The days are really heating up around here. It’s supposed to be in the 90’s the next two weeks and we decided not to put the pool up this summer. The good news is that the lake is only about 30 minutes away.
The bad news is, intense heat always makes eating difficult. Does anyone else feel like that? Like you’re too hot to eat? Oddly, this Mother Nature induced too-hot-to-eat fasting does nothing for my waistline or the numbers of the scale. That may be the true tragedy of it all.
I suppose it’s because too hot to eat also means too hot to cook and we end up eating junk. That lead me to work on a few things that wouldn’t involve much cooking at all like this Summer BLT Chopped Salad recipe with bacon crumbles and feta.
Summer salad obsessed
I’ve been a bit obsessed with salads the last few weeks. I’ve been craving simplicity in cooking and in my meals and looking for ways to incorporate the things I’m growing in the garden into my life. Lots of evenings, we’re spreading some lettuce out on a cutting board, topping it with various items and calling it a meal.
This salad combines so many delicious things I love and provide a whole meal without too much effort or a lot of fancy cooking. It’s simple and I love it.
A few of my favorite ingredients
I used a combination of arugula, which I adore for its spicy and interesting flavor, and bibb lettuce that I’m growing in the garden. I topped it with some easy-to-find summer veggies that everyone loves and then added in some bacon and feta to complete it.
The best part about it maybe that it doesn’t have a heavy, complicated dressing. With BLT sandwiches you might imagine a lot of mayo. However, this dressing is dairy free.
When eating salad, I often just like vinegar and oil with some fresh spices so and this salad is almost just that simple with the exception of one ingredient.
Get the whole recipe below. I’d love to hear if you decide to make it at home!
For more summer recipes, click here.
Summer BLT Chopped Salad Notes:
- This recipe makes a large amount of salad and since the dressing is put directly on it, it doesn’t save well. I ate it the next day but the lettuce was limp and the fresh flavor was somewhat diminished.
- This is perfect for a family dinner, lunch or a party. It will serve 4 as a main dish and 6 or more as a side.
BLT Summer Chopped Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups arugula, chopped
- 4 cups bibb or butter lettuce, chopped
- 2-3 pints of cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved
- 1 package of bacon
- 1 package of chicken tenders
- 3 ears of corn To save time you can also use canned or frozen corn
- 2 avocados, cubed
- 6 oz. feta cheese. This is about one container if you purchase it already crumbled. A little less than one cup if you buy a block of it.
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 2 limes, juiced
- 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil Make sure you're using a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
- 4 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. of fresh ground pepper
- 1 Tbsp. of olive oil to cook the corn
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400. Lay out bacon on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil and bake it for 17 minutes. This is my favorite way to cook bacon and it is the easiest if you're serving a crowd or need to be doing other things like chopping.
- Cut the corn off your cobs and sauté it with 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes. When it is done remove it from the heat and let it cool.
- While the bacon and corn cooks, chop your arugula and lettuce. Run a large knife over the leafs a couple time in parallel directions. Add it to a large bowl.
- Wash your tomatoes and cut them in quarters. Add them to the bowl.
- Cut your green onions and add them to the bowl.
- Once your bacon is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool. Crumble it once it is cool.
- While the bacon is cooling, reduce the heat in your oven to 350. Add some olive oil, salt and pepper to both sides of your chicken tenders. Cook them for about 7-10 minutes in your oven. Make sure they are done when you pull them out.
- Once cooled, cube your chicken and add it to your bowl.
- Add your corn and half of your bacon to the bowl too.
- Cut your avocado and cube it. Add it to the bowl.
- Drizzle your lime juice over the top of the salad. Add the salt and pepper. Toss thoroughly to mix the salad and make sure the lime juice and salt and pepper are easily mixed.
- Add your cheese to the top of the salad and the second half of the bacon.
- Additional salt and pepper as desired.
You hit the nail on the head! I tend to opt for foods that don’t need to be cooked when the temperatures outside rise. Salads are my go-to, and I look forward to making this. Probably this weekend, as we’re expecting some intense heat for our area!
Yes please! This looks like an amazing salad. I am all about bacon, so I’ll be making this one for sure!
That salad looks great! My husband is a big fan of salads in general and with the bacon, feta and avocado I know he’d gobble this up.
That salad looks great! My husband is a big fan of salads in general and with the bacon, feta and avocado I just know he’d gobble this up.
This kind of salad is going to be perfect for some summer dinners. I like the sound of the veggies, cheese and chicken!
This looks amazing. I love BLT’s and more often than not eat salads when it’s hot like today. Why not combine the two awesome idea.
This salad looks so yummy. It is perfect for dinner as it is 98 degrees here.
Sounds like a super tasty summery salad! I need to try it
That sounds amazing. I have really been trying to up my salad game and this would be perfect. I would love to have one of these right now.
Oh my gosh, this salad was SO good! I made it for dinner tonight and my family went nuts. My son had 2 bowls full! The flavors blended really well together and we all loved it.
My husband and I love hearty salads like this, I can’t wait to try this!
Oh my gosh, yum!! Chopped salads are my favorite and these ingredients are just so perfect for a summer gathering.
That looks like such a great salad. I would definitely want to give this one a try. I do love a good salad and making all kinds of different ones too.
This looks like the perfect summer salad! I can’t wait to make this and give it a try!
What a light looking salad. And it has bacon?! I can’t wait to give this a try!
I could it this salad every day! It looks so appetizing. I love that it’s healthy and has bacon!
All these yummy ingredients in a yummy salad. A must try for sure!
This is really amazing!! Can’t wait to give it a try!
I can’t wait to make this salad! Looks so good and delicious. Perfect for summer.
That salad has it all. I can only imagine how delicious that is. I love a good salad so I’m saving your recipe. Yum!
I have a summer salad obsession, too! This one looks like a great one. Chopped salads are so good!
Wow, this salad looks so good! I’m big on salads like everyday and especially for summer because it’s something refreshing.
Its also been CRAZY hot here in Cleveland – in the 90’s and rising! This salad looks like a great option for the summer and hot weather. Anything with bacon? Count me in!
Looks good. I love salad, homemade always tastes better 🙂 Can’t wait to try this.
I am all about salads for dinner and since it’s just so hot here in NYC, I’m not cooking for the next month or so. Salads it is!
Oh wow, I love a BLT sandwich but never had a BLT salad. I totally need to make this this weekend. It sounds sooo delicious.
I totally agree about the weather being hot and not wanting to eat as much. This salad sounds delicious.. fresh but filling.
oh man this looks really really good. will have to save this for later.
I have to make this salad tomorrow for lunchtime. Looks so refreshing and perfect for this summer heat.
Seriously the best summer salad I’ve seen in a long time. Perfection!
This looks so good! What a hearty and healthy lunch meal prep for summer!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
I love this, I need to give it a go, perfect for summer
Salad is my healing food in Summer! Love it!
YUM! What a tasty looking salad.
I found this post very interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing your special thoughts with us. I definitely share this with my peeps.