If you’re looking for a tasty salad to serve on hot summer days, the club salad with chicken is the perfect choice. This fresh and nutritious American salad offers an irresistible combination of ingredients, which are the same ones found in the famous club sandwich: lettuce (the lettuce variety is most commonly used); grilled chicken breast cut into strips; ripe tomatoes; crispy bacon; and a rich, flavorful sauce made with mayonnaise and mustard.
These are the ingredients that cannot be missing in a classic club salad, but there can be many additions and modifications to this basic version (I discuss this more extensively at the end of the recipe). This salad can be served as a main course, ideal for a light lunch or summer dinner, as it combines the freshness of the vegetables, the succulence of the grilled chicken, and the savory, crispy note of the bacon. This combination of flavors and textures will make every bite a memorable experience. Prepare this culinary delight and enjoy a top-level club salad with chicken!
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Affordable
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 1 person
- Cooking methods: Grill
- Cuisine: American
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 591.12 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 20.25 (g) of which sugars 4.10 (g)
- Proteins 50.24 (g)
- Fat 35.94 (g) of which saturated 7.32 (g)of which unsaturated 8.15 (g)
- Fibers 3.86 (g)
- Sodium 1,140.01 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 310 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for a Club Salad with Chicken
If you have celiac disease, make sure to use gluten-free bread and that the bacon, mayonnaise, and mustard are labeled “gluten-free.”
- 4 1/2 oz lettuce
- 1 tomato
- 5 1/3 oz chicken breast
- 3 slices bacon (thinly sliced)
- 1 slice bread (optional)
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste pepper
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsps mayonnaise
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Tools
- 1 Grill Pan
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Salad Bowl
- 1 Salad Spinner for salad
- Paper Towels
How to Prepare Grilled Chicken Club Salad
To prepare the club salad with chicken, start with the ingredients that need to be cooked: the chicken breast and the bacon. Take a grill pan or a nonstick pan and grease it with a little oil. Heat it well and lay the chicken breast on it (1)
Cook it over high heat for 7-8 minutes, turning it on both sides. Season with salt and pepper. Once cooked (2), remove it from the pan and set it aside.
In the same pan, cook the bacon: lay the slices on the still-hot pan without adding any other seasonings (3) and let it cook for 2-3 minutes, turning it halfway through.
When perfectly golden (4), remove it from the pan and transfer it to a paper towel; blot it to absorb any excess fat (5).
Then, proceed to assemble your club salad: wash and dry the lettuce, then cut it into strips (6).
Wash the tomato and cut it into cubes (7); cut the chicken breast into strips (8). As for the bacon, you can also cut it into strips or coarsely chop it with a knife (9).
Place the lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, and crumbled bacon in the salad bowl (10). Toast the bread and cut it into cubes (11). Add them to the bowl.
Finally, prepare the sauce to dress your club salad with chicken: in a glass, combine mayonnaise, mustard, and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Mix well and distribute the sauce over the salad (12).
Serve the club salad with chicken immediately, if desired, dressing it with one or two more tablespoons of oil.
Storage
You can store the club salad in the refrigerator for one day, making sure not to dress it with oil and salt, otherwise, the lettuce will spoil. The sauce should also be stored separately.
Club Salad: A Salad That Lends Itself to Many Variations
Just like the sandwich from which it draws inspiration, the club salad is a dish that can accommodate many different ingredients: carrots, cucumbers, radishes, arugula… (as for the vegetables), but also hard-boiled eggs, avocado, cheese…
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What can I use instead of grilled chicken breast?
Instead of chicken, you can use turkey breast or sliced cooked ham. If you have leftover cooked chicken or turkey, such as roasted or boiled for broth, you can give them new life by preparing this delicious salad.
What can I substitute for mayonnaise?
Instead of mayonnaise, you can use plain yogurt (regular or Greek) mixed with mustard; or prepare a vinaigrette with sweet mustard, honey, and extra virgin olive oil. Check out this collection of delicious sauces.
