Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad is a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors, making it an ideal choice for any occasion. This salad with raspberry vinaigrette is a light and refreshing meal, with a rich and smoky bacon flavor that is simply irresistible!
The unique combination of raspberry dressing, crunchy poppy seeds, savory bacon, and hearty chicken makes this bacon chicken salad a filling and delicious dish! Whether you are looking for a healthy meal option or simply want to indulge in something delicious, this salad with poppy seed dressing is the perfect choice.
Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad
One of the best things about the Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad is the amazing taste. The combination of the salty bacon, cooked chicken, and smooth cheese creates a flavor explosion that is sure to impress even the pickiest eaters. The raspberry vinaigrette dressing adds a refreshing and light touch to the salad, making it the perfect meal for a warm summer day.
In addition to its great taste, this chicken salad also has many health benefits. Chicken breasts are a great source of protein, while romaine lettuce is loaded with vitamins and minerals. This raspberry bacon chicken salad is a great choice for anyone looking for a healthy and delicious meal. With its combination of fresh ingredients and amazing taste, this salad is sure to become a family favorite!
Why You’ll Love This Simple Salad Recipe
- It’s packed with flavor. The combination of juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and tangy raspberry vinaigrette dressing creates a flavor explosion in your mouth. The poppy seeds add a subtle crunch that complements the soft texture of the chicken.
- Side dish or full meal. If you’re trying to eat lighter, then serve up a big plate of this delicious salad and enjoy it as a meal. If you simply want a delicious side dish, serve up a smaller side of salad alongside your main dish. It’s great either way!
- It’s customizable! You can add a little more of this or that or try adding in some fresh berries for a versatile dish that will always taste great.
Ingredients in Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad
Bacon: Use about 10-12 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled. And no one will complain if you want to add a little more.
Chicken: Add 2-3 cups of chicken, shredded or diced, for a great protein in this dish. I usually use a rotisserie chicken, but you can cook chicken using an easy shredded chicken recipe here.
Romaine lettuce: Romaine lettuce serves as the base of the salad, you will need about 2-3 heads of lettuce. I never really measure the lettuce – I just use enough to fill up a large bowl. The lettuce needs to be chopped or torn in bite-sized pieces.
Mozzarella cheese: For a delicious topping, you need 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese for this salad. Feel free to swap in another type of cheese, but I think mozzarella goes perfectly with the chicken and bacon.
Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing
Rice vinegar: ½ cup of rice vinegar provides the perfect flavor for the dressing.
Oil: Using ½ cup of oil is a perfect base to this simple homemade dressing. I think canola or vegetable oil works best. Make sure to use an oil that doesn’t have a very strong flavor (like olive oil), because it will overpower the other flavors in the salad and dressing.
Sugar: ½ cup of sugar will add just the right amount of sweetness to the dressing.
Poppy seeds: Add 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds to add a little bit of flavor and crunch to this dish.
Raspberry jam: Just 2 teaspoons of raspberry jam adds a subtle raspberry flavor to the dressing. If you want a little bit more raspberry flavor, add a little bit more!
How to make Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad
Prep
To begin, the chicken and bacon need to be cooked through. Try this easy recipe for shredded chicken that will cut down on the effort of this meal. For the bacon, give this oven method a try and see just how easy it is to make bacon now!
Once both ingredients are cooked, crumble the bacon and chop the chicken. Let both cool while you prepare the salad fixings.
Dressing
In a blender bottle or large mason jar, combine the dressing ingredients. The rice vinegar, oil, sugar, poppy seeds, and raspberry jam. Top with the lid and shake to combine well. You can also accomplish this step using a bowl and whisk to combine.
Assemble
Next, wash, dry, and rip the lettuce into bite sized pieces and transfer them to a large bowl.
After that, add the cheese, bacon bits, and cooked chicken into the bowl with the lettuce.
Give the dressing one more whisk or shake, then top the entire bowl with the dressing or let everyone add it to their individual salads.
Serve and enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions for Chicken Bacon Salad
Vegetarian version: For those who prefer a vegetarian option, the chicken in this salad can be substituted with tofu or chickpeas. Tofu, like chicken, has a mild flavor and can easily absorb the flavors of the dressing. Chickpeas, on the other hand, add a nutty and earthy flavor to the salad.
Healthy choice: If you are looking for a healthier option, the bacon can be substituted with turkey bacon or omitted altogether. Turkey bacon has significantly less fat and calories than regular bacon, making it a healthier alternative.
