Description
Creamy Southern-style chicken salad blends tender shredded chicken with crisp celery and a tangy mayonnaise dressing. Classic comfort meets fresh flavors in this irresistible lunch favorite you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups (480 ml) cooked chicken, shredded or diced
Fruits and Vegetables:
- ½ cup (120 ml) celery, diced
- ½ cup (120 ml) red grapes, halved
Nuts and Dairy Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 ml) almonds, sliced or chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml) Greek yogurt or light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish (Optional):
- Fresh dill or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Shred the tender roasted chicken into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform texture and easy consumption.
- Finely dice crisp celery stalks to add a refreshing crunch and subtle herbaceous note to the salad.
- Halve sweet red or green grapes to distribute their juicy burst throughout the mixture, creating delightful flavor pockets.
- Roughly chop raw almonds to introduce a satisfying nutty crunch and additional protein to the dish.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine smooth Greek yogurt (170 grams or ), freshly squeezed lemon juice (30 milliliters or ), and tangy Dijon mustard (15 milliliters or ).
- Season the creamy dressing with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Gently fold the prepared dressing into the chicken mixture, ensuring each ingredient is evenly coated and distributed.
- Refrigerate the salad for 45-60 minutes to allow flavors to meld and develop a harmonious taste.
- Before serving, garnish with delicate fresh dill or chopped parsley for a vibrant and aromatic finishing touch.
Notes
- Cool this salad down completely before storing to maintain crisp textures and prevent soggy ingredients.
- Swap Greek yogurt with mayonnaise if preferred, keeping the tangy flavor profile intact.
- Fresh chicken works best when shredded or diced into consistent, bite-sized pieces for even coating.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Consider toasting almonds beforehand to enhance their nutty, rich flavor and add extra crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 80mg