Description
Juicy honey‑mustard chicken, smoky bacon, crisp Romaine, and creamy avocado—tossed in a scratch honey‑mustard vinaigrette that doubles as a marinade. Comfort meets clean eating in one bowl.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Honey‑Mustard Dressing & Marinade (split in half)
- 1/3 cup honey (raw honey if possible)
- 3 tbsp whole grain mustard (adds texture)
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard (for emulsification)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1-2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (to taste)
- 1 tsp garlic (finely minced)
- 1 pinch salt
Chicken & Bacon
- 4 fillets chicken (boneless, skinless thighs or breasts)
- 1/4 cup bacon (diced; rind and excess fat trimmed)
Salad Base
- 4 cups Romaine lettuce (washed and chopped)
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 large avocado (pitted and sliced)
- 1/4 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned (drained), or thawed)
- 1/4 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Make Dressing/Marinade: Whisk honey, whole grain mustard, Dijon, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Split in half: one half for marinade, the other half reserved (refrigerated) for dressing.
- Marinate & Cook Chicken: Coat chicken in the marinade; chill 2 hours if time allows. Heat a skillet with 1 tsp oil over medium heat; sear chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden and 165°F/74°C. Rest 5 minutes, then slice.
- Crisp Bacon: In the same skillet, cook diced bacon over medium‑high until browned and crisp. Drain on paper towel.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl combine Romaine, tomatoes, avocado, corn, and red onion (soak onion in cold water 5 minutes to mellow, if desired).
- Dress & Serve: Whisk 2 tbsp water into the reserved dressing to loosen. Add sliced chicken to the bowl, drizzle dressing, toss gently, and finish with crispy bacon. Season to taste with extra salt and cracked pepper.
Notes
Do not reuse marinade that touched raw chicken—discard after use. Swap turkey bacon for lighter macros, or add cucumbers and shredded carrots for extra crunch. For meal prep, store components separately and dress just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 18
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 35
