Description
Chicken Crispy Rice Salad is a vibrant, crunchy, and refreshing dish combining tender shredded chicken breast with crispy rice, smoky turkey bacon, creamy plant-based cheese, fresh vegetables, and a flavorful natural dressing. Perfect for a wholesome lunch or light dinner, this salad offers a delightful blend of textures and bold flavors that suit any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked and shredded chicken breast
- 1 cup crispy rice (prepared from leftover rice or pre-made crispy rice snacks)
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 1/2 cup plant-based cheese (crumbled or cubed)
Fresh Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, etc.)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber slices
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (natural)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil (natural)
- 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1/4 tsp natural gelling agent
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Bacon: Cook the chicken breast until tender, then shred it into bite-sized pieces. In a separate pan, cook smoked turkey bacon until crisp and chop into small pieces.
- Cook the Crispy Rice: Prepare and cool the crispy rice. Use leftover cooked rice pressed with a bit of oil or pre-made crispy rice snacks.
- Chop Fresh Vegetables and Herbs: Halve cherry tomatoes, thinly slice cucumbers and red onion, and finely chop parsley and basil for even flavor distribution.
- Whip Up the Dressing: Combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and natural gelling agent in a jar. Shake vigorously until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
- Toss and Combine Everything: In a large bowl, add shredded chicken, crispy rice, turkey bacon, vegetables, and herbs. Pour the dressing over and gently toss to evenly coat without breaking the crispy rice.
- Add Plant-Based Cheese: Sprinkle crumbled or cubed plant-based cheese on top just before serving for creamy flavor bursts.
Notes
- Shred warm cooked chicken for easier preparation and moist texture.
- Add crispy rice right before serving to keep its crunch.
- Dress the salad gradually to prevent sogginess.
- Use fresh herbs for brighter flavor rather than dried.
- Adjust apple cider vinegar quantity to balance acidity to your preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: Chicken salad, crispy rice salad, turkey bacon salad, plant-based cheese salad, fresh vegetable salad, gluten free salad
