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Chicken & Asparagus Salad with Bacon

One of my all time favourite salads has to be my chicken & asparagus salad with bacon and new season Jersey Royal potatoes. This hearty salad is easy to prepare, served warm and makes a great lunch or light dinner salad main.

A black plate topped with a salad of lettuce leaves, sauteed chicken, asparagus, new potatoes and bacon with a small just of salad dressing set alongside.

In the UK, both Jersey Royals and new season asparagus have a fairly short season. This time of year I try and eat them often, enjoying while I can. However, these days asparagus and new potatoes are available in our stores the year round, so you can make this salad any time.

I’ve dressed the salad with my homemade Classic French Dressing, a simple French vinaigrette that can be made in minutes using a few basic ingredients. A good vinaigrette can really lift a salad, giving it the perfect amount of seasoning, without overpowering the salad.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Making the best of spring fresh flavours with new season asparagus and Jersey Royal potatoes (although you can make this salad all year round).
  • Easy to adapt recipe, feel free to swap in other veggies to suit your own tastes.
  • Ready in 30 minutes making this a great light dinner option over the warm summer months.
  • Gluten free and dairy free provided you serve it with my classic French dressing.
A black plate topped with a salad of lettuce leaves, sauteed chicken, asparagus, new potatoes and bacon with a small just of salad dressing set alongside.

Recipe ingredients

Recipe ingredients for chicken asparagus bacon salad set out in individual bowls.
  • Chicken – I make this recipe using chicken breast or chicken mini fillets (chicken tenders) if you can find them.
  • Asparagus – this salad tastes best with new season asparagus which has the best flavour. However, you can find asparagus the year round in supermarkets.
  • Bacon – for the best flavour I recommend using smoked streaky bacon as I like to render down the fat in the bacon which also adds a layer of flavour into the salad.
  • New potatoes – I like to add new potatoes to this salad, Jersey Royal’s being my potato of choice when they are in season. However, any new potato will work well in this salad.
  • Garlic – for the best flavour I recommend using fresh crushed garlic or frozen garlic.
  • Oil – I saute the chicken in a little sunflower or olive oil.
  • Lettuce – I use 2 heads of little gem lettuce for serve 3-4, but any variety of lettuce will work in this salad.
  • Salad dressing – my favourite salad dressing to dress this salad with is my Classic French Dressing as it doesn’t overpower the flavours in the dish. You can use any other salad dressing, homemade or store-bought.

How to make chicken asparagus salad

  • Place the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water and cook till tender. Drain and set aside.
  • Prepare the asparagus, leaving the flower heads whole, and slicing up the stem.

TOP TIP: No need to peel new potatoes, just wash them and cook with the skin on.

  • Heat up a non-stick frying pan to medium high. Place the bacon in the pan, keep moving the bacon until you get a good colour on it, but taking care not to burn. Once crisp remove the bacon from the pan, leaving any residual fat in the pan to saute the chicken.
  • Heat the oil in the pan and season the chicken with a little salt and black pepper. Add the chicken to the pan and gently brown the chicken.
  • Now add the asparagus and garlic to the pan and cook for a minute.
  • Add the bacon and cooked potatoes into the pan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until the potatoes are warmed through.
  • Place the lettuce into a bowl, top with the chicken, asparagus, bacon and potato mixture. Dress the salad with the vinaigrette and gently toss the salad to ensure everything is coated in the vinaigrette. Serve the salad warm.
Two black plates topped with a salad of lettuce leaves, sauteed chicken, asparagus, new potatoes and bacon with a small just of salad dressing set alongside.

Recipe variations

  • Add to the salad with other ingredients like garden peas, sugar snap peas, mange tout, radish, spring onion, tomato or cucumber.
  • I’ve used my own Classic French Vinaigrette to dress the salad, but feel free to use your favourite salad dressing.
  • Add a garnish of freshly chopped herbs like parsley, chives or tarragon, just before serving.

Useful hints and tips

  1. Only dress the salad when ready to serve otherwise the salad leaves will wilt.
  2. Seasoning: if you plan to make my salad dressing always check the seasoning once it is made. Proper seasoning will make all the difference to the finished salad.
  3. Containing no gluten or dairy this salad dish is suitable for gluten free and dairy free diners.
  4. Allergy advice: gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soya free and nut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.
Two black plates topped with a salad of lettuce leaves, sauteed chicken, asparagus, new potatoes and bacon with a small just of salad dressing set alongside.

FAQs

How to store chicken and asparagus salad?

