Chopped chicken salad with honey mustard dressing is made with crisp iceberg lettuce, crunchy cucumbers, and bacon. Each bite has an outrageously satisfying crunch and refreshing texture.
This is such a light, refreshing meal that still feels hearty thanks to the chicken, avo, and bacon combination. Let’s just say – it’s a salad you can have for dinner without feeling like you’re missing out.
We love how great this is for meal prep, too! Each ingredient stores well in the fridge. You can easily reach in and assemble the dish in minutes as a quick meal.
Need more savory inspiration? You’re going to love these chipotle lime shrimp kabobs, our spicy Asian turkey noodle bowl and our super stuffed bell pepper recipe.
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This chopped chicken salad with its tangy, sweet dressing is going to be a new favorite in your house, and here’s why:
- Kid-Friendly: The flavors are familiar and approachable, it’s even great for picky eaters while still being healthy.
- Creamy and tangy: The creamy avocado and tangy feta cheese balance out the richness of the honey mustard dressing.
- Quick and easy: Using rotisserie chicken saves time! It’s perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
- Versatile: Easily customizable with additional toppings like nuts, seeds, or other veggies.
Chopped Chicken Salad Ingredients
We bet you already have a bunch of these in your fridge. Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Shredded rotisserie chicken: This is the perfect time-saver, adding tender, tasty chicken to your salad without cooking from scratch. Grilled chicken is a great alternative.
- Chopped iceberg lettuce: No other lettuce (ok, maybe cos lettuce) has the snap and crunch of iceberg.
- Cherry tomatoes: Use halved cherry tomatoes – we love using a mix of colors.
- Diced cucumber: This really adds to the crunchy texture.
- Red onion: Thinly sliced red onion has a sharp, slightly sweet flavor that is tasty without overpowering.
- Avocado: Take time to find perfectly ripe avo.
- Cooked bacon: If you prefer a bacon-free version, try using crispy chickpeas, sunflower seeds, or a sprinkle of roasted nuts for a similar crunch. You could also use turkey bacon for a leaner option.
- Crumbled feta cheese: The tangy, crumbly feta cheese adds a salty, savory taste that rounds off the flavors.
See recipe card for quantities.
Honey Mustard Dressing Ingredients
- Dijon mustard: You can use any mustard, but we love the tangy quality of Dijon.
- Honey: Swap with maple syrup.
- Olive oil: Use the best quality you can find.
- Fresh lemon juice: This just brightens the dressing.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations of this Chopped Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Here’s how to take your chopped chicken salad recipe in another direction:
- Fruity: Add diced mango, pineapple, or coconut flakes to the salad.
- Mediterranean: Turn this salad into a Mediterranean delight using grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Kalamata olives, and red onion. Swap the feta with some tzatziki or hummus on the side for a creamy finish.
- Apple & walnut salad: Add something sweet and crunchy by tossing in thinly sliced apples and toasted walnuts.
- Asian-inspired: Swap the honey mustard dressing for a sesame ginger dressing and add some mandarin orange slices, shredded carrots, and edamame.
- Bacon and blue cheese: Replace the feta with blue cheese crumbles. The salty bacon and sharp blue cheese are perfection.
Top Tips
- Serve with a side: We love pairing this salad with a warm soup or whole-grain bread.
- Perfect avocado ripeness: Choose a ripe avocado that yields gently to pressure but isn’t overly soft.
- Crisp the bacon: For extra crunch, make sure your bacon is crispy but not burnt. Chop it into small pieces.
- Make the dressing ahead: Prepare the honey mustard dressing in advance and store it in the fridge. The flavors will meld together. Plus, it’s easier to assemble.
- Toss the salad right before serving: If you’re storing the salad for later, keep the dressing separate until you're ready to serve to prevent sogginess. Toss just before eating for the freshest texture.
- Add extra crunch: Try adding croutons, pumpkin seeds, or sliced almonds to the salad before serving.
- Balance the sweetness: If you prefer a tangier dressing, adjust the amount of honey to your taste.
- Make it a meal: Add cooked quinoa, chickpeas, or other grains. This will make it even more filling and wholesome.
Storage Notes
Store the parts of the chopped chicken salad separately in sealed containers. They should be kept in the fridge until you are ready to serve them. This will help them stay lovely and fresh.
We keep our leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Freezing
We don’t recommend freezing this recipe. You can definitely freeze the leftover chicken or bacon though. They will both keep around 3 months.
FAQ
Yes! Simply swap the chicken for plant-based protein like chickpeas, tofu, or tempeh. You can also add more veggies like roasted sweet potatoes or quinoa for a filling alternative.
This salad is naturally gluten-free, but if you're adding any pre-packaged ingredients (like bacon or croutons), make sure they're labeled gluten-free.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with chopped chicken salad:
Chopped Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Ingredients
For the Chopped Chicken Salad
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 4 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup diced cucumber
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1 ripe avocado diced
- 4 slices cooked bacon chopped
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
For the Honey Mustard Dressing
- 3 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Salad
- In a large bowl, combine iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, avocado, bacon, and rotisserie chicken.
- Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.
Mix the Dressing
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth and emulsified.
Assemble the Salad
- Drizzle the honey mustard dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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