Description
Chicken Cashew Crunch Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish featuring tender cooked chicken breast, smoky turkey bacon, fresh mixed greens, crisp vegetables, and crunchy cashews, all tossed in a bright and zesty natural dressing. This wholesome salad offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors, perfect for a light yet satisfying meal any time of the day.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
- 4 strips smoked turkey bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
Fresh Greens and Vegetables
- 4 cups fresh mixed greens (romaine, baby spinach, arugula)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/4 red onion, finely sliced
Nuts
- 1/2 cup cashews, raw or lightly toasted
Zesty Natural Dressing
- 1 tablespoon natural Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon natural honey
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Turkey Bacon: Cook the chicken breast until juicy and tender then shred or cube it into bite-sized pieces. In a separate pan, crisp the smoked turkey bacon until golden and crunchy. Chop into small strips for easy mixing.
- Assemble the Fresh Greens and Vegetables: Wash and dry the mixed greens thoroughly. Slice the cherry tomatoes in halves, thinly slice the cucumber and red onion, and have all vegetables ready to toss together.
- Make the Zesty Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together natural Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, natural honey, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
- Combine and Toss: In a large bowl, gently toss the greens, vegetables, chicken, turkey bacon, and cashews with the zesty dressing until everything is evenly coated and vibrant.
- Serve and Enjoy: Plate the Chicken Cashew Crunch Salad immediately to enjoy its fresh crunch and bold flavors at their best, or keep chilled for later serving.
Notes
- Use crisp fresh greens that hold up well under dressing for the best texture.
- Lightly toast the cashews to enhance their nutty flavor and crunch.
- Allow cooked chicken to cool completely before adding to the salad to keep greens crisp.
- Whisk the dressing thoroughly until fully emulsified for even flavor distribution.
- Serve the salad fresh to enjoy its satisfying crunch fully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken salad, cashew salad, turkey bacon, fresh greens, healthy salad, gluten free, protein salad
