Here’s a big, speedy chicken salad to serve as a main course. Quick to put together using a store bought rotisserie chicken, all my favourite vegetables, a sprinkle of bacon, all tossed in a herby garlicky salad dressing.
Make this for dinner tonight, work tomorrow, or a leisurely weekend lunch with friends!
Quick Chicken Salad
If you’ve got the time, or are wanting to impress with an entirely “from scratch” main course size salad, I’d point you in the direction of one of these:
San Fran Chicken Salad – my best, most impressive chicken salad. With Yogurt Ranch Dressing, snow pea shoots, fennel, pickled red onion and orange, it’s a copycat of a popular dish at Souvla, a trendy bistro in San Francisco;
Mexican Chicken Salad – my second most involved chicken salad. Big Mexican flavours in a giant salad with marinated chicken, pico de Gallo and creamy avocado!
Lemon Chicken Salad – beautiful bright lemon flavours, the lemon dressing does double duty as a chicken marinade and dressing;
Celebration Salmon Salad – the smoked salmon version of the San Fran Salad, a giant salad made for special occasions; and
Sweet Potato Salad – a big, juicy meat free salad that I make even when there’s no vegetarians present!
This chicken salad is for all the other times when there’s a need for speed. Bright and colourful enough to proudly serve to friends at a leisurely Sunday lunch. Substantial enough for dinner tonight. Delicious enough to make your coworkers jealous during lunch break tomorrow!
What you need
Here’s what I put in this chicken salad. It follows my basic formula for main course salads:
something meaty* – chicken;
something leafy – cos/romaine;
something juicy – tomato;
something crunchy – cucumber;
something sweet – corn;
something sharp/tangy – onion;
a treat – bacon!
dressing – I’m using a herby garlic one for this dressing. It’s a speedy dressing that packs a good flavour punch from the herbs but doesn’t require the effort to finely chop fresh herbs (though you absolutely can – and my favourite combos are listed in the recipe)
* Something “meaty” doesn’t necessarily mean meat. It can be roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils – just something to fill you up and keep you full!
The chicken
Given this is a speedy recipe, it’s made with a store bought rotisserie chicken. If you want to make your own, either poach it, bake it, roast it, brine it or even slow cook it!
I have a container in the freeze in which I accumulate bits of leftover chicken that I use for things like this salad (quesadilla is another common use for leftover chicken bits).
How to make this speedy chicken salad
It probably comes off as a bit condescending to show you these steps, being that this is quite a basic recipe! It’s more out of habit given that I show steps for every recipe I do. 🙂
I did say this was a BIG chicken salad… it is very, very big! It will make a filling meal for 4 normal people, 3 with very very big appetites, or 6 people who are pretending to diet.
How long it keeps, how to serve it etc
Once dressed, the leafy greens will start to get a bit soggy after around 30 minutes due to the oil in the dressing. So if you’re making ahead, keep the dressing separate and cut the avocado just before serving (see the video at 40 seconds to see a speedy way to cut avocado chunks that you can totally do in your office at your desk!).
If you’re transporting half an avocado to work, just drizzle the cut face with lemon juice and tuck it into your salad lunch box, or put it in an airtight container with half an onion (the acid in the onion stops the avocado from going brown).
As for serving it, I think you’ll find this is substantial enough as it is to have as a main course. But of course, if you want to fill it out, nobody’s going to say no to some freshly made crusty bread, right?? 😇 (Don’t be the last person around here to try that bread recipe!!) – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Chicken Salad – quick, easy, BIG!
Ingredients
- 3 cups store bought roast chicken , shredded (Note 1)
- 12 cups cos / romaine lettuce (2 medium, 1 giant) , chopped into bite size pieces (or other leafy greens)
- 1 cup corn kernels (can, drained – about 2/3 can)
- 1/2 red onion , finely sliced
- 300g/ 10oz cherry or grape tomatoes (or 2 normal tomatoes chopped)
- 2 cucumbers , halved lengthwise then sliced 1cm / 1/3″ (or 1 long English/telegraph cucumber)
- 2 avocados , cut into bite size chunks (or 1 giant one)
- 150g/ 5oz bacon , cooked until crisp then chopped (optional)
Dressing:
- 2 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar (Note 2)
- 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove , minced using garlic press (~1 tsp)
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard (or any smooth, non spicy mustard, optional)
- 2 tsp dried mixed herbs (Note 3 for subs)
- 1 tsp sugar , optional (Note 4)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing: Place ingredients in a jar, shake, set aside for at least 10 minutes to let flavours meld.
