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Keeping things fun, easy, and healthy with this Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad. Spicy chicken fingers, breaded in salty pretzel crumbs, oven baked and tossed together with fresh greens, avocado, and crispy bacon. Add a creamy honey mustard dressing and lots of parmesan for a colorful salad that’s anything but boring. This is quick to make and beyond delicious. It’s that salty, spicy pretzel chicken and sweet honey mustard dressing. The combo is hard to beat.
Here is what I have come to learn about myself. I really, really like recipes that remind me of past adventures…usually when I was a kid. Chicken fingers? Yup, I love them. Mac and cheese with the crunchy edges? 100%. Chicken and rice…Dad’s pasta dish? Yep, all some of my favorite recipes, and each from childhood.
And then this salad? While it’s not something I ever ate growing up, it does remind me of the days I’d spend with my family in Florida over spring break. I know I’ve been talking a lot about Florida and spring break this last week, but clearly, I can’t help it. It’s spring break season and geez, I really wish I had some plans to go to Florida. But I don’t, so instead, I’m making recipes that bring back all my favorite memories.
It’s fun…and delicious. Because let’s be real, the foods we ate when we were young were GOOD.
So this salad. When my family traveled to Florida for spring break we’d always stay with my Nonnie and Grandpa. My Nonnie and I were super close, so while mom basked in the sun and my brothers played in the pool with my dad, Nonnie and would sneak off, go do some shopping, then stop in somewhere for lunch.
When I was really young, I’d order chicken fingers nine times out of ten, but my Nonnie always switched up her order depending on where we were eating. Sometimes pasta, sometimes a sandwich, and then sometimes a salad. For some reason, I remember her eating a chicken salad with bacon. I’m feeling like it was a Cheesecake Factory Salad? Yep, that sounds about right.
Anyway, since I’ve been thinking so much about those trips and also trying to put ideas for lunches together, I took Nonnie’s salad and my chicken fingers and I combined the two. And you know? I really, really wish Nonnie was around to give this a taste test, because I think she’d fully approve. The bacon would really seal the deal for her and the pretzel chicken? Well, let’s just say that the salty pretzels would put the salad over the top. This salad has all of her favorite things. Mine too.
The Details…Start with the Chicken
What I love about this fun salad is that for how much it has going on, it’s actually really easy.
Start with the chicken. Finely crush the pretzels into crumbs to bread the chicken. The finely crushed pretzels are key. They flavor the chicken with the perfect amount of salt, which pairs wonderfully
with the sweet and tangy honey mustard dressing. I make the crumbs spicy with a little chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne. They are delicious.
Tip? Pulse the pretzels in the food processor to really break them down into a fine crumb. If you don’t have a food processor, just add the pretzels to a ziplock bag, then step on the bag with your feet to finely crush them. Trust me, this works. You can even just use the actual pretzel bag and step on that. It’s what dad used to do when he’d make potato chip chicken when I was a kid. This trick is an oldie but a goodie.
Bake the chicken in the oven until it crisps all over. My secret is to lightly drizzle the chicken with olive oil before it bakes. This helps the coating to really crisp up nicely in the oven. You can’t skip this step, it’s crucial.
While the Chicken is Baking…
Toss the salad and make the dressing. For the salad, I kept it simple, mixed greens, tomatoes, lots of avocados, crispy bacon, and parmesan. Nothing fancy, but always a solid combo when it comes to salad. The avocado plus bacon is a favorite. Totally delicious.
And then the dressing. Hands down this is one of my favorite dressings. It’s extra creamy, sweet, and tangy, but with a kick from some cayenne. The tahini makes it extra creamy and the honey keeps things sweet, which is a nice balance to the spicy. And when you toss it all together with the pretzel chicken?
It is SO GOOD! Crunchy chicken, salty bacon, creamy avocado, and a sweet, creamy, and spicy dressing that really completes the salad and makes every bite special.
So you see? Salads can be delish…and fun!
Looking for other spring salad recipes? Here are some of my favorites:
Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Chickpea Salad
Lastly, if you make this Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad.
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 819 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 pound boneless chicken tenders
- 1 cup finely crushed salted pretzel twists
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- kosher salt and black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shaved parmesan
- 1-2 avocados, diced
- 4 slices cooked thick cut bacon, crumbled
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.2. In a bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Combine the pretzels, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, and a pinch of pepper to a bowl. 3. Dredge the chicken through the crumbs, pressing to adhere. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.4. To make the salad. Combine the greens, tomatoes, parmesan, avocados, and bacon in a salad bowl.5. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.6. Toss the chicken in with the salad. Add a little of the dressing. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on April 5, 2021
Just reading your post and the recipe makes me want to go to the store. RIGHT. NOW. This will definitely e on our rotation soon. Quick question – think I could do the chicken in my air fryer?
Thanks so much Teresa! Yes, I’m sure the chicken would work well in the air fryer. I hope you love this salad! xTieghan
? My husband and I love salads! This was sooooo good. Crunchy, sweet, yummy and simply delicious!
Thanks for another great recipe. Looking forward to more twists for summer salads!!
Hey Nicole,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have a great Wednesday! xTieghan
This looks so good! Even my granddaughter will love it! Her favorite things to eat!
Thanks so much Kathy!!
Another winner! I actually forgot to make the bacon (bacon makes EVERYTHING better), and this was an absolute slam dunk! I never, ever follow a recipe for a salad, but this was a great way to use up half a bag of gluten free pretzels I had sitting around, and it got rave reviews in the house!
Hey Autumn,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
I have everything for the dressing except the tahini. Any subs or how would it be without it?
Thx
Hey Jenny,
You can just skip the tahini. I hope you love this salad, please let me know if you give it a try! Thanks! xTieghan
This looks so good! For the crushed pretzels, is it 1 cup of whole pretzels which I then crush, or measure out 1 cup after crushing? Thanks.
Hey Denise,
It’s one cup of crushed pretzels, so measure after they are crushed. I hope you love this salad, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Love the new salad. Plan on making it this week. Really in the mood for salad.
Thanks Joyce! I hope you love the salad, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
It’s on the table as we speak and I had to stop eating to tell you what a winner this one is! 🙂 I love all the classic “kid foods” too, and crispy chicken tenders with dipping sauce is one of my all-time favorites…adding it to a salad makes it just adult enough! 😉
Hey Aline,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
I love this idea! It’s healthy, but not too healthy… Will definitely be trying soon!
Thanks so much Elaine!!
How nice to have good memories of your family. Sweet!!
Thanks so much Charlotte! xTieghan
This looks amazing, as always, If there is extra dressing, how long can it keep in the fridge?
Thanks so much Philly! You can keep for a few weeks in the fridge:) xTieghan
OMG, I’m so making this tonight. That said, pls don’t take offence but I’m going to have to change out the parmesan for blue cheese, I think it might pick up on the mustard and pretzel flavours a bit better. Thanks for the inspo!!!!
Thanks Andrea! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Funny, I just mentioned in yesterday’s 9 Favourite Things that I love lots of colourful food at this time of year and ‘boom’ you pull this fantastic recipe out of the bag for today. I will definitely be making this one this week. Have a great week 🙂
Thanks Colleen! I hope you love this recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This looks so good! Going to try it when the sun is shining.
You obviously loved your Nonnie so much. I’m sure she’d be so proud of you. ?xx
Thanks so much Kelly-Jane! Let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Will be making this soon with few subs i never had salad before perfect for my after office meals will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Thanks so much, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan