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
What is the serving size for this? 1 cup? Making it rn 🙂
It should be about 1.5 cups!
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.
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!
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!
Me encanta sus recetas
I’m so glad! 🙂
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 🙂
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 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 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!
They look delicious, thank you!!
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 🙂
Do you happen to have nutrition facts for this recipe by chance?? It looks great! Definitely making tonight!
I am going to make this salad for my family.
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!
How many servings is this supposed to yield?
4 servings! Depending on how hungry you are. 🙂
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/
Ohmygoodness. This was perfection!!!! I love chickpeas on salad. So, so good!
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.
my boyfriend and I absolutely LOVE to use BBQ sauce as a salad dressing! This looks delish
Espetacular!!!
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. 🙂
good
Thanks Teresa! Looks great!
Nah.. That was Cracker Barrel and the infamous hot dog place in Richmond!! Lol!!
thay did get to know you because you ate there every week — 🙂
yummy. wish we were there to help y'all eat so you would not have left overs. I wish I had your talent expertise.
following this up with some pasta and garlic bread.. then brownies:)
Stay healthy my friend lol
making this now… can't wait!!
This looks like a good one for anyone looking to eat healthy in the coming year!
I am going to make this salad for my sweet Mama. She will love it. Then we can play cards!!janie
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)
this is delicious but c’mon! the prep is way more than 5 minutes!
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
hummm yummy je vais l'essayer c'est certain…….
Yummy. I am going to make this soon.
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?
Thanks for this delicious recipe. It's the perfect dish for hot summer days!
Mmmm… I LOVE chickpeas sometimes I just eat a bowl of them plain. I am definitely trying this recipe 🙂
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!
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.
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 🙂