This Chicken Salad without Mayo comes together in just 10 minutes and is a lighter take on traditional chicken salad. It might just be your new favorite way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken!
As a dietitian, I love incorporating nutrient-rich ingredients to add flavor to meals. Replacing the mayo typically found in classic chicken salad with a combination of Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, and Dijon mustard is a great way to add flavor, protein, calcium, probiotics for gut health, and vitamin C for immunity.
Make this no mayo chicken salad as an easy meal prep option for a quick lunch or a high protein dinner during the week. And I certainly won't judge if you have it as a snack! 😊
If you're looking for more chicken salads that don't use mayo, try my Herby Green Goddess Chicken Salad, 10 minute Tuscan Chicken Salad, or Buffalo Chicken Salad. It pairs great with a Cucumber and Pepper Salad or Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Sourdough Croutons.
Jump to:
- Video of How to Make Chicken Salad without Mayo
- Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make Chicken Salad Without Mayo
- Variations of Chicken Salad without Mayo
- How to Serve Healthy Chicken Salad
- Storage for Creamy Chicken Salad
- Expert Advice
- Dietitian tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing
- Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Video of How to Make Chicken Salad without Mayo
Here's a 45 second video of how to make this Rotisserie Chicken Salad Recipe that I hope is helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
*This Easy Chicken Salad without Mayo Recipe is made with a handful of ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Chicken - I use store-bought rotisserie chicken for this recipe. Feel free to use cooked chicken breasts or leftover chicken from the night before. Lean chicken adds protein and vitamin B12 to this healthy meal.
- Celery - Celery adds crunch and fiber for a healthy gut. Feel free to leave it out or substitute it with different crunchy veggies like English or Persian cucumber, bell pepper, or snap peas. If you don't like veggies, sweet apples would work to add crunch instead.
- Shallot - To add a hint of delicate peppery taste. If you prefer a stronger onion flavor, replace the shallot with red onion.
- Parsley - Fresh parsley adds so much flavor to chicken salad and it also adds antioxidants. Win-win! If you don't like parsley, feel free to substitute it with different fresh herbs or leave it out. Dill, oregano, or fresh cilantro would work well here.
- Walnuts - Walnuts add an earthy flavor and texture complexity. They also add heart-healthy fats and according to the California Walnut Board, walnuts are an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids and have the most ALA of any other tree nut. This makes walnuts a great option to support brain health. Feel free to use a different nut or seed or leave it out if you prefer. Pecans, sliced almonds, pine nuts, or pumpkin seeds work well here.
- Medjool Dates - I use dates in place of dried cranberries which are used in many chicken salad recipes. Chopped Medjool dates are a natural sweetener and also add extra fiber, potassium, iron, Vitamin B6, and magnesium
- Green Olives - for a touch of a salty, briny taste. I love using green manzanilla olives and use DeLallo brand, but you could also use kalamata olives or black olives. If you don't like olives, simply leave them out or use pickles instead for the same salt component.
- Greek Yogurt - I use nonfat Greek yogurt and like Chobani brand, but you can use any fat content you prefer like low fat or whole milk Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt adds more protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. It gives this chicken salad a creamy consistency. If you don't like the flavor of plain Greek yogurt, feel free to substitute it with cottage cheese or sour cream.
- Dijon Mustard - A little bit of dijon is my favorite way to add some tang and spice to this light dinner! Feel free to leave it out if you want.
- Lemon Juice - A little squeeze of lemon juice adds citric acid which helps brighten the flavor. It also adds vitamin C for your immune system. If you prefer, substitute with lime juice instead.
- Garlic Powder - I prefer using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic here because it's a bit more concentrated and a little goes a long way.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper - a pinch of salt and pepper ties all the flavors together.
How to Make Chicken Salad Without Mayo
*Below are the instructions for how to make this Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad without Mayo 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 - Shred chicken and chop the celery, shallot, parsley, dates, and walnuts.
- Step 2 - In a large bowl, combine ingredients and mix well. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Hint: I suggest finely chopping everything except the chicken into very small pieces for this recipe.
Variations of Chicken Salad without Mayo
The great thing about Chicken Salad is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas but feel free to get creative.
