Recipe Basics

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons ranch dressing (adjust amount to taste, see note below)

  • ½ cup cooked chicken, diced into ½-inch cubes

  • 2 tablespoons chopped black olives

  • 1 large hard-boiled egg, peeled and chopped

  • 1 ounce firm hard cheese (such as Gouda), chopped or shredded

  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

  • ½ small avocado, diced

  • 2 slices cooked bacon, chopped

  • 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Croutons, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Spread ranch dressing evenly across the bottom of your salad bowl. If you prefer a thinner consistency for easier mixing, stir in a small amount of water to thin it here.

  2. Add chicken, black olives, chopped egg, cheese, cherry tomatoes, avocado, bacon, and romaine lettuce to the bowl. Toss everything thoroughly, making sure to pull the dressing up from the bottom of the bowl to coat all ingredients evenly.

  3. Taste the salad, then adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if needed.

  4. Transfer the mixed salad to a serving plate, top with optional croutons, and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Cook’s Note

Both homemade and store-bought ranch dressing work perfectly for this recipe. To get a smoother, more even coating on all salad ingredients, stir in up to 2 teaspoons of water to thin your dressing before mixing.