Strawberry Mandarin Chicken Salad

Name: Strawberry Mandarin Chicken Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 8 bacon strips, chopped; 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1 pound); 4 cups torn iceberg lettuce; 4 cups torn red leaf lettuce; 2 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained; 2 medium tomatoes, chopped; 2 cups quartered fresh strawberries; 2 medium ripe avocados, peeled and sliced; 1 cup salad croutons; 4 green onions, chopped; 1/2 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese; Poppy seed salad dressing

I made fruity chicken salad for a food-preserving class, and it was a tasty triumph. It's crispy, crunchy, healthy and refreshing and pairs well with garlic bread and iced tea. —Betty Henagin, Medford, Oregon

Ingredients

8 bacon strips, chopped
4 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1 pound)
4 cups torn iceberg lettuce
4 cups torn red leaf lettuce
2 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 cups quartered fresh strawberries
2 medium ripe avocados, peeled and sliced
1 cup salad croutons
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
Poppy seed salad dressing

Directions

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Cook chicken in drippings 6-8 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°; cut into bite-size pieces.
Place lettuces on a large serving platter. Arrange chicken, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, avocados, croutons, green onions, cheese and bacon over lettuce. Serve with salad dressing.

Nutrition Facts

2-1/2 cups (calculated without salad dressing): 480 calories, 32g fat (10g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 443mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 7g fiber), 25g protein.

Originally published as Strawberry Mandarin Salad with Chicken in Simple & Delicious April/May 2015