Chicken Salad

This Chicken Salad recipe is the best easy healthy chicken salad made with fresh poached chicken and a creamy low-fat Greek yogurt dressing!

 

Chicken salad is such a classic summer dish that’s great for picnics, barbecues, beach days, and even take-to-school or work lunches. It’s made of cooked chicken meat that’s shredded or diced, mixed with other ingredients to create a filling for sandwiches or wraps, a topping for veggie-based or lettuce-based salads, or as a dish all by itself.

We love to enjoy it in the summertime because it’s an easy-to-throw-together dish that stores easily in the fridge, it’s cold and refreshing, and it’s great to take on the go!

This Chicken salad recipe can be a healthy and nutrient-packed dish, depending on the ingredients and cooking methods. Here are some tips we suggest for making a healthier version:

1. Choose lean cuts of chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of dark meat or processed meats like canned chicken packed in oil. You can also use grilled or baked chicken, or even a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store – just be sure to remove the skin.
2. Add vegetables: Adding veggies can increase the nutritional value of the salad and add more texture and crunch. We like adding a generous amount of celery, but you can even add chopped or shredded carrots, chopped bell peppers, or other veggies.
3. Use healthy fats: Instead of using regular mayonnaise in the dressing, use a combination of low-fat mayonnaise and creamy low-fat Greek yogurt. Some mashed avocado is another healthy fat that can be added in place of the mayonnaise. We also love to add sliced almonds or other nuts for flavour, texture, and more healthy fats.
4. Avoid adding sugar: Sugar?! We know it sounds strange, but adding dried fruits like cranberries or raisins can add sweetness to the salad and a ton of sugar. If you want to add some sweetness, choose a fruit like fresh grapes, chopped apples (our favourite!) or blueberries for a healthier option.
5. Skip the bread and serve on a green salad: Instead of the filling on bread or a wrap, serve it on a bed of greens like green lettuce, mixed greens, baby spinach or arugula to increase the amount fibre and decrease the carbs.

Here are some helpful tips for common issues that can arise when making this chicken salad recipe at home:

1. What should I do if my chicken salad is dry? This can happen if the meat is overcooked (cooked too long or at too high a temperature). To fix this, try cooking the chicken for a shorter amount of time and use an instant read thermometer (affiliate link) to test the chicken’s internal temperature so you can prevent overcooking.
2. What should I do if my chicken salad is watery? Nobody likes a soggy sandwich or wrap, and this can happen if too much mayonnaise or other dressing or sauce is added to the chicken salad. To fix this problem, try draining some of the liquid from the chicken salad, or add more chopped veggies or fruit, or even more chicken, to absorb some of the excess liquid.
3. My chicken salad tastes bland. How can I fix it? Bland chicken salad usually needs some additional seasoning added. To fix bland chicken salad, try adding more salt, pepper, or spices to the chicken salad, or even a small splash of lemon juice. You can also add fresh herbs for a more intense flavour.
4. My chicken salad is too thick. How can I fix it? It can become too thick if not enough dressing or liquid is added to the chicken salad. To fix it, try adding more mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, or other dressing to the chicken salad.

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To make this recipe you’ll need (affiliate links):

• a large pot
• a pair of tongs
• an instant read thermometer for cooking the chicken
• mixing bowls
• a chopping board
• a sharp knife
• measuring cups and spoons
• a whisk

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe:

• boneless skinless chicken breasts (or use just the meat from a rotisserie chicken)
• lemon
• dried or fresh thyme
• fresh garlic
• honey
• salt and pepper
• celery
• red onion
• slivered or chopped almonds
• Greek yogurt
• mayonnaise (we like light mayonnaise)
• dijon mustard
• fresh or dried dill

When it comes to our easy chicken salad recipe there are so many flavour variations to try. Here are some fun ideas we love with some of the ingredients you’ll need to try them:

1. Curry chicken salad: Add some curry powder, honey and turmeric to your dressing and add some chopped apples and raisins.
2. Waldorf chicken salad: Add chopped apples and chopped walnuts instead of sliced almonds, and add some honey to the dressing for added sweetness.
3. Southwest or Tex-Mex chicken salad: Add some black beans, corn, diced tomato and avocado, and add some lime juice to the dressing. And don’t forget the cilantro!
4. Buffalo chicken salad: Try our Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken, and combine it with some blue cheese dressing, celery, and onions.
5. Greek chicken salad: Add some chopped cucumber instead of the celery, add chopped tomatoes, feta cheese, and lemon juice.
6. Asian-style or Thai-style chicken salad: Add shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, chopped red onion, chopped bell pepper, and make a dressing with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and peanut butter.
7. Pesto chicken salad: Make our homemade pesto and use it as the dressing. Add some chopped tomato and chopped red onion.
8. Caesar chicken salad: Add some chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, shaved parmesan cheese, and bacon bits!

Here are the ways we love to serve this recipe:

1. As a sandwich: Place the filling between two slices of toasted bread with some lettuce, or slice a croissant in half and fill it with the filling for a very classic and easy chicken salad sandwich.
2. As an open-faced sandwich: Use this recipe for a party, reception or baby shower by making open face sandwiches with small dinner rolls or brioche buns.
3. As a wrap: Spread the filling onto a tortilla or a lettuce leaf (for a low carb option), add some veggies or greens, and roll it up for a tasty wrap.
4. As a dip: Serve it as a dip with a platter of crackers or sliced vegetables for a tasty appetizer.
5. As a salad: Place it on top of a bed of mixed greens, baby spinach, arugula or even green lettuce.
6. As a topping: Top your baked potato, baked sweet potato, or even roasted veggies.

Here are some ideas for other dishes to serve with your homemade chicken salad recipe:

1. A fresh fruit platter.
2. Whole grain bread, toasted baguette slices, or crackers.
3. Roasted vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, or butternut squash.
4. Soup or chili with bread on the side.
5. A salad or veggie dish, such as roasted asparagus or sautéed green beans.
6. Steamed quinoa, brown rice, or other whole grains to make a complete and nutritious meal.

We hope you love this deliciously healthy recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite easy recipe for a picnic? We’d love to know!

• Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
• Best Ever Greek Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Easy Whole Grain Sandwich Bread
• Tuna Pasta Salad
• Olive Garden Salad
• Easy Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup
• Easy Ranch Roasted Chickpeas

Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find many more deliciously simple recipe videos on our YouTube channel!