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I made this last night for family as a quick last minute meal was in order. It was a hit! Everyone loved it! Lucky for me there was just enough for my lunch today š
Reporting live from vacay!
And breaking news: as of our arrival yesterday, the beaches of North Carolina have re-invented my ideal vacation. Right now I’m gazing out the wrap-around bank of picture windows in this big ol’ beach house, taking in the long grass + old wood stairs + white sand + the white caps rolling in with that awesomely hypnotic ocean sound that puts you in a relaxation-trance. There’s an orange sun rising on the far side of the water and a few wispy clouds in the sky. Mmmk that’ll be just fine.
The quick story on this trip is that my sisters and I are all celebrating our golden birthday this year, and ever since we were little people running around the yard in ballerina skirts and cowboy boots, my parents have said that this would be the year that we would take a big family trip. Since that time, our family has added three siblings, three husbands/boyfriends, and one brand new baby… so here we are, all those years later, taking that golden birthday trip as a party of 12.
Fun times, you guys. Big family chaos and joy.
I happen to be really skilled at stalking my real life and internet friends’ vacation pictures online, so if you are like me and you want to follow along this week with beach vacay pics, the best place to catch them is on Instagram! And if you’re already following me on Instagram but you’re not into the vacation pictures kind of thing, I’ve made a pact that I’m only going to post 174 photos a day, so don’t even worry about it.
One of the great things about vacation is all the yummy food. Including fresh salads that are loaded with the world’s most yummy combo of chicken, bacon, and avocado. PS. California? In my mind everyone who lives in California is perpetually eating chicken-bacon-avocado-something. Or at the very least, an avocado. And bacon, because, well, duh.
Also possible: all the rest of the world is eating chicken bacon avocado so they can call their meals “California”.
Either way. It’s good food that associates you with a hip state, so win-win.
I first made this salad because I had so much asparagus leftover from this lemon pepper chicken and asparagus and I was looking for an excuse to eat more of it. I tossed it on my salad on a whim, straight out of the fridge, completely cold, and it was completely good. But then I ate all the cold stuff, so the next time I did it with the asparagus roasted just before serving and then we had that great hot-cold salad thing going on.
The combo of salty and crunchy and creamy is overwhelmingly yum. And the freshness of the basil and the beauty of the roasted asparagus –> things just went to the next level.
I would also like to take a minute to reflect on how good this week’s avocados were. There is nothing that sends me into the depths of despair more than carefully choosing produce (think peaches, avocados, and mangoes) only to cut into them and find sour//bitter//dry//hard as a rock. So when it works, there is no shortage of joy. You better believe those creamy green slices are eaten straight off the spoon.
I put one avocado on the ingredient list, but what I really meant was that you should buy 5.
Chicken Bacon Avocado Salad with Roasted Asparagus recap:
- Crunchy.
- Salty.
- Bowl o’ freshness.
- Filling.
- Fast.
- Pretty.
- Simple.
- “California.”
- Hot or cold.
- Big family vacation rocks.
Chicken Bacon Avocado Salad with Roasted Asparagus
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This Chicken Bacon Avocado Salad with Roasted Asparagus is so simple and full of fresh flavor! One of my new favorites! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 8 slices good quality thick bacon (smoked is yummy)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups chopped asparagus
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning (more to taste)
- 4 cups spinach, cut or torn into bite-sized pieces
- 8 ounces chicken breast slices (I get it from the deli counter)
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup good quality olive oil
- 1/4 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
- fresh basil for topping
Instructions
- Fry the bacon according to package directions (I go for crispy on this one). Drain on a paper towel lined plate and crumble or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Melt the butter in a small skillet over high heat. Add the asparagus, sprinkle with lemon pepper, and saute until golden brown and roasty-looking. I like the little charred pieces so I cooked it a little longer – you can cook for as long as you like depending on how you like your asparagus.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Layer the spinach, chicken, asparagus, and bacon. Cut the avocado into slices and scoop out with a spoon; arrange over the top of the salad. Drizzle or toss with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top with fresh basil, salt and pepper.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: chicken salad, salad recipe, chicken and bacon
Our new favorite go-to this summer! Yummy, filling and easy this is a great bowl dinner for two!
