This healthy & delicious Creamy Chicken Salad (No Celery) is a unique spin on classic chicken salad. As a dietitian, I love to serve as a dip with crackers or chips at gatherings! It's also great to meal prep for easy lunches.
This chicken salad is a tasty combination of chicken, chopped spinach, apple, red onion, pecans, and cranberries. All mixed with a combo of cottage cheese & Greek yogurt to make it extra creamy and topped with lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil.
If you like chicken salad, you have to try my Green Goddess Chicken Salad, Buffalo Chicken Salad Dip, and Tuscan Chicken Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes! If you're looking for an option more similar to this one but with celery, my Healthy Chicken Salad is a great option!
Jump to:
- Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make Chicken Salad no Celery
- Dietitian Tip
- Variations of Chicken Salad No Celery
- How to Serve Chicken Salad no Celery
- Storage for Chicken Salad no Celery
- Expert Tips
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing with Chicken Salad No Celery
- Want to Learn About Nutrition?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This chicken salad (no celery) is made with simple ingredients. Below is the list of ingredients. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact salad ingredients and complete recipe.
- Rotisserie Chicken - as a shortcut for this quick recipe, I use store-bought rotisserie chicken and this is a great recipe to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. If you don't want to use pre-cooked chicken, you can cook your own and use either chicken thighs or boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cook it using your favorite method and then shred the chicken.
- Cottage Cheese - cottage cheese is a great way to add creaminess and extra protein and probiotics. I use whole-fat cottage cheese for this recipe and usually use Good Culture brand.
- Greek Yogurt - combined with cottage cheese, Greek yogurt replaces mayo typically used in chicken salads or chicken dips. Greek yogurt adds more nutrition and less saturated fats than mayo but still makes it extra creamy! I use whole milk Greek yogurt, but you can use any fat content you prefer like low fat or nonfat Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt adds more protein, calcium, and Vitamin D.
- Spinach - spinach pairs nicely with the other flavors in this recipe and adds green color for the holidays. It also adds dietary fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin K. I opt for baby spinach over mature spinach because it's a bit more tender and sweet.
- Apples - fresh apples add so much flavor and natural sweetness. They also provide vitamin C, antioxidants, and dietary fiber for gut health! I suggest using a crisp apple like Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp because they hold up well to cooking. You could also use a Fuji, Gala, or Golden Delicious. Green apples work here too!
- Red Onions - onion adds more flavor! You can use onion powder instead if you prefer. I personally love the crunch that red onion adds. Feel free to substitute with green onions!
- Dried Cranberries - I love adding a bit of sweetness to chicken salads and dried cranberries are perfect for the holiday season because they add some festive color, too. Dried cranberries do have added sugars. If you want to cut back on added sugars, feel free to use chopped dates instead.
- Pecans - chopped pecans provide crunch and holiday flavor.
- Lemon Juice - a little lemon juice brightens it up. Don't skip this ingredient because it makes a big difference.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - olive oil which helps everything stay moist and adds nutrition. Extra virgin olive oil is high in an Omega-9 fatty acid called oleic acid that is anti-inflammatory and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Garlic Powder - this is optional but I like to add it for the subtle garlic flavor it adds.
- Salt & Black Pepper - a bit of salt and pepper to tie all the flavors together.
- Optional ingredients if you want to kick it up a notch - fresh herbs like fresh parsley, basil, fresh dill or thyme, parmesan cheese or fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar, pine nuts, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, or lemon zest would all make great additions.
How to Make Chicken Salad no Celery
Below is a summary of the steps for how to make this recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Finely chop the spinach, shred the chicken, and chop the cranberries, apple, pecans, and red onion.
- Step 2: Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix it well so that everything is coated. Give it a taste and add more salt as needed.
Hint: If you prefer a more moist chicken salad, add more olive oil or lemon juice. If you like an extra creamy chicken salad, add more Greek yogurt or cottage cheese.
Dietitian Tip
A traditional chicken salad recipe is made with mayo or sour cream. I love replacing it with cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a "no mayo chicken salad" with a creamy dressing that is higher in protein and lower in saturated fats. It works great as a healthy holiday appetizer - just serve with a side of veggies or crackers!
Variations of Chicken Salad No Celery
The great thing about this Chicken Salad no Celery is you can customize it based on your preference. Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative!
- Spicy - add red pepper flakes to make it a bit spicy.
- Extra Veggies - mix in some chopped red peppers and cherry tomatoes for a great way to add more vegetables.
- Sweet - add red grapes and a squeeze of honey to sweeten this chicken salad up. Be sure to use seedless grapes!
How to Serve Chicken Salad no Celery
Once you have a batch of this chicken salad, there are so many different ways you can serve it! Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Chicken Salad Sandwich or Wrap - turn this chicken salad into a balanced healthy meal by serving it between two slices of sourdough or whole wheat bread with some extra greens.
- In Lettuce Wraps - if you're looking for a gluten-free option, serve this chicken salad recipe in fresh lettuce wraps. Romaine lettuce works great for this.
- Green Salad - add a couple of scoops on top of a green salad and add your favorite fresh vegetables and some balsamic vinaigrette on top!
- As a dip with crackers - my favorite way to serve this easy chicken salad recipe is in a bowl with a side of crackers at a party or gathering!
Storage for Chicken Salad no Celery
Refrigerator - store leftover Chicken Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use a chicken you like the flavor of since it will have an impact on the flavor of this chicken salad!
- For this recipe, I use chopped chicken. If you prefer shredded chicken, one of the easiest ways to shred chicken for chicken salads is to shred it in a food processor or with a hand mixer.
- For the best flavor, I suggest using fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice if possible.
- Give it a taste and adjust salt to taste. Depending on what kind of chicken you use, you may need a bit more salt!
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this chicken salad is a nutrient-rich option. Chicken is a high-quality lean protein and also provides other important nutrients including iron and vitamin B6. This recipe also contains extra virgin olive oil which has been shown to support brain health and hormone health. It also uses fresh ingredients like spinach and apples that contain antioxidants and several vitamins and minerals.
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe as long as the rotisserie chicken that you use is gluten-free.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing with Chicken Salad No Celery
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chicken Salad (no celery):
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Chicken Salad, No Celery (Chicken Dip Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken I use store-bought rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup spinach, finely chopped
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ a large apple, chopped about ¼ cup
- ¼ a red onion, chopped about ¼ cup
- ¼ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoon pecans, chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 large lemon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper more to taste
Instructions
- Finely chop the spinach, shred the chicken, and chop the cranberries, apple, pecans, and red onion.
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix it well so that everything is coated. Give it a taste and add more salt as needed.
Notes
- Be sure to use a chicken you like the flavor of since it will have an impact on the flavor of this chicken salad!
- For this recipe, I use chopped chicken. If you prefer shredded chicken, one of the easiest ways to shred chicken for chicken salads is to shred it in a food processor or with a hand mixer.
- For the best flavor, I suggest using fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice if possible.
- Give it a taste and adjust salt to taste. Depending on what kind of chicken you use, you may need a bit more salt!
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