Name: BLT Chicken Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3 cups chicken (cooked and shredded ); 1 pound bacon (cooked and chopped); 1 cup cherry tomatoes ( sliced in half); ¼ cup scallions (chopped); 2 stalks celery (diced); 1 cup mayonnaise; ½ cup sour cream; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; ¼ teaspoon paprika; Lettuce; Bread for serving

By: Jill Mills Posted: Mar 31, 2026

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Full of tender chicken, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and lettuce tossed together with a mayo-based dressing this BLT Chicken Salad takes just 5 minutes to prepare. Serve on bread or a lettuce wrap for a quick, easy lunch any day of the week.

Chicken salad is one of my favorite lunches, especially in the summer month. I rotate through several different variations, like chicken salad with grapes, million dollar chicken salad, and cranberry walnut chicken salad. But, I have to say, this BLT chicken salad is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

It combines classic BLT ingredients, like salty bacon and juicy tomatoes, with chicken and a creamy mayo dressing. Then, when serving, I always add the lettuce to make it a proper BLT salad. It’s super flavorful, light yet filling, and beyond easy to make!

Why I Love This BLT Chicken Salad

Tangy, creamy, salty. This salad offers the perfect blend of texture and flavor, from the tender chicken and crispy bacon to the creamy dressing. It’s a bit tangy, thanks to sour cream and lemon juice, with lots of savory, salty flavors too.
5 minute prep. It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare this BLT chicken salad, which makes it great for those days you’re extra short on time.
Make-ahead friendly. This salad is best enjoyed after it’s chilled for at least an hour, so it’s perfect for whipping up on Sunday night to enjoy for lunch throughout the week or in the morning for an afternoon snack.

Recipe Ingredients

The ingredients in this recipe are a combination of classic chicken salad ingredients and BLT ingredients. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Chicken – I like to use rotisserie chicken to keep this salad quick and easy. You can also cook and shred chicken breasts as desired.
Bacon – Adds a crispy, salty bite to the salad. I like to use real bacon that I fry and chop, not just bacon bits here.
Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes are the perfect size to cut in half for this salad. Grape tomatoes would also work, quartered if necessary.
Scallions – I use scallions instead of red onions to give a light onion flavor without overpowering the dish.
Celery – Diced celery adds a bit of crunch to the salad.
Mayonnaise & sour cream – I use a combination of both for the best flavor and texture. Mayo is too rich on its own, while sour cream is too tangy alone. Greek yogurt could be used in place of the sour cream.
Lemon juice – A squeeze of lemon juice adds a bit of acidity to balance the richness of the dressing and a bit of citrus to brighten the overall flavor.
Spices – Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika.
Lettuce – The “L” in BLT comes from serving this salad with lettuce on a sandwich (or in a lettuce wrap)

How To Make BLT Chicken Salad

This salad is so quick and easy to prepare, especially if you’re using rotisserie chicken. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Mayo dressing added to the chicken ingredients

Combine the ingredients. Stir the chicken, bacon, tomatoes, scallions, and celery together in a bowl.
Make the dressing. Whisk together the mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, and spices.
Toss. Toss the chicken mixture in the dressing to coat.
Chill. Refrigerate for an hour to let the flavors meld. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few tips for making this BLT chicken salad, as well as some ways to customize it.

Use rotisserie chicken. Rotisserie chicken is my favorite hack for this salad because it keeps the prep so quick and easy. Plus, it usually already has great flavor which only adds to the salad.
Add some heat. For a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes with the other spices.
Other mix-in ideas. Avocado can be a great addition to this salad, though I only recommend adding it if you’ll be eating the salad within a few hours as it will brown quickly. Red onions can be used in place of scallions for a more onion-y kick.
Chill first. As tempting as it is to dive in immediately, I highly recommend chilling the BLT chicken salad for at least an hour. This gives the flavors time to meld and will make for a much more flavorful salad overall.

A BLT chicken salad sandwich in front of an iced tea

Ways To Serve It

One thing I love about this BLT chicken salad is that there are so many ways to serve it!

For lunch, it’s wonderful on bread or croissants with some lettuce. For a low-carb option, I love to serve it in lettuce wraps. And it’s also great with crackers for a quick afternoon snack. I’ve also seen people use cucumber slices as crackers and dip other veggies in it.

Proper Storage

Leftover BLT chicken salad should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best enjoyed within 3 days. Just give it a good stir before serving.