So glad you enjoyed this salad, Beth! š
This salad looks yummy but doesnāt roasted usually mean āin the ovenā? Sounds like the asparagus is sautĆ©ed instead š
Will definitely give this a shot minus the olive oil and balsamic vinegar! Looks like a win. š
Looks delish! One question: what kind of chicken do you get at the deli counter and how do you ask them to slice it? Ok, that was two questions.
Hey Lindsay, love these tacos! What is your go to Kimchi brand?
This is going on my favorites list!
Easy, and my kids loved it too 2, 5 & 7 year old.
Oh my gosh. bookmarking this!
It looks SO yummy!!!
I love the avocado on top. That always adds such a nice taste + texture to a healthy dish!
My husband declared “this is how we should be eating” and I had to agree. So my salad guy and I found our go-to. The warm ingredients softened the spinach ever so slightly. The asparagus absolutely set it over the top for me. My husband and neighbors (who all raved about this) loved the dress and couldn’t believe how simple it actually was.
We love hearing that! Thanks, Megan!
Quick and clean! Nice!
I really cant wait to make this Salad.
Enjoy, Mona!
My husband and I loved this salad! Great flavors and easy to make. Found the recipe on Pinterest and am so glad I did!
This looks amazing! How does the salad hold up for leftovers? Thinking this may be my go to lunches this week, but I like to make bigger batches so that I have lots of leftovers. Makes life so easy with a 1 year old!
It holds up pretty well, although I’d keep the spinach/dressing separate from the other heavier ingredients just to keep things fresh. š
Hi Lindsey. I have been cooking with your recipes for a while, and it occurred to me last night after I made this that you might appreciate some feedback! We have a few favorites that you have published, so I’ll try to be better about commenting. We loved this salad. It has a make-your-own quality to it that allowed my son to pick and choose from his favorite ingredients. I added tomato (’cause its summer, and they’re good!) and used a rotisserie chicken. Cheers. You’ve added some great looking recipes lately. Looking forward to trying them.
Thank you Joy! I always appreciate the feedback – helps me know what people like and don’t like.
I made this tonight, talk about yummy. Thanks, this is a keeper!
Thanks Syl!
Just made this for dinner… It was soooo good. I cooked the asparagus in bacon grease too after I saw someone give that suggestion. Amazing. Thank you for all you do!!
Great idea – glad you loved it Macy!
This salad is my favorite now. It was so delicious! Thank you for your inspiration.
I discovered your pics on instagram yesterday and then came across your blog.
I’m curious to try more of your super tasty looking meals.
Best wishes all the way from Germany…
Thank you Nicoletta! Fun to have you here!
YAY!!! I’m so happy for you and your family that you were able to make this childhood dream vacation come true. Your Instagram pictures looked so dreamy, and I wish I could experience a wrap-around porch on a beachfront house someday. It looked positively heavenly! As for Californians, I just might be the only one who never eats avocado-chicken-bacon somethings because… I’m allergic to avocado. Sad day!! But hey, that just means you can eat mine and be twice as happy — and twice as Californian!
And that I will do. š
Crowd pleaser! I sautĆ©ed the asparagus in a portion of the left over bacon drippings – delish!
Ooook yes. Best idea ever.
This salad is screaming my name right now!!!
I made this last night for family as a quick last minute meal was in order. It was a hit! Everyone loved it! Lucky for me there was just enough for my lunch today š
Yum! Big lunch salads like this are my fave.
I’m so jealous of that amazing looking avocado! I feel like all the ones I buy are hard as a rock or brown! And if I buy a hard one, I forget about it and it turns brown. Avocado fail!!
I got reeeally lucky this week! they were exceptionally good (usually I’m in the same boat as you)!
I’ve been on the hunt for new salads. I always get really into them every spring because there is so much great fresh produce available.
Lindsay, this salad looks so so good and healthy!
Haha, you are cracking me up about CA! It is so true! Actually, I was an avocado lover even before I moved here, and now I am in heaven:) Housing may be expensive here, but at least avocados are cheap š
I tried to copy and past this picture, but it didn’t work. This will give you an idea of just how awesome avocado prices are here:
Awesome, right!!
This salad looks perfect by the way. I am definitely pinning this, and will be making it asap!
It’s a trade-off, right? I’d take the avocados any day. š