Heartland Chicken Salad Sandwich – A Nostalgic Twist on a Family Classic

 

I’ve never been one for chain restaurants, but Houlihan’s was different. There was something special about those outings when my boys were little—my mom and I would bundle them up, head to one of the nearby locations, enjoy a relaxed meal, and then make a day of shopping. The food was reliably good, but honestly, it was the memories that made it shine: laughter over plates, little hands reaching for fries, and that cozy feeling of family time well spent. I miss those days more than I can say.

Recently, I was reminiscing with my older son about those lunches, and he lit up remembering his go-to order: the Heartland Chicken Salad. He’d always pick out the onions and tomatoes (classic kid move), but otherwise, he devoured it. That conversation sparked an idea—what if we turned that beloved salad into a sandwich?

I gave it a try, and wow, it’s even better than I hoped. The combination of crisp mixed greens, tender chicken (I went with chopped rotisserie for ease), smoky bacon, sharp aged cheddar, crunchy spicy pecans, sliced red onions, and red bell peppers (or cherry tomatoes in a pinch), all tossed in a garlicky ranch dressing—it’s hearty, flavorful, and downright craveable.

The real star? That garlic ranch dressing. Houlihan’s version was legendary, but since I couldn’t track down an exact recipe, I whipped up my own. It’s creamy, tangy, and packed with garlic goodness—perfect for binding everything together. 

Here’s how I built the sandwich:

Start with a toasted hoagie roll (seriously, don’t skip the toasting—it adds incredible depth and crunch). Then I tossed together mixed greens, shredded rotisserie chicken, crispy smoked bacon, shredded aged cheddar, toasted pecans — don’t even THINK about not toasting them, seriously it makes a tremendous difference —, diced red onion, quartered cherry tomatoes, and garlic ranch dressing. The combination of flavors is really superb. It’s salad-meets-sandwich perfection—fresh yet indulgent, with every bite evoking those old Houlihan’s lunches.

Homemade Garlic Ranch Dressing

Makes about 1¼–1½ cups (plenty for multiple sandwiches or salads)

  ½ c. Duke’s mayonnaise

½ c. sour cream

¼–½ c. buttermilk

1½ t. garlic paste

½ t. garlic powder

1 t. onion powder

1 t. fresh lemon juice

½ t. dried dill weed

½ t. dried parsley

½ t. salt (adjust to taste)

 ¼ t. freshly ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and ¼ cup buttermilk until smooth and creamy.

 Stir in the garlic paste, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

Gradually add more buttermilk if you want a thinner, more pourable consistency.

 Taste and adjust seasoning—maybe a touch more salt, garlic, or lemon.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is ideal) to let the flavors meld and deepen.

This dressing truly makes this sandwich something extra special. Next time you’re craving comfort food with a side of nostalgia, give this a whirl. It might just bring back some sweet memories of your own. 

What’s your favorite childhood restaurant dish you’ve recreated at home? I’d love to hear in the comments!

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