Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe (No Mayo, Easy to Make)

chicken salad in a glass bowl with a towel in the background overhead view.

Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe (No Mayo, Easy to Make)

Mallory

This healthy Chicken Salad without Mayo is my go-to when I want a high protein lunch I can make in 10 minutes! It's a lighter take on traditional chicken salad, and trust me when I say the creamy Greek yogurt dressing with fresh lemon and Dijon add tons of flavor so you don't even miss the mayo! 😊

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Course lunch

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 195 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups cooked shredded chicken (280g)
2 stalks celery, chopped (about ½ cup chopped) = 60g
¼ cup red onion, chopped (about ¼ a red onion) = 30g
½ cup grapes, quartered
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoon walnuts, chopped (or nut of choice) = 15g

For Dressing

½ cup Greek yogurt (I use nonfat) = ~120g
1-2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (start with 1 tablespoon and add to taste up to 2) = 15-30g
1 large lemon, juiced (about 3.5 Tbsp) = 30ml
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper (more to taste)

Instructions

Shred or chop the chicken, celery, red onion, grapes, walnuts, and parsley.
Whisk together the dressing ingredients in the bottom of a large bowl.
Add the chicken and other ingredients and toss everything together. Give it a taste and add more salt as needed.
Hint: to make shredding the chicken easy, pulse it a few times in a food processor.

Video

Notes

Expert Tips

Be sure to season your chicken with salt & pepper when cooking it. If the chicken itself isn't seasoned, the chicken salad won't be as delicious. Sometimes I use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save time.
Chop everything into relatively small pieces so you get a little of everything in each bite.
Wait about 5 minutes after mixing everything then give it a taste and add salt if needed.

Meal Prep and Storage

Meal Prep - chop the chicken and veggies ahead of time and make the dressing. That way everything is ready to throw together at lunchtime.
Refrigerator - store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

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. And healthy recipes that taste great are key to making mealtime truly enjoyable. This healthy chicken salad is an easy way to take an ingredient that can be kinda boring (chicken breasts) and make it way more exciting.

For more nutrition information and tips, visit mallorythedietitian.com. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! 😊

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5 cup (heaping)Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 15gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 930mgPotassium: 200mgFiber: 1g

Keyword 10 minutes or less, gluten free, high-protein, no added sugars

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!