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The Best Healthy Chicken Salad

March 16, 2021 by Emily 3 Comments

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This healthy chicken salad will be the highlight of your next bbq, picnic in spring/summer or just another great lunch option. With several add-ins, this creamy delight is flavorful, healthy and comes together easily.

Chicken salad is one of my favorite types of salads on a spring or summer day. This is also a great dish to bring everyone together. While it’s good year round, I love it during this time of year. It is very simple to make and you can add or subtract any of the add in ingredients. Add-in ingredients would be fruits and nuts. Chicken salad can be dressed up with more ingredients or as simple as just chicken, mayo and celery. This version is made with my homemade mayo, apples, cherries and pecans.

Ingredients for the best healthy chicken salad

  • Shredded chicken
  • Celery
  • Mayo
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Pecans
  • Pepper
  • Salt

Easiest way to shred chicken

The easiest way to shred chicken is with a hand-held blender. Place pieces of chicken in a bowl and with a hand-held blender, blend until shredded.

How to make

Prep all ingredients. Shred chicken with hand-held blender and cut up fruit and vegetables.

Place all ingredients in large bowl and stir together until combined fully.

Substitutions + Variations

Chicken salad is a wonderful dish to play around with. You can truly customize it to your liking.

  • Fruits- cherries, apples, grapes, raisins, cranberries
  • Vegetables- onions, green onions, celery, chives, peppers
  • Nuts- cashews, peanuts, walnuts, pecans
  • Protein- hard boiled eggs

Serving Suggestions

  • Lettuce cups (see below)
  • Bed of lettuce or spinach
  • On sandwich bread or croissant
  • Crackers
  • Raw Vegetables

Can I store in the refrigerator?

Yes, store in an airtight sealed container for 3-4 days. Be sure to refrigerate leftovers as soon as you are finished to maintain freshness.

Can I freeze chicken salad?

I would not recommend freezing anything with mayo. Mayo just doesn’t freeze well even in a dish.

Ingredient Spotlight- Cherries

Cherries hold a lot of health benefits. Here are a few:

  • Prevents cardiovascular disease- cherries are one of the most heart healthy foods. They contain anthocyanins which are antioxidants that help regulate high blood pressure and combat bad cholesterol levels.
  • Nutrient dense- cherries are a great source at vitamins B & C along with being rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals.
  • Body Ph balance- cherries are alkaline so they help balance out the Ph in the body. Many foods we eat are acidic causing indigestion.
  • Healthy sleep- cherries naturally contain melatonin which is the hormone that regulates sleep. Having trouble falling asleep? Try a few cherries before bed.
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THE BEST HEALTHY CHICKEN SALAD


  • Author: Emily
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

This healthy chicken salad will be the highlight of your next bbq, picnic in spring/summer or just another great lunch option. With several add-ins, this creamy delight is flavorful, healthy and comes together easily.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • 1 cup mayo or homemade mayo
  • 1/2 cup cherries
  • 1/2 cup pecans
  • 2 celery stalks (chopped)
  • 1 apple (diced)
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Prep chicken by using a hand held immersion blender to shred chicken. Set aside.
  2. Prep celery and apples by dicing and chopping into 1 inch pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together.
  4. Enjoy over lettuce wraps, sandwich bread or over a bed of lettuce.

Notes

  • Check out the blog post for mix-in substitutions and variations.
  • Shredded chicken breast are the best to use for chicken salad. 
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Countertop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: healthy chicken salad, chicken salad,

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @emilyswholesomekitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #emilyswholesomekitchen

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Filed Under: Appetizers and Snacks, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, Main Dishes, Whole 30 Tagged With: chicken salad, dairy free, gluten free, healthy chicken salad, kid friendly, paleo, shredded chicken, whole 30

Previous Post: « How to Make Easy Homemade Mayo
Next Post: How to Make the Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Genie

    March 16, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    Looks good! Will have to give it a try.

    Reply
    • Emily

      March 17, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      Awesome! Let me know how you like it.

      Reply
    • Emily

      March 17, 2021 at 3:54 pm

      Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

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I'm so happy you are here! I'm Emily the photographer, recipe developer and content creator behind Emily's Wholesome Kitchen. Here you will find healthy, simple real food based recipes that are wholesome, nourishing and flavorful. I also share tips and ways to live a more natural lifestyle when it comes to wellness from inside the kitchen. Let's get cookin'. Learn more about me here

Emily: View My Blog Posts

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