Crispy Chicken Salad is SO good and perfectly hearty with bacon, avocado, fresh greens and crunchy chicken! Topped with an incredibly delicious creamy honey mustard salad dressing, this salad recipe will be on repeat from now on!
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When I say I don't do wimpy salads, this crispy chicken salad recipe is exactly what I'm talking about! Full of filling pieces of chicken, fresh greens, smokey bacon and avocado, you'll stay satisfied for hours. The honey mustard? Oh, guys. It's so good. It's super savory and tangy and you can use it as a dip or sandwich spread, too!
I use my recipe for the chicken tenders and while those cook, I throw the rest of the salad together. The dressing just goes in a jar with a lid and shake it till you make it.
You gotta try this one. It's too good not to.
What You'll Need
Chicken Tenders - I highly recommend my recipe. They're so good and so easy. If you don't feel like making homemade, use your favorite from the store!
Creamy Honey Mustard - This salad dressing is super simple and is nothing more than a few pantry and fridge staples like good mayo, whole grain mustard and dijon, apple cider vinegar, and touch of honey!
Avocado and Bacon - I think these two beauties make all salads better. I'm right.
How To Make It
I don't have to tell you how to make a salad. You know how. I'll give you the briefest rundown of the festivities here, but the details and specifics of this crispy chicken salad will live in the recipe card below. All you have to do is:
- Make the baked chicken tenders.
- Mix the salad dressing.
- Build the salad.
- Top with chicken and dressing and dig in!
You'll see just what I'm saying once you taste this crispy chicken salad. I have absolutely fallen in love with this one. It checks ALL the boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
All you have to do is use a gluten-free panko for your chicken or use your favorite GF frozen chicken strips!
Is this recipe dairy-free?
Yes! As long as you don't add any cheese to the salad, you're good to go!
Variations and Substitutions
- Greens - Use your favorite. If you like iceberg, use that. If you prefer kale, do that!
- Chicken - If you don't want to make the chicken tenders, use some rotisserie chicken or your favorite frozen nugget!
- Other Veggies - Go wild and use what you love. Add tomatoes, olives, sweet peppers, pickled peppers, or cucumbers!
- Salad Dressing - Use your favorite if you don't like a honey mustard situation. I've got everything from a creamy blue cheese salad dressing to a dill pickle ranch dressing to an incredible apple cider vinaigrette that I serve with my roasted beet salad.
- Make it spicy. Add a bit of sriracha to the dressing for a fantastic kick and added flavor!
- Add hard-boiled eggs for extra protein.
Tips and Tricks
- Wash your salad greens well. They might look clean, but they're not. They dirty. Use a big salad spinner to make it easier.
- Cut all the veggies and chicken into small pieces. This is the top tip of any salad recipe. You want to get a little of everything in each bite! It's worth the effort!
- Use any leftover salad dressing for a dip or sandwich spread. It's so, so good!
Crispy Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
The Salad
- 1 recipe baked chicken tenders
- 5-6 pieces crispy cooked bacon chopped
- 6-8 cups mixed greens
- 4-5 radishes thinly sliced
- 1 avocado diced
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 2 tablespoon dijon
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp honey more or less depending on your preference
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Assemble the salad and top with sliced chicken tenders. Drizzle with the creamy honey mustard.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Leftovers will stay good up to 3 days. Store everything separately for the best result and build only enough of the crispy chicken salad for one meal.
To reheat the chicken, the air fryer (375°F) or the oven (350°F) are the best bet to keep the crispy part. I don't like how wet the chicken gets in the microwave.
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my crispy chicken salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or TikTok! I love seeing all of your masterpieces!
If you guys make this crispy chicken salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a star rating in the recipe card! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments! And, as always, be kind. I’m only human.
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Other Chicken Recipes You'll Love
Roasted Chicken Thighs - My go-to weekly meal prep protein. It's simple and delicious and good for so many things!
Instant Pot Taco Chicken - A quick and easy chicken recipe thats good on everything from nachos to tacos to burritos!
One Pot Chicken and Rice - A family favorite. It's super simple, a 30 minute meal, and everyone loves it!
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