Healthy Chicken Salad

A simple recipe for a basic, tasty and healthy chicken salad. A lunch staple, I serve it on a bed of shredded lettuce, or on low carb bread.

I make this healthy chicken salad often. It’s one of my favorite lunches, and I also make it when we go on a picnic. It makes great use of leftover baked chicken breast.

The ingredients you’ll need

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty salad. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

1. Cooked chicken breast, diced
2. Diced red onion
3. Chopped cilantro
4. Crumbled feta cheese
5. Avocado oil mayonnaise
6. Dijon mustard
7. Fresh lemon juice
8. Minced garlic
9. Kosher salt and black pepper

How to make a healthy chicken salad

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. Add the chicken, red onion, cilantro and feta to a medium bowl.
2. Whisk the remaining ingredients to make a tasty dressing.
3. Mix the dressing into the salad.

Avocado oil mayonnaise is healthier

Avocado oil mayo is a healthy alternative to mayonnaise that is based on refined, bleached, and deodorized oils (RBD oils).

It does contain a small amount of sugar, but when used occasionally, I consider it a healthy option. My favorite brand is Sir Kensington’s. I get it at Whole Foods, and it’s also available at Walmart.

You can also replace the mayonnaise with sour cream if you prefer. Whole milk Greek yogurt is also good in this recipe, but not as good as mayonnaise or sour cream. It’s a bit too tangy, I think. You can also use mashed avocado (or guacamole) and make delicious avocado chicken salad.

Optional additions to this salad

This is obviously a basic recipe, and you should feel free to add to it as you like.

Celery is obvious – about 1/4 cup chopped. Other welcome additions are 1/2 avocado, cubed, and/or a grated hard-boiled egg.

How to serve this healthy chicken salad

A tasty lunch staple, I usually serve it on a bed of shredded lettuce. It’s also very good on 90-second bread, on a low carb English muffin, or in a lettuce wrap sandwich.

How long can I keep leftovers?

You can keep them in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Give them a gentle stir before serving them. 

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4.96 from 64 votes

Healthy Chicken Salad

A simple recipe for a basic, tasty and healthy chicken salad. A lunch staple, I serve it on a bed of shredded lettuce, or on low carb microwave bread.

Prep Time15 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 455kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Salad:

• 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced (10 oz)*
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup avocado oil mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a medium bowl, mix the chicken breast cubes, red onion, cilantro and feta.
• In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, minced garlic, kosher salt and black pepper.
• Pour the dressing on the chicken salad and mix well to combine. Serve immediately, or chill for an hour to allow flavors to meld.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

NOTES

*If you need to cook the chicken, use two (8 oz) raw chicken breasts. Spray them with oil, lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake in a 450°F oven until cooked through, about 20 minutes.

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Chicken Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 455 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Sodium 672mg29%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 43g86%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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