Add ins: To add some extra crunch to the salad, chopped nuts such as almonds or pecans can be added. This also adds a protein boost to the salad. For a more colorful salad, diced red onions or cherry tomatoes can be added. The red onions add a mild sweetness and a slight crunch, while the cherry tomatoes add a burst of freshness.
Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2-3 heads Romaine lettuce chopped or torn in bite-sized pieces
- 10-12 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2-3 cups of cooked chicken shredded or diced (I usually use a rotisserie chicken)
- 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Raspberry dressing:
- ½ cup rice vinegar
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 TBSP poppy seeds
- 2 tsp raspberry jam
Instructions
- Prep: The chicken and bacon need to be cooked through. Try this easy recipe for shredded chicken that will cut down on the effort of this meal. For the bacon, give this oven method a try and see just how easy it is to make bacon now!
- Once both ingredients are cooked, crumble the bacon, and chop the chicken. Let both cool while you prepare the salad fixings.
- Dressing: In a blender bottle or large mason jar, combine the dressing ingredients. The rice vinegar, oil, sugar, poppy seeds, and raspberry jam. Top with the lid and shake to combine well. You can also accomplish this step using a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Assemble: Wash, dry, and rip the lettuce into bite sized pieces and transfer them to a large bowl. Add the cheese, bacon bits, and cooked chicken into the bowl with the lettuce.
- Give the dressing one more whisk or shake, then top the entire bowl with the dressing or let everyone add it to their individual salads. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Salad Serving Tip
If you aren’t serving right away, store the dressing in the refrigerator. I like to keep the dressing separate and let everyone use as much as they want, but if you are taking the salad to a potluck or something, you can add the dressing in and mix it all up immediately before serving. The dressing should last about 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
What to serve with Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad?
This salad has a lot of protein in it and is very filling, so I often eat it as a main course all by itself. It’s perfect for lunch or even dinner. Pair it with a slice of Homemade French Bread or a 30-Minute Dinner Roll and you’ve got an incredible meal that is so simple. Just don’t forget dessert. Have a slice of Easy Cherry Chocolate Cake or No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake to finish off the perfect meal.
How do I cook the chicken to ensure it’s moist for the salad?
To ensure moist chicken for the salad, it is recommended to marinate the chicken breasts in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Grill or bake the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and adding it to the salad.
Can you suggest alternative greens that pair well with a sweet and savory salad?
If you’re looking for alternative greens, you can try arugula, spinach, or mixed greens. These greens have a peppery and slightly bitter flavor that pairs well with the sweetness of the raspberry poppy seed dressing. You can also add some sliced strawberries or mandarin oranges for an extra burst of sweetness.
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Raspberry Poppy Seed Bacon Chicken Salad is easy to make and absolutely delicious. Romaine lettuce tossed with bacon, chicken and mozzarella cheese and coated with a simple poppy seed dressing.
Christi says
Oh I love me a good salad and this looks super tasty! Thanks for sharing!
Ms Lemon of Make Mine Lemon says
This sounds delish. Why did it take us all so long to cook bacon in the oven?
Charlene@APinchofJoy says
Love salad with bacon especially! Pinned. thanks so much for sharing on busy Monday!
cooking with curls says
YUM…I have been looking for a raspberry dressing!!! Everything is better with bacon:)
Amber Brady says
Poppy seed dressing is the best! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #13.<br /><br />~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!<br />http://dessertnowdinnerlater.blogspot.com
Karly Campbell says
Now this is a salad I could love, hello chicken & bacon! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin Wednesday!
Marsha Baker says
I'm not big on salads, but would gobble this one up…I love the addition of bacon and the dressing sounds superb. Thanks for sharing at Weekend Potluck. We'd love it if you'd link back to the party.
Ruthie Knudsen says
Thanks so much for coming to share with me at Super Saturday Show & Tell… Come back again tomo and party again! http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com Have a great day 🙂 xoxo~ Ruthie
Paul says
I prepared this today and it was a hit. We have friends staying with us because their power went out after a recent storm, and a neighbor’s child who is always over – 12 people in all! Needless to say, there were no leftovers and it has been requested that I prepare (a bigger batch) tomorrow. I did do a couple of things different than the recipe after reading reviews: 1) I used fresh zested ginger in place of the powder form; 2) I used a little more oil than the recipe calls for the brown the chicken; 3) I combined and whisked the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl prior to heating in the pan; 4) I added the red pepper to taste; 5) Instead of soy sauce, I used Braggs liquid aminos to cut down the amount of sodium a little. This is a keeper for my household!