This salad!! I’m so excited to share it! It’s finally the time of year when we can all visualize the road to summertime, it’s so close. Yes, it did snow here all weekend long, but I have confidence that in less than two months’ time, the grass will be green, our flowers will be blooming and summer will very much be upon us all!! I’m so excited, ever since coming back from Miami where it was 80 degrees, I’ve been craving nothing but summer weather and fun summer food, like this salad. This is my “snack bar” salad. The crusted chicken and creamy dressing, with both bacon and avocado, remind me of pool days in the sun. I would order the yummiest salads for lunch from the snack bar. Or if I was really lucky, at the club restaurant with my Nonnie. Growing up my grandparents belonged to the local yacht club in our town. My brothers and I spent many summers at that pool. My Nonnie would often take me to lunch at their clubhouse restaurant. If I wasn’t ordering the chicken fingers and fries, grilled cheese, or club sandwich, I was ordering their breaded chicken salad. I can’t fully remember what was on the salad other than breaded chicken and creamy dressing, but I just remember it being extra yummy. So this is my take on that salad. I think my pretzel crust chicken variation is even better.
The details
Start with the chicken. Finely crush the pretzels into crumbs and mix with my black pepper rub: smoked paprika, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. Dip the chicken through beaten eggs, then through the peppery crumbs. Drizzle each piece with oil – the key to crispy oven-baked chicken, then bake. For the dressing, I started out with a lighter pesto vinaigrette, but in the end, it just wasn’t doing it for me. I quickly consulted with my oldest brother Creighton, who loves dressings. He agreed, creamy all the way, So I made a simple creamy pesto dressing with mayo, basil pesto, lemon, honey, and sea salt. So yummy, this was the right move. Now toss the salad and fresh greens. I’m a big fan of shredded romaine topped with micro arugula and a mix of herbs, cilantro, and basil. Then add the dressing and toss, toss, toss. Next, add the bacon, avocado, and my secret – cubes of spicy cheddar cheese. I grab mine at Whole Foods, it’s labeled Rattlesnake Cheddar and I’m obsessed with it. I love to serve this with a side of sweet potato fries for a fun lunch or dinner. So great for these spring, and soon summer, months ahead! Looking for other spring salad recipes? Here are some of my favorites: Pesto Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad Sesame Ginger Orange Chicken Salad Burrata Caesar Salad Pizza Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Chickpea Salad Lastly, if you make this Black Pepper Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
