High Protein Chicken Salad
This high protein chicken salad is a super healthy entree with bacon, avocado, walnuts and blueberries. It's full of flavor and nutrients!
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 459kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 strips bacon
- 4 cups mixed greens
- ⅔ cup blueberries
- ⅔ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 medium avocado
- ½ medium red onion about ½ cup
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon vinaigrette to taste (recipe below)
Lemon Vinaigrette
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 large lemon
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt more/less, as desired
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper more/less, as desired
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the chicken. Once cooked through to an internal temperature of 163℉, set it aside and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Place a second skillet over medium heat. Add cold bacon (this allows the bacon fat to render slowly = crispier bacon). Cook for about 6 minutes per side, or until it's as crispy as you like it. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper toweling until you're ready to assemble the salad.
- Thinly slice the red onion. Peel, pit, and slice the avocado. Roughly chop or crumble the bacon. Slice the cooked chicken.
- Whisk the lemon vinaigrette ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl. Drizzle with salad dressing and toss. Divide among 4 bowls and serve.
Video
Notes
Serving tip: Wait and toss the salad with dressing just before serving.
Other high protein salad topping ideas:
- lentils (18g protein per cooked cup)
- chickpeas (15g protein per cup)
- freshly grated Parmesan (10g protein per ounce)
- hard boiled eggs (6g protein per large egg)
Nutrition
Serving: 2cups | Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 470mg | Potassium: 902mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 588IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg
