Grilled Chicken Chopped Bacon Ranch Sub – Ditch the Bun

You can’t help but hear satisfied sighs and murmurs of “Mmm, that hits the spot!” around the table with this chopped chicken bacon ranch sub recipe. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, whether for a cozy family gathering or larger get-together with friends. This classic combo of grilled chicken, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and creamy ranch dressing, all chopped together, creates a fun and family-friendly eating experience for all. Plus, it’s a double win because the recipe can be enjoyed year-round. During the summer, chuck everything into the crockpot and let it work its magic slowly. For those chilly evenings, simply whip up a batch on the stove top – it’s a dish that truly makes sense. You can practically hear the satisfied “Ahh, this is good!” as everyone digs in. Kids and adults alike will love this familiar yet updated take on the cheese, bacon and ranch seasoning mix.

Ingredients You Will Need For This Recipe

The great thing about making a chopped cheese chicken sandwich yourself is that you can fully customize it to your exact taste. If there’s something you don’t like, leave it off. If there’s something you really want, double up on it!

Grilled Chicken: For extra flavor, use grilled chicken thighs instead of breasts. Rotisserie chicken is also a quick option if you want to shred or chop cooked chicken at home.

Bacon: Aim for extra crispy, thick cut bacon strips for best texture.

Ranch: While store-bought ranch is convenient, try making your own Homemade Ranch dressing for peak freshness.

Lettuce and Tomato: Choose ingredients that are fresh to keep the sandwich balanced.

Cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese melts nicely throughout.

Bread: You can use sub rolls, bakery hoagie buns, or your own favorite bread. Making sandwiches at home allows you to truly make them your own!

Can You Use Canned Chicken to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders?

You can definitely use canned chicken to make the best chicken bacon ranch sandwich recipe. However, you may prefer using rotisserie chicken or making your own shredded chicken for best results. While canned chicken is certainly convenient at times, it can sometimes have a distinctive taste that some people don’t love. That said, I know folks who still make delicious recipes using canned chicken!

If using canned chicken, I’d recommend doctoring it up a bit by boiling the chicken breasts yourself to make them extra tender before shredding and mixing into the sliders. Another option is cooking breasts from scratch in an Instant Pot, which helps maintain moisture and texture. Ultimately though, rotating chicken is likely your best homemade option for flavor and texture. But feel free to experiment and see what tastes best to you! The flavors of bacon and ranch will go a long way in making any chicken slider tasty.

Making the Chopped Chicken Sandwich Recipe

This entire dish can be made easily on your regular grill or stove top. To start, first cook the strips of bacon over medium heat until crispy. While the bacon is prepping, you can season the chicken thighs (I always prefer thighs to breasts in recipes calling for additional flavorful and fattier meat, but feel free to use breasts if you choose). Grill or sear the chicken and season it with your favorite BBQ rub before setting aside. This will allow the seasoning to penetrate and add even more flavor inside.

A good, homemade chicken rub only takes minutes to whip together too – try this easy smoked dry rub with ingredients like brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, etc. Once the bacon is nice and crispy, remove it from the grill or pan and use the rendered bacon grease to grill the seasoned chicken thighs over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Rest the chicken for 10 minutes before chopping.

It’s a good time to get other components ready ahead of time, too. You can toast the sub rolls by placing them directly on the grill grates for a minute or two. Then set the rolls and cooked chicken aside while you assemble the other quick ingredients. The beauty of this sandwich lies in getting creative with whatever fresh veggies you have leftover from the week.

Once ready to build, shred the lettuce and place it on a cutting board to base the first layer. Then start layering on the shredded chicken, crispy bacon sliced tomatoes, and any other desired veggies like onion or peppers that have been chopped with a sharp knife or butcher style cleaver. Chop everything well into even pieces, being careful not to cut yourself. Once all the ingredients are chopped up, you can season with a bit of salt and pepper then top with shredded mozzarella cheese and a good drizzle of creamy ranch. Chop and mix everything once more to ensure thorough incorporation, and continue chopping each piece into bite-sized portions.

Scoop up a big pile of the chopped goodness and scoop or place it into the sub rolls. Slice open the roll and use a large spatula to scoop and layer on a large mound of the chopped ingredients. Fill the roll completely so that each bite contains the savoriness of the chicken and ranch, the crunchiness of the bacon and fresh onion, and the freshness of the veggies. Take pleasure in experiencing the ultimate flavor sensation by mixing everything together for each bite. Then you can right away serve and savor the deliciousness!

Recipe Tips

• For extra decadence, don’t totally skip the step to toast the buns so they get nice and toasted with melted cheese.

• For a quick fix, you can also use shredded or chopped rotisserie chicken, which adds delicious flavor and makes assembling these subs extra easy.

• Want a little kick? Adding a squirt of your favorite hot sauce or some diced jalapeños delivers just the right amount of spice.

• Looking to lighten it up but keep it rich? Sliced cucumbers on top add crisp freshness that balances the sandwich perfectly.

• If you’re not a cheddar cheese person, Colby jack is an excellent substitute and also pairs well with the ranch flavor profile.

What to Serve with Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches?

You can easily enjoy or transform these Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwiches into many other options beyond just a sandwich. You could serve the filling over pasta, atop garlic mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, or alongside a scoop of rice for a hearty meal. It also makes a delicious warm dip with raw veggie platters or bacon crackers for an appetizer. Switch up the bread vessel – use the filling in buns, croissant buns, flatbread wraps, or even stuffed into a tortilla shell like a taco or assembled bowl-style for a more low-carb, keto-friendly take. Get creative with different vessels so you can enjoy this flavorful chicken filling for brunch, lunch, or any meal – the possibilities are endless when you make it your own!

