This Whole30 BLT chicken salad is a fast and easy weeknight dinner or packed lunch that you’ll want to come back to again and again (even when your Whole30 is done!). It’s tangy, crunchy, filling and ready in under 30 minutes.

I’ve been craving sandwiches like a madwoman lately. This it notable because I don’t really like sandwiches. Except for PB&J, which I craved constantly both times I was pregnant, and quickly became “meh” about when I wasn’t. Pregnancy is weird. But I digress.

So, sandwich cravings – my newest Whole30 oddity. I’m sure it has something to do with bread, and not being able to have bread, resulting in some unconscious desire to have bread in all it’s forms, and some sort of other psychology thrown in for good measure. Whatever. I’m surely not eating a sandwich, but I am going to much on some comfort food, and even though it’s frigid outside, it’s gonna be a salad. With chicken. And bacon. And sundried tomatoes.

This tasty, crunchy, rockin’ bowl of goodness, otherwise known as a Whole30 compliant BLT chicken salad, is my jam. It’s fast, filling, packable, snackable, and crazy easy. I’ve been eating it for three days and I regret nothing. Are you ready for dinner in 30 minutes? Excellent. Let’s do this.

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Whole30 BLT Chicken Salad Recipe Notes

Let’s get this flavor party started with some herby pan-seared chicken breasts.

Pat the chicken dry with some cotton or paper towels – this will help the herb coating stick, and will also ensure you get a nice, crispy sear on the exterior. Set those aside, grab a ramekin, and whisk up some avocado oil with Italian spices. Using a pastry brush, evenly coat all sides of the chicken with the herb oil. It will be very thick, so it might need a little coaxing to go on evenly, but I have faith in your chicken breast smothering abilities.

Sauté the chicken breasts in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Four to five minutes on the first side, flip, four to five minutes on the other side. Cook ’em until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reaches 160*, then remove from the pan and set aside on a plate to rest. Yes, I use a thermometer and you should too. Undercooked chicken is gross (and dangerous). Overcooked chicken is also gross. Perfectly cooked chicken is rad. I cook my grilled or pan-seared chicken to 160*, and by the time it’s done resting, it’s hit 165*. Chicken perfection.

While the chicken is resting, add the diced bacon to the cast iron skillet and sauté until it’s browned and crispy. It will pick up some of the residual herbs from the chicken, and that’s juuuuust fine. Remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside. By now your chicken should be fully rested, so go ahead and thinly slice those guys against the grain. Or dice ’em. Whatever works, it’s your salad, friends.

Last, but so not least, is our salad base. I used chopped romaine, but don’t feel restricted to my fresh green sensibilities. Use what you have, especially if what you have is something local and fresh from a CSA or farmer’s market. My first choice was spinach but we were out, so romaine it was. Toss in some chopped cucumber, sliced red onion, and chopped sundried tomatoes. If you have some avocado, throw that in too. When summer comes back to us, I’ll revisit this salad with fresh tomatoes. Winter tomatoes are simply unsatisfactory to me, and love the extra tang that sun-dried tomatoes add. Just be sure to read your labels and select a brand that’s sugar free, and therefore Whole30 compliant.

Slather this hot delicious mess with some Whole30 compliant ranch dressing (I used this recipe from 40 Aprons, and it’s excellent) and you’re done. Have it fresh for dinner, or portion it out for a packed lunch.

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Whole30 BLT Chicken Salad

This Whole30 BLT chicken salad is a fast and easy weeknight dinner or packed lunch that you'll want to come back to again and again (even when your Whole30 is done!). It's tangy, crunchy, and filling and ready in under 30 minutes.

Course Dinner, Salad

Cuisine Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Whole30

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 428 kcal

Author Danielle

Ingredients

Grilled Italian Chicken Breast

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

BLT Chicken Salad

• 4 strips bacon sugar-free for Whole30
• 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
• 1/2 c sundried tomatoes
• 1/2 english cucumber sliced
• 1/2 red onion sliced
• 1/2 c Whole30 compliant ranch dressing

Instructions

1. Preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat. In a small bowl, whisk the avocado oil with the dried herbs. Brush the herbed avocado oil over the chicken breast, coating all sides. Reduce the skillet heat to medium high, then place the chicken breasts into the skillet. Sear 4-5 minutes, then flip and sear on the other side an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the meat registers an internal temperature of 160* when an instant read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the breast. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest while you prepare the remainder of your salad ingredients. 

2. Add the chopped bacon to the skillet and cook until the fat renders and the bacon is crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. By now, the chicken will be rested enough that you can sliced it against the grain into ½” slices.

3. In a large salad bowl, toss the romaine lettuce, sundried tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Divide the salad between four plates, then top with ¼ of the of the sliced chicken and ¼ of the cooked bacon. Dress each plate with 2 tbsp of Whole30 ranch dressing and serve. This recipe makes four servings, and keeps in the fridge (undressed) in a seal container for up to 5 days. 

Nutrition Facts

Whole30 BLT Chicken Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 428

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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