This is a salad that is best enjoyed freshly made, but if you have leftovers, store them separately. As this is a warm salad, the cooked element is best stored separate from the lettuce as the lettuce will wilt. It is also best stored before the French salad dressing is added to the salad as the acid in the dressing will cause the vegetables to break down.

What part of the chicken is best for salads?

I prefer to use chicken breast as it is lean. I will also use mini chicken fillets (chicken tenders). However, you could also use skinless, boneless chicken thighs in this recipe too.

Should chicken on a salad be hot or cold?

Chicken can be served both warm and cold. I’ve served the salad warm, but you can just as easily allow the cooked elements to cool before serving the salad. It is entirely down to personal choice. Only dress the salad when you are ready to eat.

Is chicken salad healthy?

Yes, chicken is a lean meat, high in protein and a great source of iron. It also takes on other flavours really well when cooked, so ideal for adding to salads.

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Pinnable image with recipe title and a black plate topped with a salad of lettuce leaves, sauteed chicken, asparagus, new potatoes and bacon.

Additional recipe suggestions

If you like this recipe then try some of my favourite salad main recipes:

Love salad? Then head to my Best Salad Recipes post where you will find links to all my favourite salad recipes in one place.

A black plate topped with a salad of lettuce leaves, sauteed chicken, asparagus, new potatoes and bacon with a small just of salad dressing set alongside.

Chicken & Asparagus Salad with Bacon

Warm chicken and asparagus salad, with crispy smoked bacon and new season Jersey Royal potatoes. This hearty salad is served warm and makes a great lunch or light dinner salad main.
5 from 7 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 374kcal

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Non-stick frying pan
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife

Ingredients

  • 300 g Jersey Royal potatoes (or any new potato, cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 100 g asparagus
  • 6 rashers of smoked streaky bacon (diced)
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 chicken breasts (diced)
  • sea salt & black pepper (to taste)
  • 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 2 heads of little gem lettuce (washed and leaves sliced into strips)
  • 4 tbsp Classic French Dressing

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water and cook till tender. Drain and set aside.
  • Prepare the asparagus, leaving the flower heads whole, and slicing up the stem.
  • Heat up a non-stick frying pan to medium high. Place the bacon in the pan, keep moving the bacon until you get a good colour on it, but taking care not to burn. This should take around 4-5 minutes.
  • Once crisp remove the bacon from the pan, leaving any residual fat in the pan to saute the chicken.
  • Heat the oil in the pan and season the chicken with a little salt and black pepper. Add the chicken to the pan and gently cook the chicken for 5 minutes, until browned.
  • Now add the asparagus and garlic to the pan and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add the bacon and cooked potatoes into the pan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until the potatoes are warmed through.
  • Place the lettuce into a bowl, top with the chicken, asparagus, bacon and potato mixture. Dress the salad with the vinaigrette and gently toss the salad to ensure everything is coated in the vinaigrette. Serve the salad warm.

Notes

With new potatoes there is no need to peel them. Just wash the potatoes and leave the skin on.
Only dress the salad when ready to serve otherwise the salad leaves will wilt.
If you plan to make my salad dressing always check the seasoning once it is made. Proper seasoning will make all the difference to the finished salad.
Nutrition Facts
Chicken & Asparagus Salad with Bacon
Amount Per Serving
Calories 374 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 58mg19%
Sodium 291mg13%
Potassium 683mg20%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 1439IU29%
Vitamin C 18mg22%
Calcium 27mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •

Course : Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine : British
Keyword : chicken and asparagus, chicken and bacon pasta sauce, jersey royal new potatoes, salad main, simple french dressing, simple french vinaigrette
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Recipe Rating




5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Cat

Tuesday 4th of June 2024

This is my kind of salad and what I want to be eating all summer long, so tasty!

Lesley

Monday 17th of June 2024

This is one of my favourite salads as there's so much flavour in it.

Sisley White - Sew White

Wednesday 29th of May 2024

This is my favourite summer salad. I make loads and have the leftovers for lunch the next day.

Lesley

Thursday 30th of May 2024

I'm glad you enjoyed it Sisley, it's my favourite summer salad too.

Janice

Thursday 16th of May 2024

Oh my, so many delicious ingredients together on one plate! This salad was so good, I'll be making it again this weekend.

Lesley

Wednesday 22nd of May 2024

Thank you Janice, this salad features regularly in my family meal plan.

Chloe

Friday 10th of May 2024

I had everything I needed in my fridge already and this combination was just perfection, especially with the simple dressing!

Lesley

Tuesday 14th of May 2024

Glad you enjoyed it Chloe, the dressing really makes the salad.

5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)