Love the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich? Then you'll want to try this recipe for BLT chicken salad. Shredded rotisserie chicken, crumbled bacon, and cherry tomatoes are tossed in a creamy homemade ranch dressing.
Chicken salad makes an excellent lunch or dinner, especially when you're on the go. This cold BLT chicken salad can be served on bread as a sandwich or over a bed of lettuce as a salad topping.
This chicken salad is filled with all of your favorite flavors of a classic BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) sandwich. Crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, celery, and onions are tossed with shredded rotisserie chicken. Coating this salad is a simple homemade ranch dressing that's filled with flavor.
Make a batch of BLT chicken salad and store in the refrigerator all week long for quick and easy lunches!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Rotisserie chicken - You'll need one cooked rotisserie chicken, or about 14-16 ounces of cooked, lightly seasoned leftover chicken.
- Vegetables - Celery, tomatoes, and green onions add fresh flavor and crunch to the recipe. Green onion could be substituted with red onion.
- Mayonnaise - Feel free to use your favorite mayonnaise (light or full fat) for this recipe. For a lighter, higher protein recipe, substitute the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
- Bacon - Cooked and crumbled bacon can be substituted with store bought bacon bits or pieces.
- Ranch seasoning - Ranch seasoning can be homemade (try my ranch seasoning recipe) or store bought.
Tips and tricks
Dicing veggies - Dice your onion and celery evenly. This creates a uniform flavor and texture throughout the chicken salad.
Allow chicken to cool - If you're using freshly cooked chicken or a warm rotisserie chicken from the deli, allow the shredded chicken cool to room temperature. Hot chicken can melt the mayonnaise and cause it to separate into an oily mess.
Chill before serving - Your chicken salad can be enjoyed immediately but tastes better after refrigerating for at least an hour. This allows the flavors to meld and ingredients to chill.
Storage
Chicken salad will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Be sure to store it in a tightly sealed container.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, chicken salad keeps for up to 5 days in the refrigerator and is easy to make a day or two ahead of time.
Yes, this recipe can be prepared with an equal weight of canned chicken or tuna. Since canned meats are generally unseasoned, I recommend doing a taste test and adding more seasoning to taste after assembling your chicken salad.
Chicken salad is typically served on sandwich bread, a croissant, or a wrap/pita. It can also be served over a bed of lettuce as a salad or on crackers as an appetizer for a party. You could also make tea sandwiches by preparing your chicken salad between two slices of sandwich bread, then slicing into four to six small pieces.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
BLT Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cooked rotisserie chicken
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 2 green onions, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¾ cup mayonnaise, or plain greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Remove the meat from your rotisserie chicken and shred into bite size pieces.
- In a large bowl, add your shredded chicken, bacon, celery, onions, and tomatoes. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add your mayonnaise and ranch seasoning. Stir until seasoning is evenly incorporated. Pour dressing over your salad ingredients and toss until evenly coated.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve over a bed of lettuce or on lightly toasted bread as a sandwich.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Storage: Prepared chicken salad will keep for 3-5 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Chicken substitutes: Rotisserie chicken can be substituted with 14-16 ounces of cooked and shredded lightly seasoned chicken, canned tuna, or canned chicken.
Hi Dawn, thank you for pointing this out! I've fixed the recipe card to add bacon. Lettuce is an optional addition in the last step.