During college I was in love with a salad from a local restaurant. It was always refreshing, consistent, and filling! My best girlfriends and I ate it at least once a week — it was our favorite! I swear the waiters began to know us by name, but that MIGHT have been because we always took at least 10 of the free lollipops they set out in a large bucket. I don’t know why we thought free meant endless supply?
Anyway ordering dirty martinis and a chopped salad with no bacon and dressing on the side was our tradition.
I do have a little advice for you: always eat food before martinis. Seriously remember that.
So, what’s a chopped salad anyway?
It’s simply a salad that includes fresh produce and ingredients that have been ‘chopped’ (or just cut up to fairly equal size), then the salad is typically tossed together. Flavors can be adjusted and dressing may be used. Chopped salads are very popular in restaurants as they make the perfect lighter meal.
I know the question you want to ask me. And the answer is YES, you will look like Heidi Klum if you eat salads like this for dinner… every night… for the rest of your life.
No biggie.
To make the salad I started with fresh romaine hearts then I added protein: pulled chicken breast and chickpeas. The rest? Grilled sweet corn (or whatever you have on hand), fresh grape tomatoes, avocado, crumbled goat cheese, and fresh chopped cilantro. Then tossed (or drizzled) with any dressing you desire. I drizzled mine with my favorite BBQ sauce; it was heavenly.
Seriously this salad is just GOOD. It makes you feel good. In fact I’m starting to think it even makes good things happen. Just the other day I found $20 I never knew I had. Yesterday I made the best banana bread I have EVER made in my life. Today I had an amazing meeting! Oh, and I’ll be traveling again soon!
In any case, I need to eat more chopped salads. That way I can eat more cake.
You see how my brain thinks? It a vicious cycle.
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Healthy Chicken Chickpea Chopped Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large romaine hearts, washed and chopped
- 1 cup pulled cooked chicken breast
- 1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
- 3/4 cup sweet corn (I grilled mine)
- 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/3 cup cilantro, washed and chopped
- 1 small avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup BBQ dressing, if desired
Instructions
- In a large bowl add lettuce, top with all ingredients except for avocado and BBQ dressing. Toss salad gently.
- Place into cold salad bowls. Garnish with diced avocado and drizzle with BBQ dressing if desired. Serve with low-fat corn tortilla strips.
Recipe Notes
More salad recipes you’ll love:
Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto & Goat Cheese
8 Homemade Healthy Salad Dressings that Literally Take 5 Minutes to Make
Oh I just love any type of chickpea salad! This looks perfect for summer.
Sounds great! I think I just found dinner for tomorrow night! I hear you’re coming back this way next month. Just a visit or more exciting possibilities on the horizon?
Hi Sharon, I will be moving in! I’m so excited and I hope to see you and your family soon! Maybe dinner!
Wow this looks so good…just like my mom’s food! 🙂 Reminds me of home!
This looks not only light and healthy, but also very delicious and delightful!
This looks amazing, I love salads that are more focused on the add-ins than the lettuce … I’ll definitely be making this soon! I just discovered your blog for the first time and can’t wait to look through your other recipes .. Usually when I find a new blog, I’ll start with the recipe index and just click on the few recipes that interest me, but I looked at your recipe index and every single recipe sounds right up my alley! I think a lot of bookmarking is in my near future 🙂
Monique, so happy you’re moving here. If you’re cooking dinner, girl – I’m there! We’ll have to come down after Bart gets back from Kenya!
Call me a newbie, but how do you grill corn? On the cob then cut it off? Or is it kernals? Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth, here’s an easy step-by-step recipe for grilling corn: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Vegetables/GrillingCorn.htm
I made this for dinner last night and added orange pepper, onion and black beans (had them and needed to use them). I “grilled” the corn in the oven. Super easy and delicious! 🙂
Yay! So glad you loved.
Mmmmm I just made this and I’m eating it now! So delicious! I added green onion and made my own BBQ dressing my mixing lemon juice+olive oil+dijon+my fav bbq sauce+s+p. Yummy!
Love the salad! Good any time as a salad or a main course.
love this
Looks great! Do you have a recipe for the BBQ dressing?
Add the bacon!
Everything's better with bacon!
