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McCarthy Chopped Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 138 reviews

The McCarthy Chopped Salad is a vibrant and hearty salad featuring a mix of fresh romaine, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, roasted beets, cucumbers, chickpeas, bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and creamy avocado. Tossed in a flavorful dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and roasted garlic, this salad offers a delicious balance of textures and bold flavors perfect for a satisfying lunch or light dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Salad:

  • 2 cups romaine, chopped
  • ½ cup grilled chicken, diced
  • ¼ cup baby cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup red beets, diced (pre-roasted recommended)
  • ½ cup cucumbers, diced
  • ½ cup chickpeas
  • ¼ cup bacon, diced
  • ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

For the Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, roasted
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vegetables and proteins. Chop the romaine lettuce, dice the grilled chicken, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the roasted red beets, cucumbers, bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese, and dice the avocado. Rinse and drain the chickpeas thoroughly.
  2. Roast the garlic. Lightly roast one garlic clove until soft and fragrant, either in an oven or on a stovetop pan over medium heat, taking care not to burn it.
  3. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and roasted garlic. Season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to your taste preferences.
  4. Toss the salad. In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, roasted beets, cucumbers, chickpeas, diced bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and diced avocado.
  5. Add dressing and season. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly until everything is evenly coated. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
  6. Serve immediately. Serve the salad fresh to enjoy the combination of crisp vegetables, creamy avocado, smoky bacon, and tangy dressing at their best.

Notes

  • You can use pre-roasted beets from stores like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods to save time.
  • Ensure the bacon is cooked until crispy for the best texture contrast.
  • The roasted garlic adds a mellow and rich flavor but can be substituted with raw minced garlic if needed.
  • This salad is best served immediately to maintain the freshness and textures of the ingredients.
  • Leftover dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: chopped salad, grilled chicken salad, beet salad, avocado salad, healthy lunch, easy salad recipe, dinner salad

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/mccarthy-chopped-salad-recipe/