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This Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Chopped Salad is tossed with a simple red wine vinaigrette, and always tastes so fresh and delicious.
I’m starting to believe that there are few things more wonderful in life than having the windows open.
Ever since the weather has warmed up these past few weeks, I’ve had a fresh breeze blowing through my house pretty much 24/7, and I’m convinced that it makes every single moment of the day all the more delightful. From getting out of bed in the morning, to trying to stay focused on work during the afternoon, to making dinner and doing dishes and hanging out in the evening, to falling fast asleep at night — there’s something about having fresh air fill the house again that just makes everything just feel noticeably more peaceful and lovely.
Spring, I’m so happy you’re back to stay.
This warmer season also has me craving all sorts of light and fresh meals. And the other day, I returned to a nostalgic favorite green salad of mine that I thought was worth sharing here again. It’s loaded up with so many of my faves — creamy avocado, tender chicken, crispy bacon, fresh greens, tangy blue cheese, ripe tomatoes, all tossed together with a simple red wine vinaigrette. It’s a fresh, flavorful, hearty entrée salad that I first shared here on the blog nearly a decade ago yet still love just as much to this day. So if you have yet to give it a try, I highly recommend it!
this is such a GORGEOUS salad, Ali!! I love how the colors just pop and I love everything in this dish. Chicken, bacon, avocado? I would eat the entire bowl and ask for seconds. This is a winner!
This is my kinda salad! We make chopped salads all the time and leave them in the fridge to snack on..lol I always find it easier to eat something bite sized? lol
I *love* this salad Ali!! I’ve been eating a ton of BLT salads lately, and this is even better! PS – the colors in your photos are always so vibrant and gorgeous. Do you mind sharing what software you edit with?
I’m sure the restaurant that featured the salad that inspired this recipe would appreciate a nod in this post…you’d probably expect one if someone adapted a recipe from you.
Lisa —
They did…they even included a link to the website!
This caught my eye when I was looking at a ziplist of this weeks featured recipes. I knew before I searched your site I was looking at a familiar favorite meal of mine. I live in Salina and frequent this place you speak of on a regular basis. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Hope you enjoyed your visit.
Lisa —
Hmmm, I always love to read a snotty comment disguised as a nice one.
I made a version of this a couple of weeks ago. Instead of blue cheese I used feta cheese. I also used fresh spinach and baby greens, with roma tomatoes, bacon, chopped avocado,chicken breast fresh off the grill, and added dried craisins, with fresh chopped up granny smith apples. Made a citrus dressing to go over it. My wife loved it.
I saw this pin on pinterest and as soon as I saw the picture I thought, “OMG! That looks JUST like Martinellis chop salad!” When I linked to your blog and read that it was inspired by just that I was so excited to try making it myself. Thanks so much for posting!
Just made this for dinner tonight and it was excellent! I was hesitant on the dressing because when I tested it first, it tasted bitter. But after adding it to the salad it was great! Thanks!
I always order this type of salad when I’m out to lunch, I forget how easy it is to make at home, thanks for the reminder and the delicious recipe! I featured your recipe in my latest weekly meal plan on my blog, thank you!
Holy cow!! What a small world! As a Salina transplant, I have eaten that salad at THAT exact restaurant many many times. It is, by far, the best thing on the menu. :) Thank you for the recreation.
When I saw the name of the recipe (from Pinterest) I immediately thought of the Chop salad from Martinelli’s. I was happily surprised when I opened the link to find that it actually WAS the salad from Martinelli’s. I will definitely be making this! I have high hopes, but will try not to be too judgemental if it doesn’t taste exactly the same. :) Thanks for sharing!! It looks spot-on, which of course translates to “Freakin’ Amazing!!”
Followed the pinterest pin because it looked exactly like the Martinelli’s salad from my home town. Lo and behold, it was your inspired recreation from there! Such a small world. I adoooore this salad and have been known to destroy a large pan of it. Nomnomnom
This salad is absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to try because it has my favorite thing, bacon, in it! Looking forward to that are trying your dressing on some other salads!
Have you ever heard this called Cobb salad. It has these exact ingredient and has been served for years. If you’ve just discovered it good for you. Its been a delicious
staple of my diet for years.
This sounds amazing. Salad ingredients are great, but the amount of olive oil is crazy high in calories at 120 cal per TBLSP (my trainer would kill me). Any suggestions on how to modify yet still make it tasty?
You can just chop me up and add me right to this here dang salad.
this is such a GORGEOUS salad, Ali!! I love how the colors just pop and I love everything in this dish. Chicken, bacon, avocado? I would eat the entire bowl and ask for seconds. This is a winner!
This is gorgeous! I love a simple, seasonal salad!
Is there a more delicious salad in the world? I vote no.
Yep, love everything about this!
I would eat that every day!
What a gorgeous salad! I don’t even like a chopped salad but I’d eat this in a heartbeat!
That does look crazy good! Pinning this!!
Honestly, if I had to dream up the perfect salad it would look a heck of a lot like this. Love your vinaigrette, too. So amazing, Ali!
