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    Home » Salads

    Grilled Chicken BLT Salad Recipe

    By Jill Baird · Published June 18, 2023 · 3 Comments

    healthy grilled chicken BLT salad recipe with pesto ranch dressing

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    Jump to Recipe
    grilled chicken blt salad
    grilled chicken blt salad
    grilled chicken blt salad

    Grilled Chicken BLT Salad is an easy salad recipe filled with grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes. It's topped with a creamy pesto ranch dressing that’s bursting with flavor and so easy to make.

    Jump to:
    • Easy BLT Chicken Salad
    • BLT Chicken Salad Ingredients
    • How to Make This Chicken BLT Salad
    • BLT Salad Recipe Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing BLT Salad
    • Grilled BLT Chicken Salad Recipe
    • More Grilled Chicken Recipes

    Easy BLT Chicken Salad

    This BLT Chicken Salad recipe is one of my favorite summer recipes. It can be made with just a few minutes of prep, then grilled and assembled in under 30 minutes.  As an added bonus, it doesn’t heat up your kitchen!

    If you have picky eaters at your house, feel free to switch things up. It’s still going to taste amazing even with a couple of salad toppings missing. For a fun switch up, try our Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe.

    grilled chicken on a BBQ, chicken blt salad, chicken salad blt, blt salad dressing, blt salad recipe.

    Also, If you're a grilled chicken fan, be sure to check out this California Grilled Chicken Salad,  BBQ Chicken Salad, Classic Grilled Chicken Salad, or add some chicken or a low carb tortilla to this easy Wedge Salad Wrap for an easy dinner idea.

    If you're looking for more delicious salad recipes, be sure to try our Chicken Salad Recipe, Fall Harvest Salad and a summer berry salad.

    BLT Chicken Salad Ingredients

    • Avocado Oil: I use avocado oil because it has a high smoking point and doesn’t add a lot of flavors. You could also use olive oil.
    • Lemon Juice: fresh lemon juice has the best flavor.
    • Italian Seasoning Mix: you can find Good Seasons Italian Seasoning Mix in the salad dressing aisle by the ranch packets. Feel free to substitute ranch dressing mix.
    • Avocados: You can use these sliced or in chunks.  Be sure to cut up your avocados right before you serve them they are fresh and don’t brown.
    • Tomatoes: You can use your favorite tomato here.  I used some halved cherry tomatoes but a large tomato, cut into chunks would work great too.
    • Bacon: Cut into ½" chunks and cook until golden brown. Pre-cooked bacon bits work great for this recipe too. Just put them on a paper plate and microwave for 1 minute.
    • String Cheese: You can cut string cheese sticks into bite-sized pieces or use another type of mozzarella cheese like cheese balls or shredded cheese.
    • Lettuce: Romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, or any other greens work great.
    • Pesto Ranch Dressing: This is hardly a recipe but still worth sharing.  I love this dressing on everything and even just a dip for fresh veggies.  To make the pesto ranch dressing, use a ratio of ⅓ pesto to ⅔ Ranch dressing.  Just mix it up and voila - an incredible ranch dressing variation!
    grilled chicken salad recipe, chicken marinade for salads, blt salad recipes.

    How to Make This Chicken BLT Salad

    1. Tenderize your chicken breast in a Ziplock bag.
    2. Mix the marinade (oil, lemon juice, seasonings) to the Ziploc bag. Roll it around to mix and Refrigerate for 4-24 hours.
    3. When you're ready to grill,  put them on the grill on medium-high heat (350ºF). Wait 6-7 minutes and flip them. Keep cooking them until they reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.
    4. Take the chicken off the grill and put on a plate or platter, cover with aluminum foil for about 5 minutes. 
    5. Slice it either into strips or bite-size pieces.
    6. Make your salad and place chicken on top.  Drizzle with Pesto Ranch Dressing

    BLT Salad Recipe Tips

    Be creative and experiment with your own twists. No matter which variation you choose, you can be sure it will be a delicious meal that everyone loves.

