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healthy grilled chicken BLT salad recipe with pesto ranch dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Grilled Chicken BLT 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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
resting time5 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 830kcal
Author: The Carefree Kitchen

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