Skinny Chicken and Avocado Caesar Salad: A Guilt-Free Classic
Elevate your salad game with this vibrant twist on a classic Caesar. Juicy grilled chicken, crispy bacon, and perfectly boiled eggs mingle with crisp baby cos lettuce, creamy avocado slices, and crunchy ciabatta croutons—all tossed in a tangy, Greek yogurt-based Caesar dressing. This salad is light yet satisfying, making it the perfect choice for a fresh lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling & Assembly • Cuisine: Fusion
- Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients
For the salad, you’ll need:
• ½ loaf ciabatta, sliced
• 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets (halved horizontally to yield 4 fillets)
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp dried parsley flakes
• A pinch of salt
• 7 oz shortcut bacon, cut into strips
• 2 large eggs, boiled (soft or hard, as you prefer) and sliced
• 2 heads baby cos lettuce, washed and dried
• 1 medium avocado, sliced
• ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
For the dressing, mix together:
• ⅔ cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped (or substitute with 2 tbsp black pitted olives plus 1 tsp fish sauce)
• Juice from ½ a large lemon
• 3 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Crisp Up the Bread: Preheat your oven to a medium-high grill/broil setting. Arrange the ciabatta slices on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, and toast until golden and crunchy.
- Sizzle the Chicken & Bacon: Season the chicken fillets with garlic powder, dried parsley, and a pinch of salt. Heat a non-stick grill pan with a drizzle of olive oil, then cook the chicken until it’s golden on both sides; set aside. In the same pan, fry the bacon strips until they’re perfectly crisp.
- Boil the Eggs: Boil the eggs to your desired doneness. Once cooled, slice them into rounds.
- Whisk the Dressing: In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, crushed garlic, anchovies (or the olive substitute), lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. Whisk until smooth and season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, toss together the baby cos lettuce, sliced chicken, crispy bacon, eggs, avocado slices, shaved Parmesan, and toasted ciabatta pieces. Drizzle over the creamy dressing, gently mix, and serve immediately.
Notes
• For the best texture, enjoy the salad right after assembling so the ciabatta croutons stay crisp.
• Feel free to adjust the seasoning in the dressing to match your taste preference.
• The combination of warm grilled elements and fresh veggies creates a delightful contrast in every bite.