Chicken

Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad – Quick and Easy Recipes for Lunch or Meal Prep

I’ll admit it—I’m not above eating straight out of the bowl when it comes to this Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad. There’s just something about the combo of juicy chicken, smoky bacon, and that cool, creamy ranch that hits the spot every time. You know those days when the stove and I just aren’t on speaking terms? This salad is my peace treaty. What I love most is how it works as both a last-minute lunch lifesaver and a meal prep miracle. I’ve packed this up for weekday lunches, brought it to potlucks, even spooned it into lettuce wraps for those rare ‘let’s be healthy’ days. The texture is spot on too—crunchy celery, tender chicken, crisp bacon—it’s all there. Oh, and did I mention you don’t even need to turn on the oven if you’ve got some leftover rotisserie chicken? Add a dash of humor, a pinch of chaos (I always forget to chill it first), and voila. You’ve got yourself one of those quick and easy recipes you’ll keep coming back to.

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Table of Contents

  • 1) Key Takeaways
  • 2) Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe
  • 3) Ingredients for Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
  • 4) How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
  • 5) Tips for Making Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
  • 6) Making Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Ahead of Time
  • 7) Storing Leftover Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
  • 8) Try these Chicken recipes next!
  • 9) Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
  • 10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

  • This recipe is fast, simple, and packed with flavor.
  • Leftover or rotisserie chicken makes prep a breeze.
  • It keeps well, so it’s great for weekly meal prep.
  • The mix of bacon, ranch, and chicken is always a hit.

2) Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe

I’ve made more chicken salads than I can count, but this one? It always disappears first. The mix of juicy chicken, crunchy celery, crispy bacon, and that tangy ranch dressing—it’s just hard to beat. It’s one of those quick and easy recipes I keep coming back to, especially on busy weekdays.

If you’ve got leftover rotisserie chicken, you’re already halfway done. You just toss everything in a bowl, mix it up, and maybe sneak a few bites before it even hits the plate. I mean, who can resist?

And while I love a warm meal as much as the next person, cold salads like this make hot days bearable. It’s one of those chicken stirfry easy recipe swaps that actually makes life better. Meal prep it on Sunday, and your week is already looking up.

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3) Ingredients for Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

Cooked Chicken: Use 2 cups of chopped or shredded cooked chicken breast. I like using rotisserie chicken—it saves time and still tastes great.

Bacon: Four slices of bacon, cooked and chopped. You want them crispy for that perfect contrast in texture.

Red Onion: About a quarter cup, finely diced. Red onion adds a little sharp bite that cuts through the richness of the ranch.

Celery: Also a quarter cup, chopped. It gives crunch and freshness. That snap when you bite into it? Love it.

Greek Yogurt: One-third cup of plain Greek yogurt balances the creamy texture without making it too heavy.

Ranch Dressing: Another one-third cup. I like a brand with a bit of zing, but homemade works too if you’re in the mood to whisk.

Salt & Pepper: A little pinch of each goes a long way. Taste and adjust after mixing everything together.

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4) How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

Step 1. In a large bowl, toss in the cooked chicken, bacon, onion, and celery. Mix them gently so you don’t mash the bacon into crumbs.

Step 2. Add your Greek yogurt and ranch dressing. Stir until everything is evenly coated. If it looks a little dry, add a spoonful more ranch.

Step 3. Give it a taste. Add salt and pepper if needed. Sometimes the bacon brings enough salt on its own.

Step 4. Let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. It tastes great right away, but the flavors blend better after a little nap in the cold.

Step 5. Serve however you like—on toast, in lettuce wraps, over greens, or straight off the spoon.

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5) Tips for Making Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

If you’re using rotisserie chicken, try to get a mix of white and dark meat. It gives the salad more depth and juiciness. Also, let the chicken cool before mixing—it holds together better that way.

Want to make this a quick and easy recipe for your next party spread? Double the batch and serve it with crackers or in mini buns. Trust me, people won’t stop at just one.

You can swap the Greek yogurt with sour cream or even mayo if that’s what you’ve got. This is one of those easy recipes with rotisserie chicken that’s flexible and forgiving.

6) Making Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Ahead of Time

This salad does great in the fridge. I like to make it the night before and let it sit overnight. The flavors deepen and mellow in the best way. Just don’t add lettuce wraps or crackers until serving time—they’ll get soggy.

It’s perfect for weekly meal prep. Just scoop it into containers and you’re good for several lunches. Toss a side of cheesey potatoes easy recipe leftovers and you’ve got a whole meal.

If you want to change things up, try mixing in chopped pickles, fresh herbs, or even some shredded cheddar. It turns into one of those sweet easy recipes for unexpected flavor twists.

7) Storing Leftover Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

Pop your leftovers into an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It stays good for about four days. I give it a quick stir before serving again to refresh the texture.

If the salad looks a bit dry after sitting, add a spoonful of ranch or yogurt. That little boost brings it right back to life.

Don’t freeze this one. The dairy and veggies don’t handle the cold well. They lose their structure and the texture just gets weird.

8) Try these Chicken recipes next!

9) Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad – Quick and Easy Recipes for Lunch or Meal Prep

I’ll admit it—I’m not above eating straight out of the bowl when it comes to this Chicken Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad. There’s just something about the combo of juicy chicken, smoky bacon, and that cool, creamy ranch that hits the spot every time. You know those days when the stove and I just aren’t on speaking terms? This salad is my peace treaty. What I love most is how it works as both a last-minute lunch lifesaver and a meal prep miracle. I’ve packed this up for weekday lunches, brought it to potlucks, even spooned it into lettuce wraps for those rare ‘let’s be healthy’ days. The texture is spot on too—crunchy celery, tender chicken, crisp bacon—it’s all there. Oh, and did I mention you don’t even need to turn on the oven if you’ve got some leftover rotisserie chicken? Add a dash of humor, a pinch of chaos (I always forget to chill it first), and voila. You’ve got yourself one of those quick and easy recipes you’ll keep coming back to.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer easy recipes, cheesey potatoes easy recipe, chicken stirfry easy recipe, easy recipes for dinner, easy recipes with rotisserie chicken, quick and easy recipes, sweet easy recipes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Elena

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped or shredded
  • 4 slices cooked bacon, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped celery
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup ranch dressing
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, chopped bacon, red onion, and celery.
  2. Add the Greek yogurt and ranch dressing. Stir everything together until it’s well mixed.
  3. Taste, then season with a pinch of salt and pepper if needed.
  4. Pop it in the fridge to chill for about 30 minutes—or dig in right away if you’re impatient like me.
  5. Serve in a sandwich, on crackers, wrapped in lettuce, or straight from the bowl.

10) Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of the salad | Calories: 345 | Sugar: 2g | Sodium: 640mg | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Carbohydrates: 5g | Fiber: 0.8g | Protein: 21g | Cholesterol: 55mg

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