samantha elaine chicken salad healthy gluten free light summer

Chicken Berry Salad with Bacon and Toasted Walnuts

A sweet and savory, fresh summer salad packed with antioxidants and bursting with flavor! Enjoy it poolside while you’re working on your tan.

It’s summertime, finally! Here’s to sunny days, relaxing by the beach (or pool), trying to catch a cool breeze and a tan. When the days get longer (and HOTTER!), who really wants to spend their time indoors preparing a meal? Not this chick! Summer calls for easy, breezy salads that can be ready in 10 minutes flat. And something about this weather just makes me crave fruit; I know I can’t be the only one. So here’s my Chicken Berry Salad with Bacon and Toasted Walnuts.

samantha elaine chicken salad healthy gluten free light summer

Yes, you heard that right. There’s bacon in there too! My husband used to say that bacon was a food group, but he’s come to understand that it’s more of a garnish. And what goes better with bacon than it’s old, stinky friend blue cheese? Top it all off with some toasted walnuts for a little bit of crunch. It’s like a match made in salad heaven. You get salty, tangy, savory flavors that pair so well with the bright fresh berries.

samantha elaine chicken salad healthy gluten free light summer

And this dish is full of berry goodness that packs a serious nutritional punch. Berries are full of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber, and they actually have a relatively low sugar content. They can help slow the aging process, keep you mentally sharp, and even combat cancer. You need less than a cup a day to reap these awesome benefits.

samantha elaine chicken salad healthy gluten free light summer

Pair this lovely little salad with my Red, White, and Blue Sangria, and you’ve got my kind of perfect pool day. Cue some country music.

Print

Chicken Berry Salad with Bacon and Toasted Walnuts

A sweet and savory, fresh summer salad packed with antioxidants and bursting with flavor!

  • Author: Samantha Elaine
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Salads

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast*
  • 8 cups mixed greens
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted**
  • 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/4 cup cooked bacon, cut into small pieces
  • raspberry vinaigrette

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients together in a large bowl and toss to mix. Divide among 4 bowls and serve.

Notes

*For cooked chicken, try making my Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken or Slow Cooker Roast Chicken ahead of time! Or purchase a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

**Buy already roasted walnuts, or toast them yourself over medium heat in a pan, stirring constantly.

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10 Comments

  • kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor June 20, 2017 at 5:56 pm

    Wow! My husband had the same reaction yours did to the bacon in this salad. 🙂 You’re so right that this dish captures everything great about this time of year! Enjoy it!

    Reply
  • Nicola @ Happy Healthy Motivated June 21, 2017 at 12:31 am

    I love adding berries into savory salads! These flavors and textures sound so awesome, I’m definitely going to try it.

    Reply
  • Gina Ritchie June 21, 2017 at 2:45 am

    This looks so fresh and amazing. I would love to have this for lunch or dinner. Berries and Bacon!

    Reply
    • Samantha Elaine June 21, 2017 at 6:26 am

      Who’d have thought they would be a winning combo?!

      Reply
  • Cait Weingartner June 21, 2017 at 2:56 am

    Salads like this are my favorite warm weather dinner choice. I can’t wait to try this recipe, it looks fresh, healthy, and delicious!

    Reply
    • Samantha Elaine June 21, 2017 at 6:27 am

      Same Cait. What are some of your other fave salads? Personally I also love Greek salads!

      Reply
  • Joanie @ One Dish Kitchen June 21, 2017 at 4:58 am

    I’ve been adding fresh berries to my salads a lot lately and I love your combination of the berries, bacon and blue cheese – so delicious! What a great summer lunch or dinner.

    Reply
    • Samantha Elaine June 21, 2017 at 6:28 am

      Thank you Joanie! It was one of those “I think they sound good together” moments that went so so right!

      Reply

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