This easy Honey Mustard Salad is packed with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and the best sweet and tangy dressing in just 30 minutes!
author’s note
The Dressing That Wins Every Time
I’ll be honest, I can’t get my younger two to eat salad very often. (My oldest is a different story. He’s completely obsessed with salads! Haha!)
But there are two salads they’ll happily eat every single time: my Crispy Chicken Salad and this Honey Mustard Chicken Salad.
The secret? The honey mustard dressing. They’re absolutely in love with it. It’s creamy, sweet, tangy, and made with just five basic ingredients.
As long as I have that dressing, I’m pretty sure they’ll eat just about anything.
When I make this for my family, I usually keep everything separated. I’ll put the lettuce in a big bowl, leave all the toppings spread out on the cutting board, and let everyone choose what they want. Then I drizzle on the dressing, toss it together, and dinner is done!
Honey Mustard Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Tips & Swaps |
|---|---|
| Romaine lettuce | Wash and dry well so the dressing sticks to every bite. You can also use spring mix or spinach. |
| Chicken | Rotisserie, grilled, baked, or crispy chicken all work great depending on what you have on hand. |
| Bacon | Cook until crispy for the best crunch and flavor. |
| Cherry tomatoes | Use ripe, sweet tomatoes for the best flavor. Grape tomatoes work too. |
| Red onion | Soak sliced onion in cold water for 10 minutes if you prefer a milder bite. |
| Avocado | Slice just before serving to keep it fresh and prevent browning. |
| Homemade honey mustard dressing | The creamy, sweet, and tangy dressing is what ties the whole salad together. Double the batch if you want extra for dipping veggies or other salads. |
Quick Tip
I’ve also shared a vinaigrette version of this Honey Mustard Salad Dressing if you’re looking for something a bit lighter.
How To Make This Honey Mustard Salad:
- Make the dressing: Whisk together the ingredients and stir until smooth; chill.
- Prepare the chicken: Cook and slice or chop.
- Cook the bacon: Cook until crisp, drain, and chop.
- Assemble: Add romaine to a bowl and top with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, onion, and avocado.
- Dress & serve: Drizzle with dressing just before serving.
Storage
Dress this honey mustard salad right before serving and only what you’ll eat that day. Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. Stir or shake before using.
More Delicious Salads:
Honey Mustard Salad
Video
Equipment
- Large pan or griddle
Ingredients
- 5 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes or quartered
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion 1/4 of a large onion
- 1 large avocado thinly sliced or chopped
- 6 slices center cut bacon cooked and chopped
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken or thinly sliced, see note 1
Instructions
- Start by adding all the dressing ingredients into a small bowl. Add honey to personal preference (I like 2 tablespoons). Season to taste with salt and pepper (I add 1/4 teaspoon each). Whisk together with a fork or small whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust to personal preference. Transfer dressing to a jar with a lid and refrigerate to allow flavors to meld and chill before adding to the salad.
- Chicken: See note 1.
- Heat a large pan or griddle over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy, about 6–8 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate and let cool slightly. Chop coarsely for the salad.
- Chop the lettuce and add to a large bowl or platter. Top lettuce with cooked chicken, chopped bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and a thinly sliced or chopped avocado. Drizzle on dressing to personal preference. (You may not use all the dressing; use any leftover dressing on other salads or with veggies. Dressing stays good for up to 7 days in an airtight container in the fridge). Enjoy salad immediately; salad does not sit well with dressing and avocado.
Recipe Notes
- Quickest option—rotisserie chicken: Purchase a fresh and hot rotisserie chicken and chop it up for this salad. Or for an even quicker prep, a lot of grocery stores have rotisserie chicken that has already been pulled from the bones and shredded.
- Leftover chicken: If you’re making chicken during the week, make some extra and save it for this salad. I recommend making a double batch of this Grilled Chicken Marinade; it’s my favorite!
- Store-bought crispy chicken: While I’m no expert on crispy chicken tenders (I don’t buy them all that often), Taste of Home magazine shares the best chicken to use for this recipe. If you use frozen crispy chicken, I recommend baking the chicken for this salad, not microwaving it. Allow the chicken to slightly cool to a warm temperature, then thinly slice and add to the salad.
- Fresh grilled chicken: If grilling chicken for this salad, I recommend drizzling olive oil and adding a generous amount of salt, pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning. Grill until cooked through, about 4–6 minutes per side (or until chicken juices run clear and internal temperatures register 165°F).
- Fresh sautéed chicken: Halve thick chicken breasts and drizzle both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle with a generous amount of salt, pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning. Cook in a hot skillet for about 4–6 minutes per side (or until chicken juices run clear and internal temperatures register 165°F).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Found this recipe online and just made a batch of the dressing (didn’t get around to making the chicken) and it’s SO good!! The perfect lunch! Thank you!
I am so happy to Hera this! Thanks so much Randa! 🙂
So good! Loved all the flavors! The perfect dinner!
I loved this easy dressing I am planning on using it for other salads, but today we tried it with your salad it was an incredible lunch filling and delicious. Thank you.
Love this salad! It makes a perfect summertime meal!
wonderful dressing (and salad) each has everything I love, that is, the salad and the dressing, so thank you!