Blt Chicken Salad

This creamy BLT Chicken Salad combines juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and sweet cherry tomatoes in a zesty, science-backed dressing that won't get watery.

Why This Recipe Works:

• Salting the cherry tomatoes draws out excess water through osmosis, preventing a soggy dressing.
• High-fat mayonnaise combined with sour cream creates a stable, clingy emulsion that coats the chicken beautifully.
• Folding the crispy bacon in at the very last second preserves its crunch and smoky flavor.

I still remember the humid July afternoon I packed chicken salad for a lake picnic, only to open the container to a sad, watery soup.

It was humiliating.

The culprit was the tomatoes. They slowly leaked water into the mayonnaise, breaking the emulsion and turning the bacon soggy.

To fix this, we need to salt and drain the tomatoes first to draw out excess moisture, while whisking a splash of sour cream into the mayo to stabilize the proteins. I tested this with three different brands of mayonnaise, and Duke's won hands down because its high egg-yolk content keeps the dressing thick even after a day in the fridge.

Trust me, this simple tweak changes everything.

Blt Chicken Salad

• Publisher Storied Skillet
• Cuisine American
• Category Salad, Lunch
• Prep Time 15 minutes
• Cook Time 10 minutes
• Servings 4
• Calories 380 calories
• Rating 4.8 1606
• Tags BLT chicken salad, chicken salad with bacon, easy lunch salad

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed (great use for leftovers from our Lemon Basil Chicken Salad)
• 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1/4 tsp fine table salt)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (preferably Duke's)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce (optional, for serving)

Directions

1. Place the halved cherry tomatoes in a colander, sprinkle with the Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and let them drain for 10 minutes to remove excess water.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
3. Add the shredded chicken and drained tomatoes to the bowl, using a rubber spatula to fold them gently into the dressing until every piece is coated.
4. Just before serving, chop the crispy bacon and fold it into the salad so it retains its maximum crunch.
5. Serve immediately over a bed of crisp romaine lettuce, or scoop it into wraps.
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Notes

• I highly recommend using 1/2 cup of Duke's mayonnaise (about 115 grams); if using Hellmann's, add an extra teaspoon of lemon juice to balance the sweetness.
• Salting the tomatoes triggers osmosis, pulling out the water that would otherwise break your mayonnaise emulsion.
• Do not mix the bacon in ahead of time; bacon contains salt that will draw moisture from the air and turn soft within two hours of mixing.
• After 24 hours in the fridge, the romaine lettuce will wilt, so store the chicken mixture separately and only assemble with greens right before eating.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile salad can be enjoyed in several delicious ways, whether you want a light lunch or a crowd-pleasing party platter.

• Scoop it into a warm pita or roll it up in a tortilla for a quick lunch similar to our Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps.
• Serve it inside a hollowed-out avocado half for a low-carb, high-fat keto treat.
• Spoon it over a bed of crisp butter lettuce alongside our classic Creamy Coleslaw for a double-salad summer feast.
• Stuff it between two slices of toasted sourdough bread to make the ultimate chicken salad sandwich.

Storage and Reheating

Keep it cold.

Store the chicken salad in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Because of the mayonnaise and sour cream base, this recipe does not freeze well, as the emulsion will completely separate upon thawing.

If you plan to meal prep this, keep the chopped bacon in a separate dry container. Tap the bacon pieces into the salad right before you eat to preserve that satisfying crunch.

Ingredient Substitutes

If you are missing an ingredient or want to lighten things up, try these easy swaps:

1. Sour Cream: Swap for plain Greek yogurt to add a protein boost while keeping the tangy flavor profile.
2. Cherry Tomatoes: Use diced Roma tomatoes instead, but make sure to scoop out the watery seeds first.
3. Romaine Lettuce: Replace with fresh spinach or arugula for a peppery bite.
4. Bacon: Use turkey bacon or smoky tempeh strips for a lighter alternative.

This has quickly become my absolute favorite way to rescue dry leftover chicken. It is fast, incredibly satisfying, and brings all the smoky, tangy joy of a classic BLT straight to your fork without any of the fuss.