Who cares if its italian? This salad looks amazing!
This reminds me of the salad that I had at Panera Bread today and it’s so pretty too!
I have a chopped salad on the menu for next week, but I’m thinking I need this one instead!!
This is exactly the kind of salad I want to eat all summer long.
Gorgeous chopped salad!
I just love salads like this. These are ingredients that you can’t go wrong with, and they make such a satisfying salad!
I love love love chopped salads like this!
This is my kinda salad! We make chopped salads all the time and leave them in the fridge to snack on..lol I always find it easier to eat something bite sized? lol
I love a good salad. Sometimes they are just more appealing than pasta!
I *love* this salad Ali!! I’ve been eating a ton of BLT salads lately, and this is even better! PS – the colors in your photos are always so vibrant and gorgeous. Do you mind sharing what software you edit with?
Just the right lunch to get me through my busy afternoons at work! Lovely bright photos as well, and beautiful styling as always.
Ok, this is a real salad! Not on of the boring ones that makes me sad! Oh man do I want this for dinner!
Yum, this is my kind of salad, packed full of awesome flavors!
Bacon a nd chicken and avocado, what not to love. I lope you had a nice time on a friend’s wedding.
This might just be the prettiest salad I’ve ever seen. Now to get it into my mouth!
This salad is calling my name. It looks so fresh and inviting.
I’m sure the restaurant that featured the salad that inspired this recipe would appreciate a nod in this post…you’d probably expect one if someone adapted a recipe from you.
They did…they even included a link to the website!
This looks delicious but do you have the nutritional values?
This caught my eye when I was looking at a ziplist of this weeks featured recipes. I knew before I searched your site I was looking at a familiar favorite meal of mine. I live in Salina and frequent this place you speak of on a regular basis. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Hope you enjoyed your visit.
Hmmm, I always love to read a snotty comment disguised as a nice one.
I made a version of this a couple of weeks ago. Instead of blue cheese I used feta cheese. I also used fresh spinach and baby greens, with roma tomatoes, bacon, chopped avocado,chicken breast fresh off the grill, and added dried craisins, with fresh chopped up granny smith apples. Made a citrus dressing to go over it. My wife loved it.
Definetly heading to the store to make this right now!! MMMM! <3
I made this tonight and the dressing is fantastic. I think it enhances the blue cheese. Much better than store dressings!
I made this and it was amazing!!! thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed your martinellis experience…..that is how we roll here ;)
I saw this pin on pinterest and as soon as I saw the picture I thought, “OMG! That looks JUST like Martinellis chop salad!” When I linked to your blog and read that it was inspired by just that I was so excited to try making it myself. Thanks so much for posting!
Mmmmm…this DOES sound heavenly. I think I just found tonight’s dinner. Thanks!
Kelly
So this salad was amazing! I changed out the blue cheese and added feta (because I am not a huge fan), but I LOVED it!
Just made this for dinner tonight and it was excellent! I was hesitant on the dressing because when I tested it first, it tasted bitter. But after adding it to the salad it was great! Thanks!
Excellent for lunch or dinner! btw, I really love your pictures, thank you for sharing <3
Looks super scrumptious! Perfect salad for the new year! :)
I meant blue not cottage
I always order this type of salad when I’m out to lunch, I forget how easy it is to make at home, thanks for the reminder and the delicious recipe! I featured your recipe in my latest weekly meal plan on my blog, thank you!
Loved this salad. The combination of ingredients with the dressing was spot on. Will be making again and again since chicken is always in the frig.
I would died if I try it… It looks so delicious!!!
Holy cow!! What a small world! As a Salina transplant, I have eaten that salad at THAT exact restaurant many many times. It is, by far, the best thing on the menu. :) Thank you for the recreation.
When I saw the name of the recipe (from Pinterest) I immediately thought of the Chop salad from Martinelli’s. I was happily surprised when I opened the link to find that it actually WAS the salad from Martinelli’s. I will definitely be making this! I have high hopes, but will try not to be too judgemental if it doesn’t taste exactly the same. :) Thanks for sharing!! It looks spot-on, which of course translates to “Freakin’ Amazing!!”
Do you know how many servings this recipe is? I need to be able to feed 12 people and this will be it for the luncheon.
It depends on how much people will eat. But I say this should serve between 4-6 people.
Followed the pinterest pin because it looked exactly like the Martinelli’s salad from my home town. Lo and behold, it was your inspired recreation from there! Such a small world. I adoooore this salad and have been known to destroy a large pan of it. Nomnomnom
This salad is absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to try because it has my favorite thing, bacon, in it! Looking forward to that are trying your dressing on some other salads!
This salad was so fantastic! I totally loved it! Thank you!
Have you ever heard this called Cobb salad. It has these exact ingredient and has been served for years. If you’ve just discovered it good for you. Its been a delicious
staple of my diet for years.
This sounds amazing. Salad ingredients are great, but the amount of olive oil is crazy high in calories at 120 cal per TBLSP (my trainer would kill me). Any suggestions on how to modify yet still make it tasty?