This light and healthy chicken salad features lemon Greek yogurt and mayonnaise dressing, reducing richness without sacrificing flavor. Toasted walnuts and dried cranberries add just the right blend of crunch and tart sweetness.
If you haven’t noticed yet, we love chicken salad around here. From my classic chicken salad to my avocado chicken salad and everything in between. There are seven variations in my sandwich and wrap category and I’m not going to stop there!
This bright version is one of my old favorites. It’s a lot going on, but thanks to the store-bought rotisserie chicken, it’s fast and easy to throw together. Always such a great time savings.
It’s flavorful, stuffed with protein and is extremely pleased with lunch or light dinner.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken: Store-bought rotisserie chicken breast with skin removed. Once it’s shredded there should be plenty for this recipe. Greek Yogurt: I use plain Greek yogurt other than fat, but I can use 2% or full fat if necessary. Mayonnaise: Choose healthy fat mayonnaise, such as olive oil or avocado oil mayonnaise. You can also use all the Greek yogurt, but I found that adding a small Mayo would improve the flavor. Nuts: I love the toasted walnut flavor in this chicken salad, but if you want, you can leave them behind or swap them for sliced or slivered almonds. For the rest: Little Dijon mustard and fresh lemon juice and crust brighten the flavor, and the natural sweetness comes from the chopped dried cranberries. I also got diced red onions and celery, adding a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Serving Options: Bagged Broccoli Throw adds even more fiber and greater nutrition to your sandwiches and low-carb wrap. Use leftovers toss into the salad, or add coles road dressing for a great summer side dish.
How to make a light and healthy chicken salad
In a medium bowl, mix the dressing ingredients with onion, celery and dried cranberries. Mix until well mixed. Add the shredded chicken and toasted walnuts to the dressing and mix again.
Valerie’s Tips
Walnut Toast: To add flavor and crunch, place the walnuts in a small baking dish and toast in a preheated 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Let cool completely before chopping and adding to the chicken salad.
Go ahead: It is recommended to mix this the night before and refrigerate overnight to save time. The flavor will only improve in the fridge for a while.
Storage: Store leftovers in a closed container in the fridge and use within 3-4 days for the highest quality.
Low Carb Alternative: Beyond Sandwiches! If you’re looking at carbohydrates, try pushing this light, healthy chicken salad into the crunchy endive leaves, wrapping it in a low-carb wrap, or spooning it over mixed greens or thick tomato slices.
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Light and healthy chicken salad
This light and healthy chicken salad features lemon Greek yogurt and mayonnaise dressing, reducing richness without sacrificing flavor. Toasted walnuts and dried cranberries add just the right blend of crunch and tart sweetness.
Instructions
Remove the skin from the chest of the rotisserie chicken and discard it. Pull the white breast from the chicken onto the cutting board and use your hands to shred. You will need about 3 cups of shredded chicken. Book dark meat for another purpose.
If you are using walnuts, preheat the oven to F. Place in a small baking dish and bake for 5-7 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and set aside. Once it’s cool enough to handle, cut them up and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, chopped dried cranberries, red onions, celery, lemon juice, rind, salt and pepper. Mix well and combine. Add the shredded chicken and chopped walnuts and mix until well mixed.
Enjoy it with salad greens, squeeze it into the endive lettuce, spoon it over thick tomato slices, or enjoy it in a sandwich bread or wrap topped with a broccoli throw.
nutrition
calorie: 285 kcal ・ carbohydrates: 10 g ・ protein: twenty five g ・ fat: 16 g ・ Saturated fat: 2 g ・ Polyunsaturated fat: 9 g ・ January Saturated Fat: 3 g ・ Trans Fat: 0.02 g ・ cholesterol: 64 mg ・ sodium: 151 mg ・ potassium: 310 mg ・ fiber: 2 g ・ sugar: 7 g ・ Vitamin A: 59 iu ・ Vitamin C: 11 mg ・ calcium: 51 mg ・ iron: 1 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using common ingredients and is an estimate rather than a guarantee. See the home ingredients label for more accurate results.
This post was originally published on August 10th, 2013. Updated with new text and images.
(TagStoTRASSLATE) Chicken
