Sara's Grilled Chicken-Cornbread Salad

Ingredients

• 4 applewood-smoked bacon slices
• 1 (6-ounce) package cornbread mix
• Smoky Chicken Thighs
• 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup minced Vidalia or other sweet onion
• 2 tablespoons finely sliced fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 cup cooked fresh lima or butter beans
• 1 cup cooked fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 8 large tomatoes
• Garnish: chopped fresh chives

Preparation

1. Cut bacon into 1/4-inch pieces; cook in a 6 1/2-inch cast-iron skillet until crisp. Remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet. Prepare cornbread batter according to package directions; pour batter into hot drippings in skillet.
2. Bake at 425° for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown; cool completely in skillet on a wire rack. Break or cut cornbread into small (about 1-inch) pieces; place on a baking sheet.
3. Bake cornbread pieces at 425° for 5 minutes or until lightly toasted.
4. Remove skin and bones from Smoky Chicken Thighs; cut meat into bite-size pieces.
5. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently fold chopped chicken, cornbread, bacon, lima beans, corn, and red bell pepper into mayonnaise mixture.
6. Cut a 1/4-inch slice from tops of tomatoes; scoop out and discard pulp, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick shell. Spoon about 2/3 cup chicken mixture into each tomato. Garnish, if desired.