High Protein Chicken Salad

Quick and delicious high-protein chicken salad ready in 10 minutes! This classic recipe uses creamy Greek yogurt for an extra protein boost and is loaded with fresh, flavorful ingredients. It’s an easy lunch or snack and perfect for meal prep!

While I’m certainly not short on high protein recipes for dinner, I struggle when it comes to lunch. I love eating leftovers, but with two growing kids that often eat more than I expect, sometimes I’m left hanging. And that is not a good look for me.

Enter: High protein chicken salad. She’s creamy, tangy, fresh, and satisfying. So much so that I actually now make this for meal prep on repeat! It’s easy to throw together, and one of the best ways to repurpose leftover chicken.

To give it a boost of protein, this healthier chicken salad is made with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. It contains over 24g of protein in one serving! Personally, I much prefer the creaminess, flavor, and tanginess of Greek yogurt in chicken salad. When paired with the sweetness of the grapes and the crunch of the pecans and celery, it’s a match made in heaven!

Ingredients

• Chicken: You can use leftover shredded chicken, or chicken that has been chopped into 1-inch pieces. I personally love using leftover rotisserie chicken for this recipe!
• Celery: This adds the perfect crunch and crisp flavor. I like to cut the stalk in half lengthwise, then slice crosswise into small pieces.
• Grapes: Any table grapes will work in this recipe. We go through grapes quite a bit in our house, so I often use whatever is on hand!
• Red onion: Make sure to dice the onion finely. It adds a nice peppery flavor and balances the sweetness of the grapes.
• Pecans: You can purchase whole pecans and roughly chop them with a knife or purchase chopped pecans.
• Greek yogurt: Chicken salad typically gets its creaminess from mayonnaise. When you make the simple swap to Greek yogurt in your chicken salad, you get all the creaminess and flavor while also adding a hefty dose of protein! And in my opinion, this healthier chicken salad recipe tastes even better than traditional recipes! It’s the best way to enjoy a little midday protein boost!
• Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. No juicer on hand? Try this cool lemon squeezing hack using tongs.
• Dijon mustard: This adds a hint of bold flavor and warm spiciness.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

Want to make this your own? Here are some quick and easy shifts you can make:

• Swap the onion – Not a fan of red onion? Swap it for green onion for a milder flavor.
• Make it thick and creamy – You can use 1/2 Greek yogurt and 1/2 mayonnaise in this recipe instead of just Greek yogurt.
• Use different nuts – Use sliced almonds or chopped walnuts instead of pecans.
• Change up the fruit – Swap the grapes for diced apple, or use raisins or dried cranberries instead.

How to Make High Protein Chicken Salad

1. Mix: In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, grapes, celery, red onion, pecans, and parsley.
2. Whisk: In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, parsley, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, garlic, and black pepper. 
3. Combine: Add the Greek yogurt dressing to the chicken mixture and fold everything together until combined. Taste and add salt or pepper if necessary.
4. Serve: Place in the fridge to chill. Serve with crackers, lettuce leaves, or on toast!

Recipe Tips

• Chill overnight. While it’s temping to eat it right away, it’s best to let your chicken salad chill overnight in the fridge. This improves the texture and lets all the flavors meld together.
• Use whole milk yogurt. If you like your high protein chicken salad extra creamy, use 4% Greek yogurt.
• Add more yogurt. Depending on the Greek yogurt you use, your chicken salad might have a thicker texture. Just add another tablespoon of Greek yogurt at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
• Take or leave the onion. I know people have strong feelings about onion. I’ve made this recipe with or without the onion. So, if you’re not a fan, leave it out!

FAQs

How to Enjoy Chicken Salad

The best this about healthier chicken salad? There are so many different ways to eat it! You can’t go wrong. While I prefer to eat it straight out of the bowl standing at the counter, it pairs well with many easy to grab items:

• Wrap it with lettuce. Perfectly crispy, crunchy, and flavorful! Just spoon it into large romaine lettuce leaves and wrap it up!
• Enjoy it on toast. The most popular way to consume it is on a piece of toast or as a sandwich. Eat it with the bread, or add some lettuce, tomato, onion, or bacon on top!
• Serve it with crackers. Use your favorite crackers to scoop it up! I like using baked crackers like almond flour crackers.
• Eat it with a spoon. My preferred method of consumption. Chicken salad is great on it’s own. I often use it as my main protein for lunch—it’s super delicious and satisfying!

More Protein Recipes

• High Protein Breakfast Burritos
• High Protein Mac and Cheese
• Protein Banana Muffins
• Chocolate Protein Pudding
• Protein Mug Cake

Recipe by: Noelle Tarr / Coconuts and Kettlebells | Photography by: Casey Colodny / The Mindful Hapa