The BEST Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe
A delicious and healthy chicken salad featuring tender chicken, crisp celery, sweet grapes, and crunchy pecans, all tossed in a creamy Greek yogurt and mayo dressing with tangy Dijon mustard and fresh lemon zest. Perfect for a nutritious lunch or light dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming cooked chicken is ready)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2.5 cups cooked, diced or shredded chicken
- 3 stalks of celery – about 1/2 cup diced
- 1 cup sliced grapes
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1–2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
- Salt and pepper – to taste
Grape Cleaning
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (for cleaning grapes)
- Water (for soaking grapes)
Instructions
- Clean and Prepare Grapes: Rinse and dry the grapes thoroughly. Place them in a bowl filled with water and add 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Let them soak for about 5 minutes to remove any residue, then rinse again and dry completely before slicing. This step enhances the flavor by removing the grape’s natural film.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, add the cooked, diced chicken, diced celery, sliced grapes, chopped pecans, and chopped red onion.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Mix Salad: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are well coated and combined into a creamy, chunky chicken salad.
- Serve or Store: Serve the chicken salad immediately, or cover and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- Cleaning the grapes with baking soda helps remove residue and improves their taste.
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- For a lighter option, reduce mayo or use all Greek yogurt.
- Serve on whole-grain bread, lettuce wraps, or as a side dish.
- Adjust salt and pepper to your taste preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: healthy chicken salad, chicken salad recipe, Greek yogurt chicken salad, easy chicken salad, chicken salad with grapes and pecans
