Chicken Bacon Cilantro Ranch Salad – Paleo, Whole30, GAPS
This chicken bacon cilantro ranch salad has high end market restaurant vibes with wholesome, clean ingredients. It is crunchy, creamy, fresh, and packed with nourishing ingredients. Enjoy as a complete meal or a yummy side dish. The fresh cilantro makes this salad taste so fresh and summer-y. Use this recipe as a base inspiration, and add any other fresh herbs you have on hand. I cannot wait until our fresh garden dill is ready to add to this dish!
Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap?
For a small percentage of people, cilantro can taste like soap! This is due to a specific gene that can detect compounds in cilantro that can taste bitter, soapy, or unpleasant. If you do not like cilantro, just omit it from the recipe. Or better yet, make a swap with parsley, dill, or another favorite fresh herb for that yummy, fresh taste!
Health Benefits of Cilantro
Cilantro is rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. It is notably high in vitamin K. We aim for high mineral foods as a regular part of our diet, and adding in herbs is a great way to do this. Add a sprinkle of cilantro on salads, scrambled or deviled eggs, salsa, tacos, sandwiches, and in homemade ranch dressing.
If you are looking for other inspirational herbs to fill in nutritional gaps, a simple brew of tea is another delicious and easy way! See this yummy healthy herbal tea recipe for more info.
Healthy Homemade Mayo (Or Seed Oil Free Store-Bought)
Avocado mayo is one of my favorite condiments, because it is so versatile. We often use this healthy homemade avocado mayo as a dairy-free substitute in dips and casseroles, as well as family favorites like chicken and egg salads. While store-bought mayos are cheap and convenient, they are often made from unhealthy vegetable oils and packed with preservatives. I do love this newer store-bought brand, but still prefer to make it from scratch when I’m able, because it is so easy and delicious. This recipe calls for mayo as the base, but you can make other substitutions, like sour cream or yogurt, based on your preferences. See our homemade ranch variations here.
Wild Edible Weeds For Salad Greens
If I am making this recipe in the spring or summer, I will often include greens like false lambs quarters (which taste just like spinach!) and herbs like cilantro, chives, dill, and parsley to increase the nutrient profile of the dish. You can use any combination of lettuces or greens as the base to this salad. I recommend using a mild tasting lettuce or green, such as romaine lettuce as at least half of the greens in the recipe if you are not accustomed to eating wild greens, which can sometimes have a stronger flavor.
Chicken Bacon Cilantro Ranch Salad – Paleo, Whole30, GAPS Recipe
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped salad greens (romaine lettuce, cabbage, false lambs quarters, spinach, etc.)
- 2 cubes cubed or shredded chicken
- 1.5 cups homemade ranch or plain mayo (homemade or clean store-bought)
- 1 cup chopped nitrite-free, sugar-free bacon
- 1/2 cup onion (chopped)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- salt and pepper to taste (optional)
- any other fresh herbs to taste, such as dill, parsley, chives, etc. (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Mix until all mayo is incorporated and ingredients are well-combined.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge up to 3 days.
Notes
Recipe Notes
- Use this recipe as inspiration for the base, and swap or add any fresh herbs or greens to your liking.
- You can use the homemade ranch recipe as the base dressing for this salad, or substitute it with mayo, sour cream, yogurt, or dripped milk kefir.
I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as we do! Please let me know your feedback and favorite recipe variations in the comments.
Resources
Posts
High Mineral Foods
Paleo Ranch Dip Recipe – Whole30, GAPS, Dairy-free
Healthy Herbal Tea
Healthy Homemade Avocado Mayo
GAPS Diet Egg Salad (Whole30, Keto, Paleo Friendly)
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