. You can use any kind of salad dressing you’d like. Some of my favorites are poppy seed dressing, spicy cashew dressing, or sun dried tomato vinaigrette.

More Salad Recipes

I hope you love this Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment & a star rating so I know how you liked it!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Bowls of chicken bacon ranch salad with homemade dairy free ranch dressing and colorful fresh vegetables.
Chicken bacon ranch salad has juicy baked chicken breasts with a homemade ranch seasoning mix and crispy bacon, on a bed of vegetables served with a creamy homemade ranch dressing. This easy recipe is dairy free and gluten free.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
 

Ranch Seasoning Mix

Salad

  • 1.25 pounds chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 strips oven cooked bacon crumbled
  • 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 heaping cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 bell pepper of choice seeds removed and diced
  • 1 avocado cubed
  • panko bread crumbs to taste use GF if needed or omit
  • dairy free dill pickle ranch to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC.
  • Make the ranch seasoning mix by whisking all the ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with the seasoning mix.
  • Heat a large cast iron skillet (or another oven-safe skillet) over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the seasoned chicken breast on one side for 5 minutes until golden brown, flip the chicken over, and transfer the skillet to the middle rack of the oven. Cook for 13 minutes then remove it from the oven and let it rest for another few minutes before cutting it into small pieces.
  • Assemble the salad bowls by adding chopped romaine, cherry tomato halves, diced bell pepper, crumbled bacon, chopped chicken, cubed avocado, and a sprinkle of bread crumbs. Season to taste with homemade ranch.

Notes

See the blog post for helpful tips, storage, and FAQs.

Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations

No chicken breasts? – use another type of chicken such as chicken thighs or chicken tenders. 
Make it quicker – use already-cooked chicken (leftover chicken) or leftover rotisserie chicken and meal prep the dressing.
Make it gluten free – use gluten free panko bread crumbs or leave them out.
Add-ins – thinly sliced red onion, green onions, sliced snap peas, sweet corn, dairy free cheddar cheese, etc.
See the blog post for the many different variations you can turn this salad into.

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