Best Ever BLT Salad

The inspiration to make this salad came to me as I was thinking up ideas for summer menus. As each component came together, it tasted even better than the one before. The final result did not disappoint at all. This salad has the savory flavor of bacon and the fresh taste of tomatoes along with the satisfying crunch of homemade croutons. As if that were enough, the bacon infused dressing poured on top added that delicious creaminess that makes you want to keep eating and eating. And it's a salad!


Marinade Ingredients

4 chicken thighs
2 Tbsp oil (I used the rest of my bacon infused oil for extra yum)
1/4 cup grape tomatoes, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp parsley

2 cloves garlic, crushed


Salad Ingredients

4-8 cups of romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes
1/2 cup bacon bits
3 cups croutons or make your own
4 chicken thighs, grilled and sliced
Ranch dressing or Bacon infused BLT dressing

Directions

Put the chicken and marinade ingredients in a bag for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours ahead of time. Preheat the grill and cook your chicken thighs on low for 3-4 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. I love to use this digital thermometer.

I like to heat up the bacon bits to crisp them up a bit. Heat up a pan on the stove and cook the bacon bits in it for a few minutes or until some of the fat has cooked off. Place in a bowl to cool until ready to use.

Assemble the salads by placing the lettuce on a plate and topping with about 1/4 cup of grape tomatoes, 2 Tbsp bacon bits, 1/3 cup croutons and a whole chicken thigh, sliced up. Drizzle on the dressing of choice. Dig in!

Sides:

Perfectly crispy sweet potato fries