With this rosemary chicken bacon avocado salad, you’ll have no excuse to not reserve a seat on the dinner salad train forever and ever.
Are you guys into the dinner salad thing has much as I am? Unbeknown to myself, I’ve made both of us really big fans of these giant, loaded, chopped salads, as if I’m an adult or something.
Because as a kid, you couldn’t get me to come within 5 feet of a salad like this.
On the hottest of summer nights, when the humidity was so thick it was practically dripping down the screens, making anything but sitting in front of or underneath a fan a fate worse than death, my mom would make chef’s salads for dinner.
These were the nights when it was impossible to cook. Before central AC was a standard in homes.
Hell, before window air conditioners were common in homes in our area.
And man, I loathed those chef’s salads.
There was absolutely no joy for me in a bed of lettuce on a plate covered in sticks of deli ham, turkey, and American cheese ends, sliced cucumbers, wedged tomatoes, and hard boiled eggs.
Actually, I really only loathed the deli meat and cucumbers but I digress. This salad was, without a doubt, one of my least favorite meals as a kid.
So as an adult, I’m sort of redeeming myself. The dinner salad is now king in my house.
During the cold months, I can’t get enough of this chopped winter roasted veggie and chicken salad and my all-time fave sweet + salty fall harvest salad with its maple mustard vinaigrette.
In the summer, I’m all about cobb salad with genius caesar dressing and grilled sweet corn and zucchini panzanella salad.
And while this rosemary chicken bacon avocado salad doesn’t technically fall into my “light meals for hot nights” category (which include only meals that require no indoor cooking) since you’ll cook the bacon and then sauté the chicken breasts all covered in fresh rosemary IN the bacon grease. DROOOOOL!!
Even in spite of having to cook the chicken in bacon fat, I’m totally planning to continue making this salad all summer long.
I ALWAYS have way more rosemary growing in my herb garden than I ever need so using a bunch up on the chicken and in the vinaigrette makes me so happy.
Along with the rosemary chicken, all the chopped stuff in this salad is just so good. Bacon, creamy avocado, fresh and crispy red peppers, sliced cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes.
And I can only see this salad getting better as local produce comes into season around here this summer!
The rosemary vinaigrette is excellent – it just pops with fresh, herby flavor! Although, I have to say, my fresh herb vinaigrette would be phenomenal here too, as would a caesar, ranch, or blue cheese dressing if you’re craving creamy dressing.
If you’re not already on board, I urge you to get on the dinner salad train. With a big bed of lettuce lying underneath all the toppings, it’s the best way to justify eating bacon for dinner.
Rosemary Chicken Bacon Avocado Salad with Rosemary Vinaigrette
This rosemary chicken bacon avocado salad has a bright and fresh rosemary vinaigrette to go with it that amplifies the rosemary flavor. And the chicken is cooked in the bacon fat - hello lover!! If you love bacon, avocado, and rosemary, this dinner salad is for you!
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 6 oz bacon
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (see note below)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 cups spring greens or 2 heads romaine, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 large avocado, thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ cucumber, sliced
For the Rosemary Vinaigrette:
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
Instructions
- In a large skillet, fry bacon over medium-low heat until crispy; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- To make the chicken: Sprinkle both side of the chicken with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the bacon grease and heat through over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in batches for 3-5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness, until they are a deep golden brown and cooked through to 165° F. If the pan starts to dry out while cooking, add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil while the rest of the chicken cooks.
- To make the vinaigrette: Whisk the mustard, vinegar, and a heavy pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl or glass measuring cup. While slowly drizzling the olive oil into the vinegar mixture, quickly whisk to form an emulsified (thicker) vinaigrette. Mix in the rosemary and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- To assemble: Add the lettuce to a large bowl. Slice the chicken and add to the bowl. Pile on the bacon, tomatoes, avocado, peppers, and cucumber. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and serve on separate plates or in bowls.
Notes
If your chicken breasts are thick, slice them through the center to create thinner pieces. Thick cutlets will cook unevenly and you'll end up overcooking the narrow/thin ends while waiting for the thicker ends to cook through.
adapted from How Sweet It Is
Recommended Products
As a member of the Amazon Associate affiliate program, I earn a small percentage from your qualifying Amazon purchases when you click the Amazon links on this page. I'm not informed of who purchases what, just of what products are purchased.
No comments yet.