Easy and Healthy Chicken Salad
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This Easy and Healthy Chicken Salad is lighter on calories, but still has all the protein, taste, and texture of traditional chicken salads. The perfect light and healthy lunch on a hot summer day!
I love this recipe. It’s one of the best ways to make Easy Chicken Salad!
I grew up on it so it’s something I crave constantly. I can’t remember a time, especially in the warmer months, that this wasn’t in a container in the fridge. It’s simple, only 4 ingredients, and comes together in minutes! If you’re in the mood for something a little different, try out my chicken salad with grapes!
This is also ideal for meal prep throughout the week cause it’s so easy to quickly serve at lunch or bring along on a picnic, to the beach, or on a boat ride! Think extra easy: prepare a container of this + add pack of crackers/carrots. You’re set!
This healthy chicken salad recipe is so easy. It’s ideal to make for meal prep because it only takes about 3 minutes to prepare and requires a handful of ingredients. Keep in mind that it does require some extra fridge time though so keep in mind you will need that total hands off time to make it the best.
KEY INGREDIENTS
What makes this Easy and Healthy Chicken Salad so special? Gather up these exact ingredients and you’ll see exactly why! This is my mama’s recipe and like I said before, it’s crave worthy!
- Finely Shredded Cooked Chicken – you can use left over chicken, rotisserie chicken breast, canned chicken breast (surprisingly it tastes great!). I love to use this Instant Pot recipe or Slow Cooker Shredded chicken recipe .
- Mayonnaise- I prefer using light Dukes or Hellman’s to keep it lower in calories and low fat.
- Dried Minced Onion– This is a must have ingredient if you want to make it the best way. Dried minced onions can be found in the spice aisle with all other spices. Sometimes it will say chopped instead of minced.
- Celery Salt– Another non-negotiable item to make this particular recipe. It might be a little unfamiliar, but its found with all other spices at any grocery store.
- Pepper to taste- I normally just add a few grinds and it’s enough.
LET’S MAKE CHICKEN SALAD:
- Grab a medium bowl and add the 3 cups chicken, 1 teaspoon celery salt, 1/2 cup mayo, three tablespoons minced onion, and a pinch of pepper.
- Stir together really, really well. If you want the best results ever- get in there with your (clean them real good please!) hands. This ensures the chicken and all the other ingredients are combined thoroughly and it also breaks down any larger chicken pieces.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least a half hour so that the dried minced onion can rehydrate a bit and the other flavors will mingle and get to know eachother.
CHICKEN SALAD VARIATIONS
I love this recipe just the way it is. No add ins necessary! But, there are weeks that we love to add easy ingredients into it and change it up for lunches. It makes meal prep a lot less boring!
- Grapes – fresh, juicy, sweet!
- crumbled bacon- bacon makes everything better, y’all!
- nuts- I love toasted almonds or pecans for a good crunch.
- cranberries- easy to add sweetness!
- fresh green onion- if you really want to go for an onion forward taste!
What can you eat Chicken salad with?
I enjoy it in a big ol’ good sandwich or piled into lettuce wraps, but I also love eating what I like to call, easy chicken salad snack plates!
I place a nice scoop of chicken salad on a plate and pile on lots of veggies (celery, carrots, cucumber), grapes, apples, different types of crackers, and maybe a slice of cheese for for good measure. It’s the ultimate flex on a satisfying and healthy lunch!
FAQS !?
Can you make Chicken Salad the day before?
Absolutely! In fact, I recommend it. This recipe requires a little fridge time for ultimate taste so having it sit overnight only improves the flavor.
How long can chicken salad be kept in the refrigerator?
3-5 days in a tightly sealed container in the fridge thats kept at or below 40 degrees.
This recipe was originally posted on 5/09/2016, but I updated with new photos and extra tips for the reader on 06/29/2022.
Skinny Chicken salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups FINELY shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup Light Mayonnaise preferably dukes or hellmans
- 3 tbsp dried minced/chopped onion
- 1 tsp celery salt
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, place finely shredded chicken, mayo, celery salt, pepper, and minced onion.
- Using clean hands, mix together very thoroughly for best results, but you can also use a fork and stir it extremely well.
- Cover and put in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to let all of the flavors mingle and the onions soften.
- Serve in a salad, lettuce wrap, pita, or sandwich. We also love serving with lots of veggies, fruit, and crackers for a big snack lunch plate.
I made this, and absolutely Love love love it,. I put it on a croissant.. So good.. My go to for lunch. Thanks for making this recipe.. 🙂
Yess! So happy you enjoyed, Sandra! I LOVE chicken salad on a croissant, something about it!
I honestly can’t believe how delicious this chicken salad is with so few ingredients! I love it! Those minced dried onions are a game changer.
I cooked up a bunch of chicken breast in my instant pot and decided to use some of it for this chicken salad recipe. So delicious! I added some chopped celery for the crunch and ate it for lunch all week! On a wrap, on wheat bread, on a salad…..I loved it! I’m following WW Purple plan so it felt like a splurge for just 2 points! Thank you.
