Peggi's Chicken-Bacon Ranch Salad

By Peggi Anne Tebben
@cookiequeen

You are probably getting tired of hearing about all the recipes I've cooked at restaurants, but that's what I did for years. I used to make this & put on the salad bar. This can be served as a main dish or a salad.

Rating:

★★★★★ 8 votes

Comments:

25 Comments

Serves:

Prep:

25 Min

Method:

Grill

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Notes from the Test Kitchen:
This recipe isn't hard, but it is a little time-consuming. The results are worth every minute of preparation though. The salad is full of flavor and texture. We loved the mixture of veggies with the different meats. It's so hearty, you can have this as a main dish. Cool, refreshing and great for a summer picnic or BBQ.

Ingredients

2 c: cauliflower; chopped
2 c: broccoli; chopped
1/2 lb: bacon; cut in bite-size pieces & cooked & drained
1 pt: cherry tomatoes (split in half, lengthwise)
1/2: each - red, green bell peppers, chopped
8 oz: shredded sharp cheddar cheese
: ranch dressing (very little)
1 bunch: green onions, chopped
2: boneless, skinless chicken breasts
: butter, melted
dash(es): chicken seasoning
dash(es): California style garlic salt with parsley

How to Make Peggi's Chicken-Bacon Ranch Salad

Step-by-Step

1Grill chicken breasts. Brush with butter on the top side. Season with chicken seasoning & California Style Garlic Salt with Parsley.
2Cut into strips & then into smaller bite-size pieces. Set aside.
3Cook bacon. Crumble into bite-size pieces.
4Combine all other ingredients in large bowl. Use as little ranch dressing as possible. You don't want it swimming in it. You only want it to coat it & flavor it.
5Add the chicken & toss to coat.
6Chill at least 2 hours before serving. If you think you might need a little more dressing at this time, go ahead & add some.