My Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad! Best chicken salad possibly ever? I think so!!

It’s the perfect balance of savory flavors, crunchy texture, tangy ranch, and no mayo! I 100% could eat this every week and never get sick of it!

If you’re thinking the broccoli is random in here, just trust me!! The flavor and crunch it adds is absolutely perfect, while adding an amazing nutrient-boost to the mix!

The broccoli pairs perfectly with the sharp creamy cheddar, light and bright Greek yogurt ranch, and the salty crispy bacon. The mix-ins for this chicken salad are just too good!!

Serve this chicken salad with celery, crackers, or chips fro the perfect crisp and satisfying lunch! One bite of this and you will absolutely understand the hype- the flavor profile on this make it hands down the best chicken salad I’ve ever had!!!

Perfect for meal prep, or a lovely lunch to share! Bring it to the office, enjoy it at home, or take it on the go to your Summer picnics. This cheddar bacon ranch chicken salad is the ultimate high protein low carb lunch!

Let me know if you give this one a try! xo

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Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Salad (No Mayo!)

  • Author: Mia Swinehart
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 3 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch

Description

Bacon cheddar ranch chicken salad, made with no mayo and packed with nutrients!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

For the ranch:

  • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or sub lemon juice)
  • 1/2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp chopped dill
  • 1 tbsp chopped chives
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix-ins:

  • 3–4 pieces bacon, cooked crispy and chopped
  • Handful broccoli florets, cut into bite sized pieces
  • Handful of sharp cheddar, chopped into tiny cubes

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked to 165°F, then shred and set aside to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk all ranch ingredients together until smooth.
  3. While chicken is cooling, make your bacon. Cook on the stovetop until crispy, then set aside on a paper towel to cool. Break into small pieces.
  4. When chicken is cooled, add about 1/2 of your ranch and remaining ingredients. Add more ranch as needed until desired creaminess is reached. Serve with crackers and celery and enjoy!

Gluten Free, Lunch + Dinner, Recipes

Category:

Jun 8, 2026

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Salad (No Mayo!)

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to tag @gatherednutrition on INstagram so I can see what you made! Leaving a rating and review on the site is a huge help too!

  1. Justin Bay says:

    This looks absolutely incredible – the broccoli addition is genius, I never would’ve thought of that! The combo of crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and Greek yogurt ranch sounds so much lighter than mayo-heavy versions. Love that it’s high protein and low carb, perfect for summer lunches or meal prep. Definitely trying this with some crunchy celery sticks. If you’re into easy high-protein recipes, I found this site with some great options: https://duospin.ca/ Thanks for sharing!

  2. Sally says:

    This bacon cheddar ranch chicken salad looks absolutely delicious! I love that it skips the mayo while still keeping a creamy and flavorful texture. The combination of crispy bacon, cheddar, and ranch with chicken sounds like a perfect easy meal for busy days. It’s always great to find recipes that are both satisfying and simple to prepare. I also enjoy discovering fun apps like This bacon cheddar ranch chicken salad looks absolutely delicious! I love that it skips the mayo while still keeping a creamy and flavorful texture. The combination of crispy bacon, cheddar, and ranch with chicken sounds like a perfect easy meal for busy days. It’s always great to find recipes that are both satisfying and simple to prepare. I also enjoy discovering fun apps like glory casino app in my free time, but a tasty homemade salad like this is definitely a better choice for a relaxing lunch!glory casino app in my free time, but a tasty homemade salad like this is definitely a better choice for a relaxing lunch!

  3. Claudeb Iahhan says:

    This sounds like one of those recipes where the “random” ingredient ends up being the secret weapon. The broccoli, sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, and ranch combo has exactly the kind of salty, crunchy contrast that makes a simple chicken salad feel much more exciting. And skipping mayo makes it even more appealing for a lighter, tangier version. If you enjoy discovering new online ideas, you can also take a look at https://roulettinos.es/.

  4. Bemuka90 says:

    The combination of cheddar, bacon, and ranch sounds absolutely delicious for a chicken salad. While this recipe proudly highlights being ‘no mayo,’ Greek yogurt fulfills a very similar role in delivering that essential creamy texture and binding the ingredients https://town-of-salem.github.io. It’s certainly a great alternative for those aiming to boost protein or simply prefer the tang.

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