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Dive into this chopped chicken blue cheese salad in all its savory, salty, satisfying glory. It has restaurant-quality flavors and can be made in 10 minutes. Blue cheese and chicken is a classic pairing and is especially yummy when tossed in a creamy dressing. It has ingredients similar to a traditional wedge salad, but it is chopped and tossed together in a bowl!
This chopped chicken blue cheese salad has both crunchy and creamy textures as well as super addictive flavors.
You might also enjoy radicchio endive chicken salad, a Chinese chicken salad, or air fryer blackened chicken Caesar salad.
Why You’ll Love It
Satisfying and yummy: Packed with tender rotisserie chicken, crisp iceberg lettuce, juicy Roma tomatoes, savory bacon, and tangy bleu cheese crumbles, this salad has a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
So quick: This salad comes together in about 10 minutes using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and simple, fresh ingredients. It is the perfect option for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings. If you keep the dressing separately, it’s also great for meal prep.
Versatile: This salad is great as a light lunch, a hearty dinner, or a side dish at your next barbecue or potluck with other chopped salads.
Customizable: Be creative with this salad by adjusting the amount of each ingredient or swapping ingredients out.
Chopped Chicken Blue Cheese Salad Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Iceberg lettuce: Choose fresh iceberg for its crisp texture and mild flavor. It provides a refreshing base for the salad.
Rotisserie chicken: Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is so easy to use in this salad. The tender, juicy chicken adds protein, making it more satisfying and substantial. You can choose skinless chicken or keep it on.
Cooked crispy bacon: Crisp, cooked bacon adds a savory, smoky flavor and crunchy texture to the salad, complementing the other ingredients with its rich taste.
Blue cheese crumbles: Quality blue cheese crumbles impart a bold, tangy flavor and creamy texture to the salad, adding depth and complexity to each bite.
Ranch or blue cheese dressing: Choose either ranch or blue cheese dressing based on personal preference. Both dressings provide a creamy, tangy coating that ties the salad together and enhances its flavors.
Green onions: Fresh green onions add a mild onion flavor and a pop of color as a garnish. Finely chopped green onions can be sprinkled on top of the salad to add freshness and visual appeal.
How to Make a Chopped Salad
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the lettuce: Chop and then wash the lettuce. Completely dry the lettuce before moving on to the next step.
Combine the ingredients: Add the lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, bacon, red onion, cucumber, blue cheese, and ranch dressing to a large bowl. Toss to combine and until it is evenly coated in the dressing.
Plate and season the salad: Transfer the salad to a platter or large salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Finally, garnish the salad with chopped green onions and serve immediately.
Substitutions and Variations
Chicken: This chicken chopped salad recipe calls for rotisserie chicken, but any cooked chicken will work. Chicken breast and thighs cooked in the oven or on the grill pan are great leftovers for this chopped salad.
Iceberg swap: If you don’t want to use iceberg lettuce, use chopped romaine lettuce. It will still give you the crunch that makes this salad so incredible.
Tomatoes: Use grape or cherry tomatoes instead of Roma tomatoes. It helps to scoop the seeds out of the Roma tomatoes before dicing them.
Veggie and fruit add-ins: Stir in chopped red bell peppers, thinly sliced celery, apples, and other favorite salad ingredients.
Add nuts for texture: Add chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, or pecans for a little crunch.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Serve a mini soup bowl of creamy mushroom kale or Instant Pot veggie soup with this salad.
Main: Pair this salad with grilled steak, seared New York strip steak, mesquite smoked dry rub brisket or hamburgers.
Dessert: Go for something light like this mango yogurt mousse.
How To Store
Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. Anything past that will wilt and become soggy. Wait to toss in the dressing until ready to serve.
Freeze: I don’t recommend this salad for freezing.
Top Tips
Save time: This salad takes 10 minutes to make unless you need to cook the bacon beforehand. If you’re short on time, you can buy fully-cooked bacon at the grocery store.
Dry the lettuce completely: Before making the salad, you want to make sure the lettuce is completely dry. Otherwise, the water on the lettuce will make everything soggy, and the dressing will not stick. Use a large, clean towel or a salad spinner to get the lettuce dry.
Load up the seasoning: Add a ranch seasoning packet. It takes the taste to another level. A pinch of garlic powder is good too.
Taste test the chicken: Taste and season the chicken if needed before adding it to the salad.
Chopped Chicken and Blue Cheese Salad FAQs
For a vegetarian twist, substitute cooked diced tempeh or smoked tofu for bacon and chicken. Alternatively, you can add roasted chickpeas or crunchy croutons for texture.
While it’s best to assemble the salad just before serving to maintain freshness and crunchiness, you can prep some ingredients beforehand. Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and onions and store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Cooked chicken and bacon can also be prepared and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
Absolutely! While ranch or blue cheese dressing complements the flavors of this salad beautifully, go ahead and use your favorite dressing ingredients. Balsamic vinaigrette, honey mustard with Greek yogurt, or a tangy lemon juice-based vinaigrette made with extra-virgin olive oil are yummy alternatives.
Chopped Chicken Blue Cheese Salad Recipe
Chopped Chicken Blue Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 5 Cups iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 2 Cups rotisserie chicken, chopped
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 5 Strips bacon, cooked and diced
- ¼ Cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cucumber, small, diced
- ¼ Cup blue cheese, crumbled
- ½ Cup ranch dressing, or blue cheese
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tablespoons green onions, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Chop the lettuce and add to a colander to wash under cold water. Completely dry the lettuce before moving on to the next step.
- In a large bowl, add the lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, bacon, red onion, cucumber, bleu cheese, and ranch dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Toss until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Transfer the salad to a large platter or bowl, and then garnish with chopped green onions and serve.
Notes
Dry the lettuce completely: Before making the salad, you want to make sure the lettuce is completely dry. Otherwise, the water on the lettuce will make everything soggy, and the dressing will not stick. Use a large, clean towel or a salad spinner to get the lettuce dry.
Load up the seasoning: Add a ranch seasoning packet. It takes the taste to another level. A pinch of garlic powder is good too.
Taste test the chicken: Taste and season the chicken if needed before adding it to the salad.
Nutrition
Get munching on this totally satisfying chopped salad with chicken and blue cheese. The bold blue cheese and tender chicken are a delicious combination. You will love that this recipe comes together in 10 minutes. It’s a delightful summer salad and is perfect as a lunch or light dinner option.
Other Salad Recipes To Try
- If you haven’t tried Hawaiian macaroni salad yet, you’ve got to ASAP!
- You’ll adore this heirloom burrata caprese salad for its classic flavors.
- Smoked potato salad is cozy and ultra delicious.
- You really can’t go wrong with an antipasto salad.
- Want a fresh and bright salad? Watermelon feta cucumber salad is almost thirst-quenching.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This chopped chicken blue cheese salad is incredible! It tastes like a restaurant dish and is easy to prepare.
My family loved this recipe so much!! I’ll make this again soon!