Creamy, crunchy, and packed with flavor, this Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad is a high-protein meal prep lunch you'll crave all week long.
This Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad is my newest addition to my chicken salad series and I think it might be one of my favorites. As a dietitian, one of the ways I make healthy eating easier throughout the week is by keeping a versatile protein prepped in the fridge for quick lunches, and chicken salad is always one of my go-to options because it never gets boring! You can enjoy it with crackers, in a wrap or sandwich, on toast, over a salad, or even straight from the bowl!
I'm always trying to come up with new flavor combinations like my Dill Pickle Chicken Salad and my Buffalo Chicken Salad, so I knew it was time to make a chicken bacon ranch version. It has all the flavors of the classic combo with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, and plenty of ranch flavor packed into every bite. Plus, it comes together with minimal prep, especially if you use rotisserie chicken or prep the bacon ahead of time!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Versatile protein. Enjoy it in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, salads, or with crackers for an easy meal or snack.
- Great for meal prep. This chicken salad stores well in the fridge, making it perfect for prep-ahead lunches.
- Minimal prep. Using rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked bacon makes this recipe quick and easy to throw together.
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken breast. I always use chicken breast in my chicken salad recipes. However, feel free to use a rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken from the grocery store for a no-cook option!
Greek yogurt/mayonnaise. You can play around with the ratio here depending on how you like your salad! More mayo will create a creamier chicken salad while more Greek yogurt decreases the fat content.
Ranch seasoning. You can use one package of ranch dip seasoning or make your own at home using this homemade version.
Cheddar cheese. I recommend using sharp cheddar cheese for the most flavor! Shred it yourself for the freshest option or purchase pre-shredded for a quick and easy hack.
Bacon. Crispy bacon is key to making the bacon ranch chicken salad. You can use turkey bacon if you prefer, just make sure it is nice and crispy!
Green onions. For freshness - we use both the whites and greens of 3 green onions.
Spices. The only spices you will need (in addition to the ranch seasoning) are onion powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper!
Lemon juice. The lemon juice helps lighten up the flavors to balance out the heaviness of the bacon and cheese. I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice if available.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
- Cook your chicken breast, then shred it. Cook your bacon until crispy, patting off any excess grease and setting aside to cool.
- To a large mixing bowl- add shredded chicken, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise (if using), ranch dip seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
- To the same bowl, add shredded cheese, chopped bacon and green onions, mix well.
- Serve on sandwiches, salads, wraps or with crackers!
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten free, just ensure you are serving with a gluten free option of choice (ie, bread, wraps, crackers)- lettuce wraps also work great!
Dairy-free: I don't recommend making this one dairy free as both the yogurt and cheese are essential ingredients, you can try substituting with dairy free options or try my mayo free honey mustard chicken salad!
Nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut free!
Substitution options:
- Bacon can be replaced with turkey bacon if you prefer (just make sure it's crispy)
- Greek yogurt/ mayonnaise ratio can be customized! The more yogurt you have the more tangy the chicken salad will be (but the lower fat content it will have), the more mayonnaise, the creamier it will be (but it will have a higher fat content)
- Ranch dressing can be used as a substitute to completely replace the ranch seasoning and greek yogurt. I recommend using ½ cup!
Equipment
Storage
Once prepped, this bacon ranch chicken salad can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days!
Top Tips for Success
To make this recipe super easy to throw together, I recommend cooking your chicken and bacon ahead of time. Pro tip: rotisserie chicken also works great!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes of course! Rotisserie chicken and canned chicken are both great hacks to save time while preparing this chicken salad.
More Chicken Salad Recipes
If you liked this bacon ranch chicken salad, try these recipes:
- Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad
- Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Without Mayo
- Greek Chicken Tzatziki Salad
- Curry Chicken Salad
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- ¼ cup cooked bacon, chopped (about 4 pieces - turkey bacon will work as well)
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (5% tends to be the creamiest but 0% or 2% will work as well)
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise, optional see notes below
- 1 package ranch dip seasoning (or use 1 batch of my homemade version)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoon)
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- If you haven't already- cook your chicken breast and bacon. I recommend using THIS recipe for your chicken as it is flavoured with paprika, lemon and garlic to add additional flavour. Cook your bacon until crispy, patting off any excess grease and setting aside to cool. Shred the chicken by adding the chicken breasts to the bowl of a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment and turn your mixer to the 'medium' setting (if you do not have a stand mixer, a hand mixer and a mixing bowl will work or 2 forks)!
- To a large mixing bowl- add shredded chicken, greek yogurt, mayonnaise (if using), ranch dip seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
- To the same bowl, add shredded cheese, chopped bacon and green onions, mix well.
- Serve on sandwiches, salads, wraps or with crackers!
Nicole Addison says
The perfect versatile protein for lunches! I hope you enjoy this one.