Crispy Chicken BLT Chopped Salad
Crispy chicken over chopped romaine with smoky bacon, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, cheddar, and creamy buttermilk ranch.
🍽 4 servings
⏱ Prep: 30 min
🔥 Cook: 20 min
⏰ Total: 27 min
📊 Medium
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ! cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- neutral oil, for shallow frying
- 2 large romaine hearts, chopped
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, dill, chives, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Refrigerate dressing while preparing salad.
- Slice chicken into thin cutlets if necessary.
- Pound to approximately 1/2-inch even thickness.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Combine flour with paprika and garlic powder.
- Place seasoned flour in one shallow bowl.
- Beat eggs in another.
- Place panko in a third.
- Coat chicken in flour.
- Dip in egg.
- Press into panko.
- Heat a shallow layer of neutral oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook chicken approximately 3-4 minutes per side until crisp, golden, and 165F internally.
- Transfer to a wire rack.
- Rest approximately 5 minutes.
- Place chopped romaine in a large serving bowl.
- Add bacon, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and cheddar.
- Slice crispy chicken into strips.
- Arrange over salad.
- Drizzle with buttermilk ranch immediately before serving.
- Toss lightly or serve dressing alongside.
Chef's Notes
KEEP THE CHICKEN CRISP: Don't put hot chicken directly into dressed lettuce. Rest briefly on a rack and add immediately before serving. BACON: Cook until genuinely crisp so it provides texture against the vegetables and dressing. MEAL PREP: Keep chicken, dressing, and vegetables separate until serving.