    • Buffalo BLT Chicken Salad: Substitute buffalo sauce for the Pesto Ranch dressing.
    • Mexican BLT Chicken Salad: Add chili powder, cumin, and lime juice to the marinade for a unique and spicy twist.
    • Asian BLT Chicken Salad: Add sliced almonds, sesame seeds, edamame, and sesame dressing.
    • Vegetarian "BLT" Salad: For a plant-based version, skip the chicken and bacon and use chickpeas and vegan bacon instead.
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    Frequently Asked Questions

    How To Keep Chicken Moist on Grill

    There are a few things to keep in mind when trying to get really tender, juicy, grilled chicken breasts. Always be sure to tenderize the chicken breast, marinate the meat, and don’t overcook! When it reaches 165º F, it’s done.

    How To Tenderize Chicken? 

    Tenderizing your chicken makes a big difference. It’s really easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes. Place the chicken between two sheets of parchment paper and whack it on the thickest part of the chicken breast with a rolling pin or mason jar.

    Another way is to put it in a gallon Ziplock bag and use the flat side of a meat tenderizer. Only hit the thickest part of the meat to help even it out. The chicken will cook a lot more evenly if the meat is the same thickness all the way through. Make sure you don’t over-pound your meat. A few good whacks will do the trick.

    Should the chicken be hot or cold for this chicken salad?

    You can serve the chicken in this BLT salad either warm or cold - it's entirely up to you!

    Storing BLT Salad

    • Refrigerator: store components separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not cut the avocado ahead of time, or it will turn brown.
    • To reheat: to reheat the grilled chicken, either microwave or warm in a 400 degree oven. 
    healthy grilled chicken BLT salad recipe with pesto ranch dressing
    Print

    Grilled BLT Chicken Salad Recipe

    Grilled Chicken BLT Salad is an easy salad recipe filled with grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes. It's topped with a creamy pesto ranch dressing that’s bursting with flavor and so easy to make.
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
    resting time 5 minutes minutes
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 830kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen
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    Ingredients

    Chicken Marinade

    • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice or vinegar
    • 3 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
    • 1 package Good Seasons Italian Seasoning Mix

    Chicken BLT Salad Ingredients

    • 3-4 large Chicken Breasts 4-6 oz of chicken per person
    • ½ pound Bacon
    • 8 sticks String Cheese
    • 1½ cups Cherry Tomatoes halved
    • 1 large Avocado cut into ½" chunks
    • 10-12 cups Lettuce chopped

    Creamy Pesto Ranch Dressing

    • 1 cup Mayonnaise
    • 1 cup Buttermilk
    • 1 packet Ranch Dressing Mix
    • ½ cup Pesto

    Instructions

    To Marinate the Chicken

    • In a large bowl or freezer bag, add the avocado oil, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning mix. Combine and set aside.
    • To tenderize the chicken, place between two sheets of parchment paper and pound the thickest parts with a rolling pin or mason jar until about ¾" thick.
    • Add the pounded chicken to the chicken marinade and let it marinate in the fridge for 2-24 hours.

    Grilling the Chicken

    • Preheat the grill to medium high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the hot grill. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on each side. Use a digital thermometer to make sure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
    • Once cooked, transfer chicken to a platter and cover with foil. Let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sizes pieces or strips.

    Assembling the Salad

    • Bacon bits: Slice bacon into ½" pieces and cook in a saute pan over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel until cool.
    • Creamy Pesto Ranch Dressing: in a blender, combine the mayo, buttermilk, ranch dressing mix, and pesto. Blend on low until all ingredients are creamy and well-combined.
    • Prepare the string cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and lettuce then add to a large serving bowl. Add the bacon bits, grilled chicken, and drizzled with the prepared Pesto Ranch Dressing.
    • Serve immediately. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 830kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 64g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 823mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1205IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg

    More Grilled Chicken Recipes

    • Rosemary Garlic Chicken Breasts Marinade
    • California Grilled Chicken Salad.
    • Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
    • Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks
    • Grilled Apricot Chicken
    • Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
    • Southwest Crispy Chicken Salad
    • More Chicken Recipes
    • More Salad Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    pinterest pin for blt grilled chicken salad

    Grilled Chicken BLT Salad is an easy recipe filled with grilled marinated chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, and butter lettuce. Topped with a creamy pesto ranch dressing, it's the perfect simple summer salad.

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    Hi! I'm Jill.

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    179 shares