How to Reheat and Store Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches?

Any leftover chopped chicken sub can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You can make the recipe ahead of time, individually wrap them tightly in parchment paper for grab and go lunches. Just be sure not to add the ranch dressing until right before eating to prevent the bread from getting soggy.

If you need to reheat, there are a couple good options. For one or two subs, popping them in the microwave for a short time on high heat should do the trick. For larger batches, using the slow cooker on low or stove top in a skillet allows the sandwiches to gently heat through without dried out bread.

Conclusion

Whether enjoyed as a sandwich, salad, or wrapped in lettuce leaves, this Chopped Chicken Bacon Ranch recipe delivers big flavors in every hearty, satisfying bite. The mix of savory grilled chicken, smoky bacon pieces, and creamy ranch dressing come together to create a comfort food classic. With options to customize and make it your own, this meal is sure to become a go-to for busy weeknights or casual gatherings alike. The combination of ingredients simply can’t be beat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use chicken breast instead?

Yes, you can use chicken breast instead of thighs. Chicken breast will still work but may become dry, so ensure to add extra sauce or keep the breast moistened while cooking. Dicing the breast into smaller pieces can also help.

Can I make this in the oven stove top?

This recipe can easily be made on the stove top or in the oven. Stove top involves cooking ingredients in a skillet until heated through. Baking in the oven at 350°F involves placing ingredients in a casserole dish and baking until the chicken is fully cooked, which typically takes about 30 minutes.

What makes a chopped salad better?

Chopping ingredients into smaller, uniform pieces makes a salad feel more substantial with each bite. It also allows the flavors to blend better than larger pieces. The finer dice creates a heartier, more filling meal texture.

What is the difference between a chopped salad and a salad?

The main difference is size of components. A chopped salad contains diced or cut vegetables, meat and other ingredients into fine, smaller pieces. A regular salad uses larger slices or whole intact ingredients like tomatoes and lettuce leaves.

How much protein is in chicken bacon ranch?

One chicken bacon ranch Subway sandwich provides roughly 30 grams of protein. Grilled chicken breast and bacon are the primary sources. Some cheeses added would bump the total slightly higher.

What is chicken bacon made of?

Chicken bacon is made from ground chicken or turkey that is formed into strips. It contains chicken or turkey meat, but is lower in fat than pork bacon due to added seasoning and smoke flavoring rather than pork fat.

Chopped Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub

Recipe by Carmen FoodieCourse: Grilled MeatsCuisine: American

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

433

kcal

Total time

40

minutes

This sandwich brings together favorite flavors in one hearty handheld meal. Loaded with ingredients, every bite is full of taste.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken thighs

• 4-6 strips bacon

• 4 sub rolls

• 2 cups shredded lettuce

• 1 medium tomato, diced

• 1/2 small onion, diced

• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/4 cup ranch dressing

Directions

• To start, first cook the strips of bacon over medium heat until crispy. While the bacon is prepping, you can season the chicken thighs. Grill or sear the chicken and season it with your favorite BBQ rub before setting aside to allow the seasoning to penetrate and add even more flavor inside.
• Once the bacon is nice and crispy, remove it from the grill or pan and use the rendered bacon grease to grill the seasoned chicken thighs over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Rest the chicken for 10 minutes before chopping.
• You can toast the sub rolls by placing them directly on the grill grates for a minute or two to toast them up. Then set the rolls and cooked chicken aside while you assemble the other quick ingredients.
• Once ready to build, shred the lettuce and place it on the bottom of a cutting board to base the first layer. Then start layering on the shredded chicken, crispy bacon sliced tomatoes, and any other desired veggies like onion or peppers that have been chopped with a sharp knife or butcher style cleaver.
• Chop everything well into even pieces, being careful not to cut yourself. Once all the ingredients are chopped up, you can season with a bit of salt and pepper then top with shredded mozzarella cheese and a good drizzle of creamy ranch. Chop and mix it all one more time to make sure everything is well incorporated, and continue chopping each piece down into bite size.
• Scoop up a big pile of the chopped goodness and scoop or place it into the sub rolls. Slice open the roll and use a large spatula to scoop and layer on a large mound of the chopped ingredients. Fill the roll all the way, so each bite is packed with savoriness from the chicken and ranch, a nice crunchiness from the bacon and fresh onion, and the fresh veggies.

Notes

• For extra decadence, don’t totally skip the step to toast the buns so they get nice and toasted with melted cheese.
• For a quick fix, using a rotisserie chicken that’s been shredded or chopped is also delicious and makes these subs extra easy to toss together.
• Want a little kick? Adding a squirt of your favorite hot sauce or some diced jalapeños delivers just the right amount of spice.
• Looking to lighten it up but keep it rich? Sliced cucumbers on top add crisp freshness that balances the sandwich perfectly.
• If you’re not a cheddar cheese person, Colby jack is an excellent substitute and also pairs well with the ranch flavor profile.
• Any leftover chopped chicken sub can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• If you need to reheat, there are a couple good options. For one or two subs, popping them in the microwave for a short time on high heat should do the trick. For larger batches, using the slow cooker on low or stove top in a skillet allows the sandwiches to gently heat through without dried out bread.