Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe

If you’re looking for a few healthy recipes to get you through the week, you’ll love this healthy chicken salad recipe with no mayonnaise! 

The Greek yogurt dressing gives it a lighter feel, and you’ll love the addition of mango chutney, garam masala, nuts, and dried fruits for both flavor and crunch.

For more healthy salad ideas, try my Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Broccoli Salad with Raisins, Roasted Butter Nut Squash with Kale and Quinoa Salad, or my Shrimp Salad spooned over half an avocado.

The Ingredients:

• Bone-In, Skin-on Chicken: I prefer skin-on, bone-in chicken for chicken salad recipes because it keeps the chicken moist and juicy. Roast an extra chicken breast or two, and you can meal prep for my Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup at the same time. A great, healthy dinner idea to last throughout the week. 
• Non-Fat Greek Yogurt: Using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise makes this recipe much lighter than a traditional chicken salad, and you won’t miss the mayo! Thanks to all the unique flavors that you’ll add to it. My theory is if you don’t add fat, then add flavor! Save some yogurt to pair with my delicious Homemade Granola Recipe. 
• Mango Chutney: This may seem like a strange addition for chicken salad, since most recipes rely on Dijon Mustard for the “kick,” but trust me on this one! Mango chutney offers many delicious flavors and pairs well with yogurt, lime, and cilantro. You’ll see both Mango Chutney and Major Grey’s Mango Chutney. Either will work. Major Grey’s, named for a British officer, has the addition of lime juice and raisins.
• Garam Masala: is a delicious blend of ground spices used in a lot of Indian cooking. It has a warming flavor profile that pairs well with Greek yogurt and lime juice. You can also try it in my Vegetarian Pot Pie with Roasted Root Vegetables recipe. 
• Salt and Freshly Cracked Pepper to spike all the flavors
• Zest and Juice of a Lime: The lime brightens up this salad and balances out the sweetness of the mango chutney
• Fresh Cilantro: adds a wonderful freshness to the salad and pairs beautifully with the mango chutney and yogurt. It’s a similar combination I use in one of my dipping sauces for my Mixed Grilled Dinner. 
• Raisins and golden raisins: I really love to use the combination of both since they each impart a slightly different texture and flavor. 
• Pistachios: My preference is always raw or unsalted roasted pistachios but sometimes it can be hard to find pistachios already shelled. In that case, chopped pecans or almonds are a suitable alternative. 
• Apple Select an apple on the sweet side that is not too tart. I like to use a Gala apple or a pink lady apple. 
• Arugula You really can use any green you like as a bed for this salad. I like to use arugula because its slightly bitter flavor pairs well with the sweetness and spices in the chicken salad. 
• Whole-wheat pita: You can also serve this chicken salad as a healthy chicken salad sandwich by placing it in a whole-wheat pita pocket with greens. Add a bowl of my Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup and you’d have a delicious lunch. 

Step#1: Roast The Chicken

• Buy your chicken skin-on, bone-in for a chicken salad that will be moist and tender. It’s a technique I use whenever I need chicken in a recipe, such as my Chicken Tortellini Soup or my Chicken and Mushroom Pie.
• You’ll then shred the chicken off the bone with two forks. You can shred your chicken the day before you plan to serve the salad; keep it intact in the refrigerator. This will prevent it from drying out.
• Then shred the chicken right before assembling the salad. 
• You could also use store-bought rotisserie chicken and skip the step of roasting the chicken.

Step#2: Mix the Dressing

• What makes this chicken salad healthier than traditional chicken salad is the fact that it contains no mayonnaise. Instead, it gets its creaminess from plain Greek Yogurt.
• Just be sure when you buy the yogurt that it’s marked “plain” and not “vanilla”; they are usually sold next to each other and can be easy to mix up! 

Add Flavor with Mango Chutney

Another thing you’ll love about this chicken salad recipe is the unexpected flavors. I like to add mango chutney for a bit of tart sweetness that balances out the lime juice. It makes what could be a bland chicken salad a flavor sensation! 

Add Spices to Wake Up The Taste Buds

• Another thing that gives this salad a great flavor profile is Garam Masala.
• Garam Masala is a popular spice blend originating from South Asia that includes warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, and coriander, among others. 
• When combined with the mango chutney, it gives this chicken salad a subtle Indian flavor profile, which is delicious!
• Spices are a great way to enhance the flavor of the chicken salad without adding extra calories. 

Step#3: Add the Fruits and Nuts

• The hallmark of a great chicken salad is the mix-ins. In my opinion, chicken salad needs more crunch and chew to be more interesting. 
• I know most recipes call for celery for crunch, but I prefer green apples and nuts instead. If you don’t like the tartness of the apple, you could add more sweetness by using red seedless grapes.
• For dried fruits, I add both golden and traditional raisins for a wonderful sweet chewiness. But you could also add cranberries or dried apricots, too. 

Pistachios Add Crunch and Interest

• Pistachios are a great option for a nut that pairs well with the flavors of the mango chutney and the Garam Masala. But chopped raw walnuts or cashews would also be a great addition too.
• Use the raw unsalted pistachios for the healthiest choice
• If your regular supermarket doesn’t sell shelled pistachios, you can usually buy them in bulk in the Middle Eastern grocery stores. 

Serving Suggestions

• You can serve this salad in a whole-wheat pita and eat it as a sandwich.
• Or spoon the salad over healthy, nutrient-dense greens such as arugula, baby spinach, or baby Swiss chard, for a more nutritious punch.  

A Great Lunch Salad For Hot Weather Entertaining

• This is a wonderful salad to take on a picnic or serve as a main course for a summer lunch party. It looks very pretty when spooned over the greens,
• Serve a chilled soup as a starter: Such as my Cream of Broccoli, Carrot-Ginger, and Red Pepper-Tomato soup,  these soups all make for great chilled soups as well in the summertime.