Thank you for making a lightened up recipe of a favorite since I was a kid! Also, thank you for not adding grapes like all the other recipes do. It’s delish!!
Haha! I have another chicken salad recipe that has grapes, but there’s a time and place for grapes in chicken salad. I love it both ways, but this is the one I grew up on!
This seems so simple yet is like nothing I’ve ever made before! It is amazing! Such a perfect combination of ingredients. I thought it would last for a few days but my family proved me wrong. They gobbled it up.
BEST EVER AND SO EASY!!!
This really pops and has some seriously fantastic flavor for being a simple recipe!! I love it!!
Made this today and it is amazing. Celery salt really make this so yummy! Add green onions and plopped it on some spring salad mix. Yum!
Soooooo good. Will definitely be using it as part of my lunch meal preps during the school year.
Would using your brined/baked chicken recipe work well with this?
yes it works!
So easy and delicious!
I add poultry seasoning and a splash of chicken broth (to keep it moist) to my chicken salad. Give it a try
Love your recipes
I love this easy recipe. Although I love it the best with fresh boiled chicken breast, Ive used canned chicken when I’m in a hurry. But I always put it in the fridge to cool because you can taste the difference. Thanks again!
Insta: Scentalette
Wonderful, fast easy recipe. Just the kind I need. What brands of canned chicken are anyone’s favorite?
My go to meal prep dish! It’s been an entire year and I’m still not sick of it!
Insta: katihalliday
Delicious! Perfect chicken salad every time!!
@mistynight720
How long will this last un the fridge?
4-5 days
Love this so easy to make and you can customize any way you choose!
Insta: amybyrd
A staple in my rotation Lighten up but full of flavor-nail on the head!
This is the third recipe of yours I have made, and it was another home run! We had it for dinner tonight and I’m already excited for leftovers tomorrow, and I may or may not have hidden the leftovers in the back of the fridge so no one gets to them before I do
This is the third recipe of yours I have made, and it was another home run! We had it for dinner tonight and I’m already excited for leftovers tomorrow, and I may or may not have hidden the leftovers in the back of the fridge
Sooooo simple & sooooo good! I used canned chicken (ikr?!? lol). Loved it!
Made this chicken salad this week! SO good! Thank you!
Do u boil or roast?
If we’re using your slow cooker shredded chicken recipe, should we leave out the dry minced onion and celery salt since we already cooked with those spices when we made the chicken?
Hi Kaitlyn! Great question, I actually still put the same amount into the chicken salad if I’m using the slow cooker chicken. You could adjust the celery salt to taste if you’re unsure, but I would still definitely add the minced onion.
Can you use canned chicken ?
Yep!
Love this stuff!! I just made my 3rd batch!
This is a wonderful chicken salad recipe that I have made many times. While I enjoy it as written, I now use 1/4 cup minced fresh onion instead of the dry, 1 diced celery rib instead of the celery seed, 1/4 C Hellman’s low fat mayonnaise, 1/4 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon Madras curry powder.
What do you consider the serving size to be? I could eat the whole thing!
I am new to your website and find so many recipes to try. Thank you so very much.
How do you get your chicken so finely shredded?
For this particular recipe I shred it with forks and then shred it by hand really well. You can also use a hand mixer and it’ll be faster and nicely shredded.
I’ve also used my Pampered Chef Salad Chopper. It works very well to finely chop/shred the chicken and it seems to be faster. I’ve seen a different brand too on Amazon that’s about 1/2 the price.
I am not one to usually rate or comment but this was so darn good and easy! As I was making it I was unsure how it would turn out, but after 30 minutes of being in the fridge, I took it out and sampled it. It was Ahhhhmazing!! Thanks for all of your recipes. I’ve loved everything I’ve made from your website! I also appreciate the freestyle points included!
Made this to have for lunch this week and it’s soo good! I added a stick of chopped celery and sliced up some red seedless grapes. Not only did the grapes add some more bulk without added points but kicked the deliciousness up even more! Thanks so much!
I’m so happy you enjoyed, Colleen. The grapes & celery sound like the perfect addition!
I just made this today. I love it. I will use as my go to. Awesome
I can’t wait to make this!! Could you add red grapes into this to kindnof make it a Waldorf chicken salad? I’ve been craving it and can’t wait to make your recipe!!
I can’t wait to make this!! Could you add red grapes into this to kindnof make it a Waldorf chicken salad? I’ve been craving it and can’t wait to make your recipe!!
Goodness. I just made this for lunch prep this week, and legit had an argument with myself “crunchy onions aren’t THAT bad — you could totally just eat it now.” 30 minutes in the fridge seems like an eternity.
Goodness. I just made this for lunch prep this week, and legit had an argument with myself “crunchy onions aren’t THAT bad — you could totally just eat it now.” 30 minutes in the fridge seems like an eternity.
