This Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe combines tender chicken, crisp celery, juicy grapes, crunchy almonds, and fresh herbs in a creamy, mayo-free dressing.
Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe
This original Chicken Salad is one of my favorite recipes on this site (yes, out of over 1,500!). I make it often at home and love serving it on mini croissants for baby or bridal showers.
As Iโve been trying to add more protein to my diet, I swapped the mayo and sour cream for Greek yogurt to create this recipe. And the result did not disappoint!
This is the best healthy chicken salad Iโve ever had; with a good Greek yogurt, youโd barely notice itโs not made with loads of mayo!
Quick Tip
Is Chicken Salad Healthy? Chicken salad can be nutritious if made with lean chicken, Greek yogurt, and fresh veggies. Itโs high in protein and lower in fat, especially when served on whole-grain bread or in lettuce wraps.
Ingredients
Hereโs what weโve got going on in this Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe:
- Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is quick, easy, and already seasoned. Many stores even offer it pre-shredded.
- Celery: Thin slices add a nice crunch to the salad.
- Green Onions: Use both the whites and greens for extra flavor. Prefer a sharper taste? Try red onions. Not a fan of onion? Skip it!
- Grapes: Seedless and diced to mix in well. I like to halve small grapes or quarter larger ones.
- Toasted Almonds: Many stores sell pre-toasted almonds, but theyโre easy to toast at home if needed.
- Parsley: Adds a fresh flavor, but you can leave it out or swap with basil. A smaller amount of rosemary or thyme would also work well.
Dressing
What makes a chicken salad healthy? A protein-packed dressing! Greek yogurt is rich in protein and makes up most of the dressing:
- Greek Yogurt: Choose a good, full-fat plain yogurt you enjoy. Greek Godโs Traditional Plain is my favorite. Use the leftovers and make some Tzatziki sauce!
- Lemon: I like to use aย graterย to get the lemon zest and aย juicerย to get the juice.
- Honey: Balances the tang of the yogurt nicely. Adjust to taste.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds great flavor and thickens the dressing.
How To Make Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe
- Shred Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken or leftover baked chicken for ease.
- Prep Veggies: Thinly slice celery and green onions, dice grapes, and chop parsley.
- Toast Almonds: If not pre-toasted, toast them in a dry pan until lightly browned.
- Dressing: Whisk together yogurt, zest, juice, honey, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
- Combine: Add chicken, veggies, grapes, almonds, and parsley to the dressing. Mix.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
Quick Tip
If you have leftover rotisserie chicken, pop it in these Rotisserie Chicken Tacos or Rotisserie Chicken Stir-Fry!
Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe Serving Suggestions
Hereโs how to I like to serve up this chicken salad:
- On Toasted Bread: Make a sandwich with your favorite whole-grain bread.
- In Lettuce Wraps: Spoon into large lettuce leaves for a low-carb option.
- With Croissants: Serve on mini croissants for a party!
- Over Greens: Place on top of a bed of mixed greens for a salad.
- In a Wrap: Roll it in a whole-wheat or spinach tortilla.
- Stuffed in Pita: Use whole-wheat pita pockets.
- As a Dip: Serve with crackers or sliced veggies.
Storage
Leftovers?
- Keep in Fridge: Put any leftovers of this chicken salad recipe in a sealed container in the fridge.
- Eat Soon: Enjoy within 3-4 days.
- Donโt Freeze: Freezing can change the texture, so avoid it.
More Chicken Salad Recipes:
Healthy Chicken Salad
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken see note 1
- 3/4 cup thinly sliced celery 2โ3 stalks
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions 5 green onions
- 1 cup seedless red grapes halved
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds see note 2 for toasting
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley optional
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt see note 3
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Serving suggestions see note 4
Instructionsย
- Zest lemon with zester to get 1/2 teaspoon zest. Juice using a citrus juicer to get 1 tablespoon juice.
- Shred and chop chicken to get 3 cups. Slice the celery, green onions, and grapes. Finely chop parsley, if using. If desired, toast the almonds (see note 2).
- In a large bowl, whisk yogurt, lemon zest and juice, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Add chicken, celery, green onions, grapes, almonds, and parsley (if using) to the dressing. Gently stir until well mixed. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- See note 4 for serving suggestions.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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youโre not a lover of Greek yogurt can I use mayonnaise instead
Yes, but I have a chicken salad with mayo if you want to try: https://axis-framework.live/chicken-salad/%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E
I can not wait to make this! Tomorrow!
Thank you!
Yay! I canโt wait to hear what you think!
I made this yummy chicken salad and loved how fresh it tasted. It was so light and tasty and was so good one some thick soft bread.
I love hearing this! Thanks Julia!
Hi, just wanted to say it looks good; however, I would use about 1/2 of the yogurt; otherwise, it is like ALL deli salads, potato salad, mac salads; canโt eat it due to much mayo!!
Thanks Sandra! You can absolutely half the yogurt!
I love this chicken salad
Yay! Thanks Lee!
I just made this recipe 10 minutes ago. I didnโt change anything except swap mayo for the yogurt. I donโt like Greek yogurt. This is hands down the best chicken salad recipe Iโve ever had. Do yourself a favor and make it now! If you need the ingredients go to the store and make it!!
Iโm so happy to hear this! Thanks so much Julio!