- Salad: Place all ingredients except bacon in a big bowl. Drizzle over most of the Dressing, then toss well.
- Transfer to serving bowl, drizzle with remaining Dressing. Sprinkle with bacon. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
- Dill and coriander/cilantro (equal amounts, inspired by this Iceberg Lettuce Salad from a friend, these two herbs together are sensational)
- 1/4 cup chives, parsley or basil
- 2 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary or thyme plus 2 tbsp chives or parsley
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Barrier breach.
Hi Nagi, will this chicken salad be ok if I warmed the chicken to turn it into warm chicken salad? I absolutely love your recipes and that you give substitute ingredients for recipes. And the video’s with the recipe tops it off! Thank you
Yes definitely, as long as it’s not super hot that it would wilt the lettuce. N x
Hi Nagi. I made the Marinated ChickPea Salad and it was a hit. Thank you
Hi Nagi loving your recipes. I made the Marinated ChickPea Salad and it was a hit. Thank you
Thanks for this awesome salad recipe and your salad formula. I tapped you on the shoulder for this in an email and wow it’s here!!!
Love that Dozer even uses the pillow. Great community…kind, cares about animals.
This recipe was so easy & quick. Lots of veggies & very nice presentation. I topped it with sunflower sprouts. I will be making this often in the summer.
I can’t wait to make this!! I’ve loved all of your recipes. Can you recommend an herb seasoning mix for the dressing?
Hi Julie, we get a generic mix here in store that is labeled “mixed herbs” – talk about subs in the recipe notes. I hope you love it! N x
Hi,Nagi! I made this really big chicken salad for dinner last night. Soooo delicious and fast,easy.
My chicken was Thai-taste because I’m in Thailand now, so I put coriander in dressing. it’s really nice.
Soon I’ll make this salad again.Txs!
Great salad. I don’t like corn so I subbed baby peas. Thanks for yet another easy and delicious recipe.
Dozer doesn’t have his own couch? Why?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Rose!! And he totally should, shouldn’t he (although I’m sure he’d still invade mine!) N x
Yes, l am a guy. Your caramel slice and no yeast pizza dough are amazing. Have made both several times. Brownie points galore. Thanks, john
Wahoo, that’s awesome to hear John! N x
I love all your dressing and marinates. This salad is definitely on for dinner tonight. Love that Dozer too!!
Glorious! Going to make all the other related salads also.
LOL when Dozer took your piece of chicken but balked when you offered cucumber.
Hi Nagi,
I love your recipes and the videos. This recipe was simple and straight forward, didn’t need to watch the video but I had to watch it, to see Dozer. x
I loved this salad. Quick and easy to make. Will make it again for dinner. Delicious.
Nagi, I’ve been using your recipes a lot! for the past couple of years. Recently I went on the Keto diet and thought I’d never be able to use your recipes again 🙁
This one looks like it can easily be adapted to keto just by eliminating the sugar from the dressing and the corn from the salad.
Would you consider developing some recipes specifically for the keto community? I’d be soooo grateful. I plan to stay keto for the long term.
Hi Sharon, I’m so glad you love my recipes!! Keto contains a specific fat percentage and as I’m not a dietitian or nutritionist I don’t like to advise on these things sorry! 🙂 N x
What is that green thing you tried on me mama? Just keep the yummy chicken coming. Love that Dozer Nagi.
Can’t beat chicken!! N x
I give 5 stars for Dozer!! P.S., the salad looks superb too!
Thanks so much Mel! N x
you know that my cat was just like Dozer keeping it warm for you. Yummi salad however it’s so cold the other day only 02 C, fog frost so am having every day soup. Last night and right now lunch time having chicken soup the other day was beans just can’t get warm. Have safe week and do not fight with Dozer he will win anyway.
Save the salad for summer Vera – I’m with you on the soup for dinner! N x
Love your recipes and will be making this one all mine on footy nights…boys watching footy, me gorging myself on this beautiful salad. Due to chronic diabetics I am on a low carb diet with No starchy/sugary foods, this will be my go to feed without the corn kernels. Thank you. Love Dozer he’s a smart boy. xx
Will make this salad when my3 avocado trees give me fruit .a big plus living in Florida.!!! Not so good in hurricane season! I love love love Dozed And your recipes are fantastic!
Hi Nagi, I’m just wondering if you have and option or collection on your website to search for recipes using chicken or beef, etc?
Hi Carli, sure do! Hover your mouse over “recipes by category” at the top of my web page and then place the muse over “main dish” – you’ll get the recipes sorted by protein 🙂 N x