Chick-a-Bacon Caesar Twist—Lunch for 4
Chick-a-Bacon Caesar Twist is a lunchtime fusion of Italian and American flavors, featuring tender chicken and crispy bacon atop a bed of fresh Caesar salad. This innovative twist on a classic dish offers a satisfying, protein-packed meal with bold, delicious taste.
Meal Type
Lunch
Cuisine
Italian American Fusion
Servings
4
Food Stars
Chicken, bacon, caesar salad
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Place the cooked and cubed chicken breast in a large bowl
- Cook 8 slices of bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain
- Crumble the cooked bacon and add it to the large bowl with the chicken
- Wash and chop 6 cups of romaine lettuce, then add it to the large bowl with the chicken and bacon
- Wash and halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, then add them to the large bowl with the other ingredients
- Measure out 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and add it to the large bowl
- In a separate measuring cup, combine 1/2 cup Caesar dressing, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper; mix well
- Pour the dressing mixture over the ingredients in the large bowl
- Use tongs to toss all ingredients together until evenly coated with dressing
- Measure out 1/4 cup croutons and sprinkle them on top of the salad mixture in the large bowl
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1 cup chopped radicchio
- Add 1/4 cup chopped endive
- Replace romaine lettuce with 6 cups chopped kale
- Add 1/2 tsp ground mustard to dressing
🧂 Salty
- Increase salt to 1 tsp
- Add 1/4 cup capers
- Add 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
- Replace bacon with 12 slices of prosciutto
🍋 Sour
- Add 2 tbsp lemon juice to dressing
- Replace Caesar dressing with 3/4 cup
- Add 1/4 cup capers, drained
🌶️ Spicy
- Add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Add 1/2 cup diced pickled jalapenos
- Increase black pepper to 1/2 tsp
🍬 Sweet
- Add 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- Add 1/4 cup candied pecans
- Add 1/4 cup chopped apple
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup honey mustard dressing
🍄 Umami
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce to dressing
- Add 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce to dressing
- Add 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms to salad
- Replace 1/4 cup croutons with 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
🍸 Alcoholic
- Pinot Grigio: The crisp acidity and citrus notes complement the Caesar dressing and cut through the richness of the bacon
- Chianti: The medium-bodied red wine with its fruity flavors balances the savory chicken and bacon, while enhancing the tomatoes
- Aperol Spritz: The refreshing, slightly bitter taste of this Italian aperitif pairs well with the salad’s flavors and cleanses the palate between bites
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Lemon Iced Tea: The citrus notes and slight bitterness complement the savory flavors of the dish
- Sparkling Water with a Lemon Wedge: The effervescence and acidity cleanse the palate between bites
- Virgin Bloody Mary: The tomato-based drink pairs well with Caesar salad ingredients, adding a refreshing contrast
🥓 Keto
- Remove cherry tomatoes
- Remove croutons
- Increase grated Parmesan cheese to 3/4 cup
- Add 1/2 cup chopped avocado
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace chicken breast with 1 lb grilled halloumi cheese
- Replace bacon with 1 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- Replace romaine lettuce with 6 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, and baby kale)
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup lemon-tahini dressing
- Remove croutons
- Add 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Add 1/4 cup pine nuts
🥑 Paleo
- Remove grated Parmesan cheese
- Remove croutons
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup paleo-friendly Caesar dressing
🐟 Pescatarian
- Replace 1 lb chicken breast with 1 lb cooked and cubed salmon
- Replace 8 slices bacon with 8 oz cooked and flaked imitation crab meat
🌱 Vegan
- Replace 1 lb chicken breast with 1 lb cubed extra-firm tofu
- Replace 8 slices bacon with 8 slices vegan bacon
- Replace 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese with 1/2 cup vegan Parmesan cheese alternative
- Replace 1/2 cup Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup vegan Caesar dressing
🥦 Vegetarian
- Replace 1 lb chicken breast with 1 lb cubed tofu
- Replace 8 slices bacon with 8 oz tempeh bacon
- Increase Caesar dressing to 3/4 cup (use vegetarian Caesar dressing)
🥩 Whole30
- Remove grated Parmesan cheese
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup Whole30 compliant Caesar dressing
- Remove croutons
- Add 1/4 cup toasted almond slivers
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace bacon with 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- Add 1/2 avocado, cubed
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
🌾 Celiac Disease
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup gluten-free croutons
- Use gluten-free Caesar dressing for the 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
💩 Crohns Disease
- Remove cherry tomatoes
- Replace romaine lettuce with arugula
