Chicken salad recipes are possibly the easiest and fastest brown bag lunches you can pack — not to mention, they’re loaded in protein! Add a little mayo or Greek yogurt to chicken, veggies and some fruit, and — boom! — you’re ready to go! For a lower-calorie option, substitute whole-wheat bread with lettuce. Optimize your leftover chicken with these 7 simple chicken salad recipes.
1. High-Protein Chicken Salad | MyFitnessPal’s Original Recipes
If you have rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breast, make this high-protein chicken salad as an easy lunch option. Lean shredded chicken is combined with creamy yogurt, crisp apples and sweet grapes for a tasty, tangy combo. Serve between 100% whole-grain bread, and you have a satisfying, packable lunch. If you’d rather go low-carb, you can sub in a side salad for the bread. Recipe makes 6 servings at 1 sandwich each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 364; Total Fat: 6g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 65mg; Sodium: 412mg; Carbohydrate: 44g; Dietary Fiber: 7g; Sugar: 10g; Protein: 34g
2. Greek Yogurt Curry Chicken Salad | 24 Carrot Life
Ever feel grossed out about the amount of mayonnaise in store-bought chicken salad? Avoid it and lighten up your chicken salad by using Greek yogurt instead! For a healthy, creative twist, try this curry-licious version by 24 Carrot Life. Recipe makes 5 servings at 1 wrap each.
Nutrition (per serving with 1 large low-carb whole wheat tortilla): Calories: 306; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 68mg; Sodium: 524mg; Carbohydrate: 39g; Dietary Fiber: 16g; Sugar: 11g; Protein: 33g
3. Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich | The Healthy Maven
This Buffalo chicken salad makes for one heckuva sandwich filling — spicy, tangy and full of protein-packed chicken breast. For a lower-carb option, substitute celery sticks for the bread. Recipe makes 4 servings at 1 sandwich each.
Nutrition (per serving with 2 slices of whole wheat bread): Calories: 249; Total Fat: 8g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 3g; Cholesterol: 40mg; Sodium: 501mg; Carbohydrate: 30g; Dietary Fiber: 4g; Sugar: 12g; Protein: 19g
4. Guacamole Chicken Salad | POPSUGAR
This mayo-free chicken salad recipe is another one for you mayonnaise haters out there. Creamy, ripe avocados mashed with zesty lime juice, spicy chili peppers and crunchy onion add creaminess and more. Recipe makes 3 servings at 3 lettuce wraps each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 230; Total Fat: 16g; Saturated Fat: 8g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 48mg; Sodium: 448mg; Carbohydrate: 11g; Dietary Fiber: 7g; Sugar: 2g; Protein: 20g
5. Thai Peanut Chicken Salad | Fit Foodie Finds
Go nuts for this Thai-inspired chicken salad. Peanut butter and Greek yogurt make this dish creamier and more nutritious than mayonnaise ever could! Add sriracha for a touch of heat. Recipe makes 8 servings at 2 cabbage wraps each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 296; Total Fat: 18g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 5g; Cholesterol: 42mg; Sodium: 150mg; Carbohydrate: 15g; Dietary Fiber: 5g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 28g
6. Tzatziki Chicken Salad | Clean Eating
For its base, this chicken salad highlights the classic Greek sauce made of yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice and dill. Tzatziki sauce is garlicky, herby and tangy — a healthier and more flavorful alternative to mayo. Serve with crunchy, salty pita chips for a savory snack or atop a green salad for a complete meal. Recipe makes 4 servings at 2/3 cup salad and 1/2 cup chips each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 229; Total Fat: 6g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 39mg; Sodium: 329mg; Carbohydrate: 19g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 3g; Protein: 26g
7. Super Simple Hummus Chicken Salad | Kim’s Cravings
Wraps are the perfect on-the-go lunches — and they’re even better when you can whip them up in only five minutes. This simple and versatile hummus chicken salad wrap uses only three ingredients: tender chicken, creamy hummus and a fiber-packed whole-wheat tortilla! Keep things exciting with a new hummus variety each week, or swap out the tortilla for crackers, a bed of greens or sandwich bread. Recipe makes 3 servings at 1/2 cup chicken and 1 tortilla each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 225; Total Fat: 8g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 40mg; Sodium: 370mg; Carbohydrate: 20g; Dietary Fiber: 4g; Sugar: 1g; Protein: 21g
