Rainbow Salad
This Rainbow Salad is a salad you will actually crave. Spring mix gets loaded with crispy chicken nuggets, bacon, and a rainbow of crunchy veggies: tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, radishes, red cabbage, and red onion.
Crushed croutons add crunch and creamy ranch ties it all together. It is colorful, fun, and a great way to get the whole family excited about salad.
Why You’ll Love This Rainbow Salad
- Kid approved: chicken nuggets on a salad!
- Colorful: a rainbow of crunchy veggies.
- Crunchy: croutons, cabbage, and radishes.
- 25 minutes: quick lunch or dinner.
Rainbow Salad Ingredients
Spring Mix
A soft, leafy base.
Bacon and Chicken Nuggets
Crispy protein that makes it filling.
Rainbow Veggies
Tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, radishes, red cabbage, and red onion.
Croutons
Crushed for crunch in every bite.
Ranch Dressing
Creamy and classic.
Swap It: Skip the bacon and nuggets for a vegetarian salad, or use gluten-free nuggets and skip the croutons.
How to Make Rainbow Salad
Step 1: Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon until crispy and let it cool.
Step 2: Cook the Nuggets
Prepare the nuggets according to the package and let them cool slightly.
Step 3: Chop
Chop the veggies into bite-size pieces and crush the croutons.
Step 4: Assemble
Add spring mix to a bowl, layer on the bacon, nuggets, veggies, and croutons, then toss with ranch.
Carly’s Expert Tips
- Air fry the nuggets. They stay extra crispy.
- Chop evenly. Bite-size pieces in every forkful.
- Dress at the end. Keeps everything crunchy.
- Arrange in rows. For a true rainbow look before tossing.
Make It Your Own
- Grilled chicken: Swap the nuggets.
- Dressing: Try honey mustard or BBQ ranch.
- Avocado: Add sliced avocado.
- Cheese: Add shredded cheddar.
Make-Ahead and Meal Prep: Chop the veggies and cook the bacon a day ahead. Store separately and assemble right before eating.
What to Serve With Rainbow Salad
This salad is a meal on its own, but it pairs well with garlic bread or a cup of soup.
Storing and Reheating
Undressed: Store for up to 2 days.
Dressed: Best eaten right away.
Nuggets: Re-crisp in the air fryer.
What People Ask About Rainbow Salad
Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes. Skip the bacon and nuggets.
What dressing works best?
Ranch, honey mustard, or Italian.
Can I prep it ahead?
Yes. Store the components separately.
How do I keep it crispy?
Dress it just before serving.
Rainbow Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the bacon until crispy and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the chicken nuggets according to package instructions and let them cool slightly.
- Chop the tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, radishes, red cabbage, and red onion into bite-sized pieces.
- Crush the croutons into smaller pieces if not already crushed.
- In a large bowl, add the spring mix as the base.
- Layer the cooked bacon, chicken nuggets, chopped vegetables, and crushed croutons on top.
- Drizzle ranch dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Nutrition
Notes
- For extra crunch, you can add more croutons or toasted nuts.
- Feel free to substitute the ranch dressing with your favorite salad dressing.
- To make the salad vegetarian, omit the bacon and chicken nuggets and add more vegetables or plant-based protein.