- Creamy Avocado Chicken Salad - add creaminess, extra fiber, and potassium by mixing in half of a mashed avocado. Ripe avocados make a great addition to add extra flavor too.
- Fancy - Brighten up this recipe even more by adding a tablespoon or two of zippy apple cider vinegar and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Top it with green onion or fresh dill.
- Dairy Free - make this recipe dairy-free by replacing greek yogurt with your favorite plant-based yogurt. Coconut yogurt, cashew yogurt, or almond milk yogurt would all work here.
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes or sriracha to the mix if you like your chicken salad on the spicy side.
How to Serve Healthy Chicken Salad
- Chicken Salad Sandwich - Add a couple of scoops to your favorite bread and add romaine lettuce + sliced tomatoes or your own favorite sandwich fillings.
- With Your Favorite Crackers or Chips - In my opinion, the best way to eat this mayo-free chicken salad is with my favorite seed crackers from Mary's Gone Crackers or Wasa Crispbread.
- Lettuce Wrap or on a Bed of Greens - The perfect way to serve this creamy salad if you are following a low carb eating pattern.
Storage for Creamy Chicken Salad
Refrigerator - store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Advice
- Be sure to use chicken that you like the flavor of! Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken with great flavor to save time.
- Give it a taste and if you prefer a creamier chicken salad, add more Greek yogurt and Dijon to taste.
- Serve with crackers or on your favorite bread as a sandwich. I love having it with Mary's Gone Crackers or Wasa Crispbread.
Dietitian tip
It seems basic, but it's so easy to forget that when it comes to sticking with healthy eating, having easy lunches like protein salads meal prepped and ready to go is so helpful. Especially on busy days. And healthy recipes that taste great are key to making mealtime truly enjoyable!
Replacing ingredients that are high in saturated fat like mayo with nutrient-rich ingredients like Greek yogurt doesn't just add nutrition, it adds fresh flavor and creaminess too. Use rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even easier.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this Chicken Salad is a nourishing option. It contains lean proteins from the chicken, calcium from the Greek yogurt, and other nutrients including antioxidants, vitamins C and B6, and magnesium from the additional ingredients. Walnuts add ALAs and Omega-3s that support brain health and dates and celery add dietary fiber for a healthy gut.
Nope! You can use any chicken you prefer. If you want get fresh chicken breasts and cook them using your preferred cooking method, that would be great too. Here's a recipe for Baked Chicken and one for Boiled Chicken Breast.
Great question! Stick your dates in the freezer for about 15 minutes before chopping. This will prevent them from being as sticky.
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe.
I suggest using fresh parsley if it's accessible. If not, feel free to replace fresh parsley in this recipe with 1 tablespoon of dried parsley.
Related
Looking for similar dietitian recipes? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Rotisserie Chicken Salad without Mayo:
Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe (No Mayo, Easy to Make)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken (280g), I use store-bought rotisserie chicken
- 2 stalks celery (60g), about ½ cup chopped
- 1 shallot (30g), or ¼ red onion
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (5g), about 2 tablespoon chopped
- 2 tablespoon walnuts, chopped (15g)
- 2 Medjool dates, chopped (25g), about 2 tablespoon chopped
- 5 green olives, optional (8g) about 1 tablespoon chopped
For Dressing
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (~120g), I use nonfat but use any you prefer
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (30g)
- juice of 1 lemon (30ml), about 2 Tbsp
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt more to taste
- ⅕ teaspoon black pepper more to taste
Instructions
- Shred chicken and chop the celery, shallot, parsley, dates, and walnuts.
- In a large bowl, combine ingredients for salad and dressing and mix well. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
- I suggest finely chopping everything except the chicken into very small pieces for this recipe
- Be sure to use chicken that you like the flavor of. Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken with great flavor will save you time.
- Give it a taste and if you prefer a creamier chicken salad, add more Greek yogurt and Dijon to taste.
- Serve with crackers or on your favorite bread as a sandwich. I love having it with Mary's Gone Crackers seed crackers or Wasa Crispbread.
Sharon Brown
Now my favorite chicken salad
Mallory
Yay!! I'm so happy you loved it! 😊 It's the best with our favorite Sprouts chicken so I'll have to bring you some next time I come visit you and dad.