Easy Chicken Melon Salad Bowls

A delicious melon fruit salad made with a variety of melon, chicken, Gorgonzola  cheese, and poppyseed dressing, enjoy Easy Chicken Melon Salad Bowls.

Happy Thursday, Friends! I love this recipe today for summer entertaining! Grab the links at the bottom for this tray and more!

Easy Chicken Melon Salad Bowls

These Melon Salad Bowls are served in scooped-out melon halves, filled with a sweet and tangy chicken salad. It’s elegant and easy to make ahead for any party!

Also for summer entertaining, you can serve this Melon Bowtie Pasta Salad or plan a picnic and bring along this Bowtie Italian Pasta Salad in Jars recipe!

Melon Fruit Salad

The nature of this season is linked to so many outdoor adventures, longer days, plenty of sunshine, and delicious salads.

I don’t know about you, but we want to savor every ounce of sunshine and precious moments together with our family and friends.

Ingredients for this salad:

• Watermelon and cantaloupe
• Lime
• Rotisserie chicken
• Red onion
• Gorgonzola cheese
• Spicy Pecans (I buy at Trader Joe’s)
• Fresh basil
• Sweet Onion Poppyseed Dressing or Briannas Rich Poppy Seed Dressing

You can make your own poppyseed dressing with Greek yogurt (or buy storebought).

I first served this salad a few years back. The summers in southern Oregon were so hot, with temperatures creeping up to the 100s. When friends would come over to enjoy our pool or sit on our back patio, we’d enjoy this salad–so refreshing.

Chicken Melon Salad Bowls

A delicious, light summer meal, cut the melons in half and remove the seeds.

Scoop out the melon and make small balls and set aside.

Mix the melon balls together with chicken and remaining ingredients.

Drizzle with dressing, nuts, and fresh basil.

And serve!

Make ahead for easy entertaining

As mentioned, you can make these melon bowls ahead for easy entertaining.

Think baby shower, bridal shower, a luncheon or birthday party. Or just a casual meal or pool snack!

The only thing you need to think about ahead of time is, do you have room in your fridge to store them?

If not, make the chicken  salad and refrigerate, and then right before serving, fill the melon halves!

Now that says summertime with a capital S!

Enjoy!

Courtly Check Enamel Round Tray

This 15″ tray is super fun for hosting: Courtly Check Enamel Round Tray [affiliate link]

This 20 x 26 (3″ lip) tray I am using in this post today: Courtly Check Rattan & Enamel Party Tray.

Or you can grab the large one (11 x 15): Courtly Check Rattan & Enamel Tray – Large.

More melon recipes:

Mint Melon Salad {She Wears Many Hats}

Melon and Feta Salad {A Closet Cooking}

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Chicken Melon Salad Bowls

Makes 8 large salads. Regular toasted pecans taste yummy, too. You can make your own dressing or use a bottled dressing (we love Briannas Rich Poppy Seed Dressing), but NO dressing is just as delicious!

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Yield: 8 servings

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Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 2 small watermelon
• 2 small cantaloupe
• 2 lime
• 2 cups rotisserie chicken, chopped
• 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese
• Spicy Pecans, I buy at Trader Joe’s
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped (+8 leaves for garnish)
• 1/2 cup Sweet Onion Poppyseed Dressing, or Briannas Rich Poppy Seed Dressing – optional

Instructions

 

• Cut the melons in half, removing all seeds. Using a melon baller or small cookie dough scoop, carve out balls of melon and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix the melon, chicken, onion, cheese, basil, and nuts. Squeeze the fresh lime over the mixture.
• If using a light dressing, such as a sweet (poppyseed) dressing, lightly toss it around the ingredients.
• Fill the melon bowls with the chicken mixture, garnishing with fresh basil. Serve!

Notes

Previously posted JUL 2014

Cuisine: American

Course: Salad

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

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