- Replace Caesar dressing with a dairy-free Caesar dressing
- Remove croutons
- Add 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup low-fat Caesar dressing
- Replace bacon with 8 slices turkey bacon
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup whole grain croutons
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup gluten-free croutons
- Use gluten-free Caesar dressing for the 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace bacon with 4 oz turkey bacon
- Decrease Caesar dressing to 1/4 cup
- Use low-fat Caesar dressing
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup whole grain croutons
- Increase cherry tomatoes to 1 1/2 cups
❤️ Heart Health
- Replace bacon with 4 oz turkey bacon
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup low-fat Caesar dressing
- Replace grated Parmesan cheese with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Replace bacon with 4 oz turkey bacon
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup low-sodium Caesar dressing
- Eliminate salt
- Decrease Parmesan cheese to 1/4 cup
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace bacon with 4 oz turkey bacon
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup low-fat Caesar dressing
- Replace grated Parmesan cheese with 1/2 cup grated low-fat Parmesan cheese
- Remove croutons
🦠 Immune System
- Replace bacon with 1 cup cooked and chopped turkey bacon
- Add 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt-based Caesar dressing
- Add 1/2 tsp minced garlic to the dressing mixture
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Replace bacon with 8 slices turkey bacon
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup low-fat Caesar dressing
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup gluten-free croutons
- Remove cherry tomatoes
💧 Kidney Disease
- Remove bacon
- Replace Caesar dressing with kidney-friendly dressing (e.g., lemon vinaigrette)
- Decrease Parmesan cheese to 1/4 cup
- Remove salt
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup toasted almonds
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- Replace grated Parmesan cheese with 1/2 cup grated lactose-free Parmesan cheese
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup lactose-free Caesar dressing
🍺 Liver Disease
- Remove bacon
- Replace Caesar dressing with 1/2 cup low-sodium vinaigrette dressing
- Decrease Parmesan cheese to 1/4 cup
- Increase cherry tomatoes to 1 1/2 cups
- Replace croutons with 1/4 cup toasted almond slices
🤰 Pregnancy
- Replace Caesar dressing with pregnancy-safe Caesar dressing
- Use pasteurized grated Parmesan cheese
Beti’s Reflections
It all started on a sunny afternoon when I was craving a scrumptious blend of Italian and American flavors. As I strolled through the local farmer’s market, inspiration struck, and the Chick-a-Bacon Caesar Twist was born! This delightful fusion marries tender chicken and crispy bacon with a fresh Caesar salad, creating an unforgettable lunchtime experience.
Introducing the Chick-a-Bacon Caesar Twist, a protein-packed meal that serves four people. Bursting with bold flavors, this Chicken Bacon Caesar Salad is perfect for those who love Italian American recipes. However, please note that this dish is not suitable for those following vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or low-fat diets.
The ingredients in this Caesar Salad with Bacon are what make it truly special. We start with 1 lb of cooked and cubed chicken breast, which adds a tender and juicy element to the dish. Next up is 8 slices of bacon cooked to crispy perfection for that irresistible crunch. The base of our salad consists of 6 cups of chopped romaine lettuce and 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes for freshness. To bring it all together, we have 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup Caesar dressing, 1/4 cup croutons for added texture, and a simple mix of 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Now let’s dive into the instructions for our Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe! Begin by placing your cooked and cubed chicken breast in a large bowl. Cook your bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crispy before transferring it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Crumble the cooked bacon and add it to the large bowl with the chicken. Next up is washing and chopping your romaine lettuce before adding it to the bowl along with your washed and halved cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle in your grated Parmesan cheese, and then it’s time to prepare the dressing. In a separate measuring cup, combine your Caesar dressing, olive oil, salt, and black pepper; mix well. Pour this dressing mixture over the ingredients in the large bowl and use tongs to toss everything together until evenly coated. Finally, sprinkle your croutons on top of the salad mixture for that extra crunch.
There you have it – the Chick-a-Bacon Caesar Twist! This easy Chicken Bacon Salad is perfect for a satisfying lunch or a light dinner. With its Caesar Salad Variations and Italian American flair, you’ll be transported to a world of flavor with every bite. So go ahead and indulge in this delicious Chicken Bacon Romaine Lettuce Salad – your taste buds will thank you!
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