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GET IT NOWMy Green Goddess Salad Is A Fresh Meal In 20 Minutes
I originally got the idea for this green goddess salad after seeing a TikTok trend, but most versions were just shredded greens with dressing. That’s fine if you want a quick side dish, but I was craving a meal salad with protein, color, and texture that actually fills me up.
So, I started experimenting with a version that reminded me of the Panera green goddess salad I love, but with my own homemade dressing and a few colorful upgrades. This is the version I landed on, and it tastes even better than I’d hoped. Here’s why it’s one of my go-to salad recipes now:
- Bright, fresh flavors & textures – Between the creamy avocado, fresh cucumbers, tender chicken, crunchy pepitas, sweet radishes, and crispy bacon, every bite has something different. It’s so much more fun than plain shredded greens.
- Creamy homemade dressing – The bottled stuff has nothing on the tangy, herby, and creamy green goddess dressing I make from scratch in my blender.
- An easy, actual meal – My green goddess salad recipe is packed with veggies and protein (plus it’s gluten-free), so it’s perfect for lunch. But don’t be fooled by all those colors: You can throw this together in just half an hour!
Even though it looks like something you’d eat on a patio in July, I make this salad all year round. The greens and herbs are easy to find no matter the season, and the flavors stay refreshing. Make it with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my green goddess salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Mixed Greens – I like a mix, but any leafy greens will do. Romaine lettuce, arugula, spinach, or kale all work great.
- Rainbow Of Vegetables – I wanted a colorful mix with a variety of flavors and textures, so I chose watermelon radishes (but have used regular radishes when I couldn’t find them), cucumbers, red onions, and avocado. Feel free to swap in what you have on hand!
- Green Goddess Salad Dressing – It’s creamy, it’s herby, and it ties everything together. I make it with a blend of parsley, chives, mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, anchovy paste, salt, and pepper.
- Cooked Chicken – I usually make healthy baked chicken breast for salads like this, but leftovers work great, too. Try it with my garlic butter chicken, shred a Crock Pot chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken, or grill chicken breast in the summer. I also sometimes swap in steak, shrimp, or salmon.
- Cooked Bacon – Oven bacon is my favorite because I can make a big batch, but air fryer or microwave bacon works when I’m short on time. Just chop or crumble once it’s crispy. Store-bought bacon bits are okay in a pinch, but I’m not a fan.
- Pepitas – A.k.a. pumpkin seeds without the shell, for crunch! Sometimes I change it up with other nuts or seeds I have on hand, or even crumble in some almond flour crackers or cheese crisps if I’m feeling fancy.
My Tips For Flavor & Texture
- I recommend a mandoline to slice the radishes and cucumbers. It gives them a better texture (much thinner), plus it saves me a lot of time.
- I usually cook the bacon in advance, then fry it for just a minute right before adding to the salad. It gets nice and crispy again without so much time the day-of.
- Can I use store-bought dressing? You can, but the homemade version only takes a few minutes — and trust me when I say it’s worth it. The bottled ones are less creamy, less garlicky, and less herby.
- If you have time, make the dressing ahead to let the flavors develop. It tastes even better the next day!
- I recommend drizzling the dressing rather than tossing. I find the texture of all the components stays more fresh that way. But if I’m using a small bowl, I usually drizzle some on the base before adding the chicken and avocado, to ensure there’s enough dressing on the greens.
- Want extra protein? Add a couple sliced or diced hard boiled eggs. This reminds me of my Cobb salad!
Green Goddess Salad (20-Min Meal)
My green goddess salad combines juicy chicken, colorful veggies, creamy avocado, and herby dressing for a fresh, easy 20-minute meal.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Bake chicken breasts like this, or cook them using your favorite method. (Leftover chicken works, too.)
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Cook bacon using your favorite method — try my air fryer bacon, oven baked bacon, or even microwave bacon. Chop or crumble it once it's crispy.
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Make my green goddess dressing here. Set aside.
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Place mixed greens into a large bowl. Add the sliced radishes, cucumbers, and red onions.
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Fan out the sliced avocado and chicken on top.
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Top the salad with bacon and pepitas.
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Drizzle or toss your green goddess salad with the dressing. Enjoy!
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 cups
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor and texture in this salad.
- Storage: Keep the veggies, meat, and dressing separately in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. If dressed, it might last for 1 day. Wait to add the avocado until right before serving.
- Reheat: Reheat the chicken in your air fryer, the microwave (not my fave), the oven, or a hot skillet until warm, then place it back on your green goddess salad.
- Meal prep: Cook the meats, prepare dressing, and chop all the produce except avocado ahead of time. When you’re ready to serve, just slice the avocado and assemble the salad. You can also meal prep this as a mason jar salad, but again wait on the avocado until you’re about to eat.
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Green Goddess Salad
11 Comments
Katie
0This salad is so bright and full of great flavors. I love how healthy it is, too!
Amy L Huntley
0This salad really is so heavenly. It has all of my favorites in it. So filling too!
Kristyn
0Love everything about this salad!! I am grabbing what I need today, so I can make it!! It’s delicious!!
Taylor
0This was so fresh and delicious with the best flavors and textures! And I am obsessed with that green goddess dressing!
Anne
0Fabulous salad! I love the addition of pepitas for a little bit of crunch.
Toni
0These are so perfect for busy days! Such an amazing salad!
Ann
0An easy to make, delicious salad the whole family will enjoy.
Shelby
0Such a fun burst of color. And chickens+ avocado is the best combo!
Gina Ceraso
0This is the first time I actually made this salad at home and I loved it! I will make it again this weekend!
Shelby
0Such a light & fresh salad, perfect for January after all the indulgences!
Addison
0I love this salad. It was so delicious.