I made this last night for dinner – probably one of the best salads EVER! Thank you so much for the recipe! I shared the link on Facebook. 🙂
In college I ALWAYS had the same thing for dinner, chicken ceasar salad (it was easy and quick, plus no mess) this is something I’ve yet to try but would undoubtably LOVE, but id like to know about the dressing. I hate storebought as its full of all sorts of unnatural and unhealthy things. So…how do you make the BBQ dressing?
Thank you for the receipe—-really loks good.
This looks very good! Will make for lunch. thanks
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
Mix to make bbq dressing
looks like a winner to me 🙂
this was SO delicious! these flavors are so summery and mouth watering! <3
“You may you any dressing you like. Sometimes I like adding 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice and find that I don’t need any dressing at all.” You may USE any….
I have a thing for chopped salads and yours just looks amazing. Saw it on Pinterest
I am making this tonight 🙂
I tried this lastnight and it was amazing. I even brought some to lunch today. I did however substitute the chicken breast for boneless chicken thigh meat and I didn't need dressing, with the goat cheese it sort of binds it all together. IT WAS DELICIOUS. I love your recipes!
Great recipe- used the BBQ sauce +little mayo+ dash of ranch seasoning for dressing. YUM!
Great recipe for a GREAT person!!
This was incredible. Quick, easy, cheap and YUM. It was so good, I'm having a hard time believing it's healthy. Thanks for a new staple.
Found this on pinterest. Looks super good! Going to try it soon 🙂 <3.
this salad looks sooo good!
Looks delicious! Just the inspiration I need to get back to eating more salad (too much cake recently!)
Nice post!
I just found your recipes on Pinterest and I can't wait to try this salad; it looks so amazing. I want to try several of your recipes and I love that they are really healthy.
Thanks a lot for this great recipe, it looks yummy..
Just ate this for lunch and added about 1/2 cup quinoa cooked in chicken broth (for added protein). I’ll be eating the same thing for dinner – it is THAT good. Thanks for the recipe!!
Monique, you had to have attended UC Berkeley! This recipe is just like the salads I used to get (on the weekly too!) from Intermezzo! I’m so making this for dinner tomorrow 🙂
um….ok. This was amazing! Sooooo fresh and yummy. I made some a salsa dressing from salsa, lime juice and some olive oil and it really complimented it well. Looooved the corn on this salad even though mine wasn’t grilled. Can only imagine if it were.
Whoo to the hoo for new salad recipes!!
p.s….I also made the brussel sprout salad you put in a Friday Favorites (the one with hazelnuts and dates)….you must eat it. MUST.
I made this last night for dinner…when my daughter saw it, she said “are we just having salad???”haha…then she tried it and reckon’s, “oh man this is yum”……and it was…it was SO super yum…thank you so much!
Mmmm… I LOVE chickpeas sometimes I just eat a bowl of them plain. I am definitely trying this recipe 🙂
Thanks for this delicious recipe. It's the perfect dish for hot summer days!
Oh Monique, this looks amazing. We eat our fair share of chick peas around here, and I have to say, I am thinking this will be added to the menu for tomorrow night. I was looking for something light and refreshing. Do you have a BBQ dressing recipe as well?
Yummy. I am going to make this soon.
hummm yummy je vais l'essayer c'est certain…….
This looks like my kind of salad! I would probably add some kind of fruits though, maybe grapes? STill sounds delicious either way!
If you have a moment, do you mind checking out my blog please? 🙂 Thank you!
Millie
this is delicious but c’mon! the prep is way more than 5 minutes!
bingo! these foods appeal to all my cravings. methinks bbq sauce is a bit too much for this … trying tonight with mynewlove, *chimichurri sauce*! (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chimichurri-Sauce-107159)
I am going to make this salad for my sweet Mama. She will love it. Then we can play cards!!janie
This looks like a good one for anyone looking to eat healthy in the coming year!
making this now… can't wait!!
Stay healthy my friend lol
following this up with some pasta and garlic bread.. then brownies:)
yummy. wish we were there to help y'all eat so you would not have left overs. I wish I had your talent expertise.
thay did get to know you because you ate there every week — 🙂
Nah.. That was Cracker Barrel and the infamous hot dog place in Richmond!! Lol!!
Thanks Teresa! Looks great!
good
Hi Monique this looks great, I’m curious what you suggest for barbecue dressing? I’m hoping to make this for a birthday potluck tonight!
I just mix a little bit of bbq sauce with ranch. Usually I use low fat ranch and a low sugar bbq sauce. 🙂
Espetacular!!!
my boyfriend and I absolutely LOVE to use BBQ sauce as a salad dressing! This looks delish
Glad to find you through Buzzfeed! I’ll be making this early next week. It looks fantastic. I wouldn’t have thought of barbecue sauce for a dressing. I might try that.
Ohmygoodness. This was perfection!!!! I love chickpeas on salad. So, so good!
I shared this bowl of goodness on my blog today as part of my Summer BBQ roundup! http://smallstepsofchange.com/2015/06/30/summer-bbq-spread/
How many servings is this supposed to yield?
4 servings! Depending on how hungry you are. 🙂
Haha, good old college memories! I wish my eating habits in college consisted of big salads and martinis! I was a beer and wings kinda girl. Now, I’ve upgraded! 😛 This salad looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it out!
I am going to make this salad for my family.
Do you happen to have nutrition facts for this recipe by chance?? It looks great! Definitely making tonight!
This looks so good….I love chickpeas. Can you tell me how you prepped the chicken? As far as cooking, spices? Thanks!
Try one of these chicken marinades! Then I usually grill or bake it, shred it with two forks (or just cut it into pieces), and add it to salads 🙂
They look delicious, thank you!!
I just want know why this isn’t called “Chicky Chicky Chop Chop”? Honestly, it’s the only thing I need to know. But it does look great, and I can’t wait to try this salad!
Haha both work! It’s delicious – such a great lunch. Hope you love it!
This was amazing! I don’t like chickpeas usually, but I decided to try this to be more healthy. I didn’t use any chicken, so I used a jar of roasted red peppers as suggested and swapped the goat cheese for feta (it was what I had in the fridge). I didn’t need any dressing, and I can’t believe how tasty it is without any added salt or dressing! Thanks so much!
So glad you liked this one! It’s one of my go-to quick lunches 🙂
I make this salad ALL the time. It’s delicious, easy and filling. I keep the basics the same, but mix in whatever other veggies I have handy (cucumbers are a really good addition!). I generally use whatever box of organic greens I have handy. A firmer cheese is key as softer ones get really messy and don’t keep well if you want to keep the salad for lunch the next day. I always use a homemade dressing, generally a light lemon vinaigrette. Highly recommended!
I’m so glad you love this one! It’s perfect for customizing.
This looks sooo good! Do you have a recipe for bbq dressing?
Thanks!
I actually don’t yet! But this chipotle ranch is a great option 🙂
Me encanta sus recetas
I’m so glad! 🙂
This looks amazing!! Planning to make it for a small-scale potluck dinner this week. I got some absolutely gorgeous radishes at the natural foods co-op the other day, thought I might chop ‘em up and toss ‘em in there for some extra freshness and crunch… and I’m thinking cilantro lime dressing.
I’ve just discovered your blog and these recipes are calling to me…! I made the turkey sloppy joes on Saturday – used grass fed ground beef because ground turkey can sometimes be a bit of a hard sell in my house (although personally, I love it). But my husband said he’d eat these with turkey next time – hooray!
Thank you for the yummies! I’ll continue to browse/bookmark for a long time to come!
So happy you found my site!! That salad with radishes + cilantro lime dressing sounds AMAZING. And so glad to hear you loved the sloppy joes!
I’ve now made this twice, and it’s (singing) FAB-ULOUS! It has changed my mind about beans, in all seriousness. I could never give up chicken or cheese, just not happening right now, so this healthy recipe checks ALL the boxes. And my potluck group agrees.
Oh YAY! That’s amazing, I’m so glad that you guys all love this one so much!
I have used this recipe 5-6 times and really enjoy it! I use frozen corn, toss it with a teaspoon of olive oil, and then roast in the oven to brown it a bit. (Can broil or roast at 425.) I do put the BBQ sauce on it. Serving this in a couple of days for my son and his wife.
What is the serving size for this? 1 cup? Making it rn 🙂
It should be about 1.5 cups!