La Scala-style French Onion Chicken and Bacon Salad
La Scala-style French Onion Chicken and Bacon Salad
Ingredients
For the French Onion Dressing
- 1/2 cup French onion dip
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the Salad
- 6 slices bacon, thick-cut
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped or shredded
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Dressing: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the French onion dip, plain yogurt, and fresh lemon juice. Add 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chives. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Mix all dressing ingredients thoroughly with a whisk until well combined and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Cook the Bacon: Place the bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy, about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Once cooled, dice or crumble the bacon into small pieces.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Prepare Salad Components: Ensure the cooked chicken breast is chopped or shredded into bite-sized pieces. Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Dice the English cucumber into small cubes. Finely dice the red onion.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Combine Salad Mixture: Add the chopped romaine lettuce, diced cucumber, diced red onion, and chopped chicken to the bowl containing the prepared dressing. Toss all ingredients thoroughly, ensuring the salad components are evenly coated with the dressing.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Assemble and Serve La Scala Style: For each serving, take a small, round serving bowl (or a similar mold). Place a layer of fresh chopped chives (about 1 tablespoon) at the bottom of the bowl. On top of the chives, add a layer of the crispy diced bacon (about 2 tablespoons).
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Spoon a portion of the mixed salad (lettuce, cucumber, red onion, chicken, and dressing) on top of the bacon and chives in the bowl. Gently press the salad mixture down to compact it and form a dome shape.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Invert the serving bowl onto a flat serving plate, carefully lifting the bowl to reveal the molded salad. The chives and bacon will now be on top of the salad mound. Repeat for remaining servings. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
La Scala-style French Onion Chicken and Bacon Salad
For the French Onion Dressing
- 1/2 cup French onion dip
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the Salad
- 6 slices bacon, thick-cut
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped or shredded
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Dressing: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the French onion dip, plain yogurt, and fresh lemon juice. Add 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chives. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Mix all dressing ingredients thoroughly with a whisk until well combined and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Cook the Bacon: Place the bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy, about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Once cooled, dice or crumble the bacon into small pieces.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Prepare Salad Components: Ensure the cooked chicken breast is chopped or shredded into bite-sized pieces. Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Dice the English cucumber into small cubes. Finely dice the red onion.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Combine Salad Mixture: Add the chopped romaine lettuce, diced cucumber, diced red onion, and chopped chicken to the bowl containing the prepared dressing. Toss all ingredients thoroughly, ensuring the salad components are evenly coated with the dressing.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Assemble and Serve La Scala Style: For each serving, take a small, round serving bowl (or a similar mold). Place a layer of fresh chopped chives (about 1 tablespoon) at the bottom of the bowl. On top of the chives, add a layer of the crispy diced bacon (about 2 tablespoons).
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Spoon a portion of the mixed salad (lettuce, cucumber, red onion, chicken, and dressing) on top of the bacon and chives in the bowl. Gently press the salad mixture down to compact it and form a dome shape.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Invert the serving bowl onto a flat serving plate, carefully lifting the bowl to reveal the molded salad. The chives and bacon will now be on top of the salad mound. Repeat for remaining servings. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 5 min