Creamy Chicken Salad

A creamy, fresh, and satisfying chicken salad made with tender chicken, crunchy vegetables, and a rich dressing. It’s perfect for sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, or a light lunch.

Ingredients

For the chicken salad:

• 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or finely diced
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey, optional
• ½ cup finely diced celery
• ¼ cup finely diced red onion
• ¼ cup chopped green onions
• ⅓ cup halved red or green grapes, optional
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp salt, or to taste

Optional additions:

• ¼ cup chopped apples
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup chopped cucumber
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• ¼ cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken
   Use cooked, cooled chicken. Shred it with two forks or cut it into small bite-sized pieces.
2. Make the creamy dressing
   In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt until smooth.
3. Add the vegetables
   Add celery, red onion, green onions, parsley, and grapes if using.
4. Add the chicken
   Fold the chicken gently into the dressing until everything is evenly coated.
5. Chill
   Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling allows the flavors to blend and makes the salad even better.
6. Taste and adjust
   Taste before serving and add more salt, pepper, lemon juice, or Dijon mustard if needed.
7. Serve
   Serve chilled in sandwiches, croissants, wraps, lettuce cups, crackers, or over a bed of fresh greens.

Tips

• For the best flavor, use roasted or poached chicken.
• Don’t add warm chicken directly to the dressing.
• Greek yogurt makes the dressing creamy while adding extra protein.
• For a sweeter version, add grapes, apples, or dried cranberries.
• For extra crunch, add celery, cucumber, or nuts.
• Letting the salad chill for 30 minutes makes a noticeable difference in flavor.

Nut Information

• The basic recipe contains no nuts.
• Optional walnuts or pecans add crunch but are not necessary.
• Contains dairy if Greek yogurt is used.
• Contains egg if traditional mayonnaise is used.
• For nut allergies, check mayonnaise, mustard, dried fruit, and other packaged ingredients for cross-contact warnings.

Q&A

Q: Can I use leftover chicken?
A: Yes. This is an excellent recipe for leftover roasted, grilled, baked, or rotisserie chicken.

Q: Can I replace mayonnaise?
A: Yes. Use additional Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, or a combination of Greek yogurt and a little olive oil.

Q: Can I make this without Greek yogurt?
A: Yes. Simply use ¾ cup mayonnaise instead.

Q: Can I use canned chicken?
A: Yes, although freshly cooked chicken generally has better texture and flavor.

Q: How long does chicken salad last?
A: Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3–4 days.

Q: Can I freeze chicken salad?
A: Freezing is not recommended because mayonnaise and yogurt can separate and become watery after thawing.

Q: What can I serve with chicken salad?
A: Try it in croissants, sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, crackers, or alongside a green salad.

Q: Can I make it healthier?
A: Use mostly Greek yogurt with a smaller amount of mayonnaise, add plenty of celery and fresh vegetables, and serve it over lettuce instead of bread.