StarKist Chicken Salad

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This StarKist chicken salad with our favorite cilantro lime ranch dressing is a delicious and refreshing salad that uses pre-cooked chicken for quick and easy lunches. Made with fresh vegetables and a zesty cilantro lime ranch dressing, this salad is packed with flavor and nutrition.

For a healthy lunch or dinner option, this is a great choice. Like most salads, it’s easy to customize, so you can tailor it for your family. Using ready-made chicken takes all the work out – a dream on busy days!

For more family-friendly recipes, try these easy air fryer chicken kabobs, this turkey pot pie with biscuits (always a crowd-pleaser), or these honey garlic chicken bites to get the kids running to the table for dinner.

What You’ll Love About This Chicken Salad

Quick and convenient: Thanks to the StarKist Premium White Chicken pouches, this salad comes together in no time. It’s perfect for those busy days when you need a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Versatile and customizable: Feel free to get creative with the ingredients. You can mix and match veggies, add your favorite toppings, or adjust the dressing according to your taste preferences.
Balanced and nutritious: Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats from the chicken, vegetables, and avocado, this salad is both delicious and nourishing.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

StarKist Premium White Chicken pouches: Replace with cooked and shredded chicken breast if you prefer using fresh chicken, another pre-cooked chicken package, or a grocery store rotisserie chicken.
Romaine salad mix: Substitute with spinach, mixed greens, or your preferred salad mix.
Roma tomatoes: Any variety of tomatoes, such as cherry or beefsteak, can be used as a substitute.
English hothouse cucumber: You can use any cucumber variety or even pickles!
Garbanzo beans: If you’re not a fan of garbanzo beans, kidney beans or black beans can be used instead, or you can omit them altogether.
Avocado: Swap with sliced bell peppers or grilled zucchini if you don’t have avocado on hand. You can also add guacamole for a bit of extra flavor.
Bacon bits (optional)
Sliced almonds (optional): Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds can be used instead of sliced almonds.

For the Dressing:

Dry ranch dressing mix
Mayonnaise – You can substitute Greek yogurt or sour cream for a lighter option.
Buttermilk – If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make a substitute by adding 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1/2 cup of milk and letting it sit for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.
Fresh cilantro – If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can use fresh parsley or basil as alternatives.
Garlic – You can use roasted or minced garlic instead.
Lime juice – Lemon juice can be used as a substitute for lime juice if you don’t have limes. Try not to miss out on this because the citrusy tang will really add a lot of flavor to the dressing.

How to Make

STEP ONE: Make the dressing. Add the dry ranch dressing, mayo, buttermilk, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Layer the salad. Place romaine salad mix on a large plate. Add the chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, avocado slices, bacon bits, and sliced almonds to the salad.

Serve. Drizzle with cilantro ranch dressing.

Other Things to Make with Prepackaged Chicken

Whether you use StarKist or any other pre-cooked chicken, you can absolutely simplify your meals and cook at home more often. Here are some ideas:

Chicken Wraps: Use the chicken as a filling for wraps. Add your favorite veggies, a spread like hummus or guacamole, and wrap it all up for a quick and satisfying meal.

Chicken Quesadillas: Make yummy Tex-Mex chicken quesadillas by combining the chicken with cheese, bell peppers, onions, and taco seasoning. Grill or saute until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches: Mix the chicken with mayonnaise, diced celery, and seasonings to create a tasty chicken salad. Spread it on bread or a roll, add lettuce, and enjoy!

Chicken Stir-Fry: Stir-fry the chicken with colorful vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and snap peas. Season with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for a quick stir-fry.

Chicken Tacos: Warm up the chicken and use it as a filling for soft or crispy taco shells. Top with your favorite taco toppings like shredded lettuce, salsa, cheese, and avocado.

Chicken Caesar Salad: Toss the chicken with romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy Caesar dressing for a quick version of the classic.

Tips and Recipe Notes

If you don’t have a food processor or blender, you can use a whisk or immersion blender to bring together the dressing. Alternatively, place it in a shaker with a lid and shake it up!
Slice the avocado right before serving to keep it fresh.
Serve the dressing on the side if you think you’ll have leftovers. That way, you can store them separately in the fridge, and the salad won’t get soggy.
For a hot chicken option, heat the chicken slightly in a pan before topping the salad.
If you’re making this for a crowd, set it up like a salad bar for a really fun presentation.
Easily serve this over rice or quinoa for a heartier meal option, with or without the lettuce.

Can this recipe be made gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe can be made gluten-free. Just make sure that the ingredients you use, like the ranch dressing mix and mayonnaise, are labeled gluten-free. Check the labels of any optional ingredients you choose to include, like bacon bits or sliced almonds, to verify they’re gluten-free as well.

FAQs

Is there a vegan alternative for the dressing?

Yes, you can make a vegan alternative by using a plant-based mayo, dairy-free buttermilk, and omitting the ranch dressing mix (or using a vegan-friendly version).

Can I add cooked pasta to make it a pasta salad?

Yes, cooked pasta such as rotini or bowtie can be added to make it a pasta salad. Just adjust the amount of dressing accordingly, as you may want more to sufficiently coat the pasta.

Can I use bottled ranch dressing instead of making it from scratch?

Yes. If you prefer the convenience of using store-bought ranch dressing, go ahead and use that instead.

Can I make this salad spicy?

Absolutely! Add some diced jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of hot sauce to give it a spicy kick.

Can I Make this Recipe Ahead of Time?

You can prepare the dressing in advance, but I think it’s best to assemble the salad just before serving. However, you can chop the vegetables and store them separately, then quickly assemble the salad when you’re ready to serve it.

How to Store Leftover Salad

If you have any leftovers, store them properly to maintain freshness and taste. I recommend only adding dressing to the portion of salad you know you’ll eat so you can store your leftovers separately.

Salad: Transfer any remaining salad to an airtight container. Keep it refrigerated for up to 2 days. However, I recommend eating this fresh or finishing it up within a day for the best texture and flavor.

Dressing: If you haven’t topped your salad with it, store the leftover dressing in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator. It can be refrigerated for up to 5 days, and used on other salads, as a topping for Taco Tuesday, or as a dip for just about anything!

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StarKist Chicken Salad