I made this and it was so overpowered by onion, I couldn’t eat it. Is to 3 tbsp dried minced onion?
I made this and it was so overpowered by onion, I couldn’t eat it. Is to 3 tbsp dried minced onion?
I love this recipe and have made it several times since I discovered it on your blog. So delicious and so easy!
Thank you! I am so happy you enjoyed!
I love this recipe and have made it several times since I discovered it on your blog. So delicious and so easy!
Thank you! I am so happy you enjoyed!
Hello! Sounds good but I’m sodium restricted so I’d make without but add celery, red onion and rinsed dill or sweet pickles – love chicken salad so thanks!
You can replace the celery salt with celery seed (found with other dried spices) too!
Hello! Sounds good but I’m sodium restricted so I’d make without but add celery, red onion and rinsed dill or sweet pickles – love chicken salad so thanks!
You can replace the celery salt with celery seed (found with other dried spices) too!
I just made this and put it into my fridge for lunch later today and couldn’t resist JUST a bite. Even with crunchy onions… de-lish! So simple, but so good! Thanks!!!
So glad you liked it! i always sneak bites with the crunchy onions too! haha
I just made this and put it into my fridge for lunch later today and couldn’t resist JUST a bite. Even with crunchy onions… de-lish! So simple, but so good! Thanks!!!
So glad you liked it! i always sneak bites with the crunchy onions too! haha
One of my favorites too! I have to cut back on the celery salt but otherwise it is perfect. It makes enough for me to have it for lunch 4 days. Sometimes I add dill cubes. Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoy it! Dill sounds like a wonderful addition 🙂
What are dill cubes? I love dill!
One of my favorites too! I have to cut back on the celery salt but otherwise it is perfect. It makes enough for me to have it for lunch 4 days. Sometimes I add dill cubes. Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoy it! Dill sounds like a wonderful addition 🙂
What are dill cubes? I love dill!
I LOVE your chicken salad!! I made it last week for my lunch every day, and just made some for this weeks lunch!! Thanks for sharing your recipes!
yay! I AM so happy to hear that. That chicken salad is one of my all time favorites! I’m so picky about my chicken salad now! Enjoy lunch for the week!!!
I LOVE your chicken salad!! I made it last week for my lunch every day, and just made some for this weeks lunch!! Thanks for sharing your recipes!
yay! I AM so happy to hear that. That chicken salad is one of my all time favorites! I’m so picky about my chicken salad now! Enjoy lunch for the week!!!
About how many chicken breasts do you use to make 3 cups shredded?
I would say 4 to be on the safe side
About how many chicken breasts do you use to make 3 cups shredded?
I would say 4 to be on the safe side
Hey there, crackers! I use a combo of light mayo and Greek yogurt in my chicken salad…but then I throw in curry, because I can’t resist. Why didn’t I put in some celerty salt and keep it plain? Next time I will, just cuz you told me so. Your hands comment made me laugh. Have you seen the man hand cover on Tina Fey’s book? That’s what you made me think of when you wanted Eric to be your hand model. Bwa ha ha!
hahahaha! YES! I haven’t read it, but now I’m totally thinking about eric doing the hand shots from now on. I hate my chubby little dry hands! I hope you enjoy the chicken salad! I thought about doing a greek yogurt mix, but i’ve been making chicken salad this way for so long, i just have troubles messing with it! I make another one with strawberries and pecans in it that has a bit of greek yogurt! I’ll post that soon!
Hey there, crackers! I use a combo of light mayo and Greek yogurt in my chicken salad…but then I throw in curry, because I can’t resist. Why didn’t I put in some celerty salt and keep it plain? Next time I will, just cuz you told me so. Your hands comment made me laugh. Have you seen the man hand cover on Tina Fey’s book? That’s what you made me think of when you wanted Eric to be your hand model. Bwa ha ha!
hahahaha! YES! I haven’t read it, but now I’m totally thinking about eric doing the hand shots from now on. I hate my chubby little dry hands! I hope you enjoy the chicken salad! I thought about doing a greek yogurt mix, but i’ve been making chicken salad this way for so long, i just have troubles messing with it! I make another one with strawberries and pecans in it that has a bit of greek yogurt! I’ll post that soon!
I tried this on a lettuce wrap and it was good! I’m not a huge chicken salad person but I trust the recipes on here so I wanted to try! A good go to when you’re craving something light and savory. It looks absolutely devine on a croissant. I will have to try that one day.
I’m so so happy you enjoyed, Nicole!!
Yummy yummy yummy! Love your version of chicken salad. Girl I love my crackers too!!
My pantry always has about 10 different types of crackers! I would never last on a low carb diet… and i never have!
Yummy yummy yummy! Love your version of chicken salad. Girl I love my crackers too!!
My pantry always has about 10 different types of crackers! I would never last on a low carb diet… and i never have!