Bacon Ranch Quinoa Chicken Salad

Why You’ll Love This Bacon Ranch Quinoa Chicken Salad

Ah, summertime! Sun, fun, playing at the park, going to the beach, swimming in the pool, riding bikes, going for walks. It’s definitely the time of year when we are all trying to get outside and be more active. But when the temperature rises, we don’t want to spend a lot of time making a meal that will fuel us through all the fun.

That’s just part of what’s so great about this Bacon Ranch Quinoa Chicken Salad. Let’s see… Bacon… check! Ranch… check! Chicken… check! Quinoa… ??? OK, bear with me on this one. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of quinoa, once cooked and cooled, the quinoa takes on a chewy texture and even nuttier flavor that even my quinoa-resistant guys enjoy. Here’s why you’ll love it too…

• So satisfying. Between the quinoa and the chicken, you get tons of fiber and protein. Plus the Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing adds an extra bit of fuel!
• Flavorful but light. Since that dressing is made with Greek yogurt, it’s lighter than your usual Ranch. And there’s just enough bacon for flavor but not to make it super heavy or greasy. But these ingredients are so flavorful that you won’t miss out on any deliciousness.
• Keep the kitchen cool. If you cook some quinoa before the temperature rises and use some help from the grocery store with a rotisserie chicken, you can assemble this quinoa chicken salad without turning on the stove.

And, of course, it’s naturally gluten free!

What You’ll Need

Here is a quick rundown of the ingredients needed to make this creamy quinoa salad. You can find the full amounts and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

For the Ranch Dressing

• Plain Greek yogurt. Whole milk yogurt adds a nice richness, but nonfat works great if you want something lighter.
• Apple cider vinegar. I like to use raw apple cider vinegar, but any will do.
• Olive oil. Gives it a creamier consistency.
• Dried herbs. The classic Ranch blend of parsley and dill.
• Spices. A mixture of salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper is all you need.

For the Quinoa Chicken Salad

• Quinoa. Cooked and cooled. You can follow the package directions to cook it on the stove or check out my five ways to cook quinoa for alternative methods.
• Shredded cooked chicken. You can use a grocery store rotisserie chicken or any leftovers.
• Bacon. Cook it till crispy using one of the five ways to cook bacon and crumble it. If you want to lighten it up even more, feel free to use turkey bacon.
• Tomatoes. Chop a tomato or cut grape or cherry tomatoes in half.

All you have to do is stir the dressing ingredients together, mix it with the quinoa and chicken, then stir in the bacon and tomatoes. Season it with salt and pepper if needed and you are done!

Quick Tips

• Use some shortcuts. While you can make cooked chicken, you can also grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. And if you don’t want to make the dressing, a bottle of ranch, or a packet mixed per the instructions will work just fine.
• Make it with mayo. If you need a dairy-free version of this quinoa chicken salad or just prefer mayonnaise, you can use 1 cup instead of the yogurt/vinegar/oil combo.
• Customize it. You can definitely add in some scallions or red onion, swap the chicken for steak, mix in cheddar cheese, or stir in extra veggies like shredded carrots or chopped pepper or cucumber.
• Prep in advance. Letting the flavors blend together by making the dressing or the entire salad ahead of time is definitely a good idea. That makes this a great recipe for meal prep to have for lunches all week.
• Store properly. The quinoa salad must be kept refrigerated in a sealed container. It will keep for up to 4-5 days. I do not recommend freezing it as it will get watery when it thaws due to the yogurt.

Make it a Meal

I love to enjoy this Bacon Ranch Quinoa Chicken Salad over a bed of greens or in lettuce wraps, but there are lots of other ways to serve it:

• Serve with veggies. Since this recipe already has your meat and carbs, all you really need to add is some sliced cucumbers, Bacon Green Beans (if you are cooking bacon anyway, or Sauteed Summer Vegetables.
• Add more protein. If you are packing it in a meal prep salad lunch, try adding in hard-boiled eggs or some quick Greek Yogurt Deviled Eggs for some extra satisfaction.
• Make a sammie. You can also use it like a standard chicken salad and pile it on a sandwich, perhaps using Gluten Free Brioche, or wrapped up in some Gluten Free Naan.
• With a soup. Since this is so hearty, a light soup like Instant Pot Tomato Basil Soup or Greek Chicken Zoodle Soup would be perfect.