Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe No Mayo

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Ingredient Notes & Substitutions:

A Healthy No-Mayo Chicken Salad Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish
  • Chicken: You can cook chicken right before making the salad or use leftover rotisserie chicken for a 30-minute recipe.
  • Yogurt: I like to use full-fat Greek yogurt in this recipe but for more of a Skinny Chicken Salad with Greek yogurt, simply use fat-free or non-fat yogurt instead of whole milk.
  • Fresh herbs: I use a combination of fresh dill and fresh chives but you can use fresh parsley or even fresh mint if you like.
  • Not a fan of grapes? If you prefer your yogurt chicken salad without grapes, simply omit using them.
  • Want to make a chicken salad with no fruit? Replace the apple and grapes with an equal amount of diced fennel and cucumber for a bright, crisp flavor.
  • For a sweeter, fruitier salad, use Honeycrisp or Gala apples. For a tart, crisp chicken salad, use Granny Smith apples instead.
  • Make a shredded chicken salad recipe with Greek yogurt by replacing the cubed chicken with an equal amount of shredded chicken. Just note it will be softer in texture.

Why Make This Recipe

  • No mayo: If youre not a big fan of mayo, this recipe will be right up your alley! This creamy chicken salad is completely mayo-free, and I promise, you wont even miss it!
  • Nutritious: Loaded with protein, healthy fats from the nuts, and fibre, vitamins and minerals from the apple and cranberries, this salad is a nutrient-dense option that will keep you feeling satisfied for hours.
  • Quick and easy: If you make a batch of the cashew cream sauce ahead of time and have some left over chicken to use up in the fridge, all you have to do is mix everything together and serve!

Nutrition Benefits Of Healthy Chicken Salad

Chicken is full of protein along with many vitamins and minerals like Niacin important for normal cell growth and function, Vitamin B6 supports your nervous system, Pantothenic Acid helps your body break down carbs, fat & protein, Magnesium.

Cottage cheese is high in Vitamin B12, Riboflavin, Phosphorous, and Selenium.

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Creamy And Packed With Fresh Flavors This Healthy Chicken Salad No Mayo Recipe Cuts Back On Calories And Fat But Not On Flavor

Chicken salad is a great anytime meal. Its made with convenient ingredients, is satisfying and versatile, and is of course, flavorful. But creamy chicken salads can also be laden with unnecessary fat and calories thanks to one particular ingredientmayo. Mayonnaise is a key ingredient in most chicken salads, and for good reasonits delicious! But with a few swaps you can easily replicate its function in chicken salad without the unwanted extra calories.

This chicken salad no mayo recipe utilizes regular nonfat plain yogurt, but for an added boost of protein, you can also use Greek yogurt. For a summery option, check out this yogurt-based chicken salad made with cantaloupe. Or check out our Buffalo Chicken Salad for creamy salad anytime.

Now, lets whip up a healthy chicken salad recipe.

Here Are A Few More Healthy Chicken Salad Recipes

10 Best Healthy Chicken Salad No Mayo Recipes

It wasnt until my trip with Stonyfield Yogurt to organic farms in Northern Vermont when my eyes really opened. On my trip, I was introduced to the organic process of dairy farming. I was so inspired by the farmers and quality of ingredients, I had to come up with a super healthy recipe where Organic Greek Yogurt was the star. Thats where this healthy chicken salad with Greek yogurt came in.

Below are a few other healthy chicken salads that you might also like:

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What Is A Good Substitute For Mayo In Chicken Salad

A good substitute for mayo in chicken salad is greek yogurt. It is just as creamy and has a similar texture, but is much healthier for you.

If mayonnaise alternatives are used in chicken salad, they can both change its flavor and texture. Replace mayonnaise with low-fat or nonfat yogurt to reduce fat and create a tangy flavor. If you want a creamy, rich dish, substitute whipped cream cheese for mayonnaise. You can make a homemade vegetable dip that will replace all of the seasonings in your recipe.

Other Flavor Ideas For Thm Chicken Salad

  • add in some finely diced jicama for a little crunch
  • substitute the grapes for diced apples
  • use smoked chicken for a different flavor
  • use leftover turkey in place of the chicken
  • try adding curry powder or curry paste to the dressing for an easy curried chicken salad recipe!
  • add green onion or other fresh veggies
  • add garlic powder for more flavor
  • add lemon juice for a bright flavor
  • add dijon mustard for a little zing
  • substitute greek yogurt with dairy-free yogurt
  • add fresh parsley, fresh dill, or other fresh herbs for another pop of color

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Healthy Chicken Salad Ingredients

  • Rotisseriechicken: I like using rotisserie chicken because it makes the prep so fast and the chicken is already well seasoned.
  • Driedcranberries: Cranberries add a delicious sweetness and different texture. Dried cherries or cherry-juice-infused dried cranberries are also amazing in this recipe.
  • Celery: Chop into small pieces for a more-even dispersion the celery adds a nice crunchy texture.
  • Slicedalmonds: Again, a great textural ingredient. You can toast the almonds, but since this is a quick and easy recipe, I dont usually bother.
  • Seedless grapes: Red or green work equally well, but I prefer red for color. Make sure to get ripe, flavorful grapes for this healthy salad.
  • Poppy seeds: This is an optional ingredient they add a nice flavor and crunch.
  • Lemon juice: A little bit of lemon in the dressing adds a nice freshness and a very subtle tang to the salad.
  • Ranchdressing: Its the secret ingredient of this healthy chicken salad! More on this below.

Avocado Chicken Salad: A Healthy No

Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad (No Mayo Chicken Salad!)

An easy, healthy and delicious avocado chicken salad with just 5 ingredients and no mayonnaise or dairy products. Avocado, chicken breast, red grapes, and nuts make a creamy and flavorful chicken salad with a hint of sweetness and a little crunch. Season with some salt and pepper and little lemon juice for a simple but crowd-pleasing lunch.

This post may contain affiliate links.

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Why We Love This Classic Tuna Melt

  • Quick And Easy! This simple recipe takes just 15-minutes to make! The tuna salad comes together in no time and once the sandwiches are in the oven you are done!
  • Healthy Option! Tuna canned in water is low in fat, low in calories, and an affordable option that is high in protein and vitamin B12.
  • Perfect Lunch or Dinner! Tuna melt sandwiches are really versatile and can be served for lunch with a bag of chips or for dinner with a bowl of soup.

How To Make Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

  • If you havent already, cook the chicken breasts for the salad. The chicken should be completely cool before adding it to the other Greek yogurt chicken salad ingredients.
  • Then get all of your ingredients together. This recipe comes together fast when everything is ready to go.
  • Use a large bowll to mix the mashed avocado, greek yogurt, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Doing this step first helps blend the avocado and greek yogurt to get a creamy consistency. I also like to taste seasoning before adding the chicken and other ingredients.
  • Add chicken, red onion, and celery to the avocado mixture and stir until all ingredients are combined.
  • Squeeze the lime juice into the chicken mixture. Give it a taste, squeeze in the rest of the lime if neededtaste for salt and pepper.

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About No Mayo Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad is a fabulous thing to have on hand because it’s high in protein, incredibly tasty, and quite versatile. This is a healthier version of the deli classic because it is made without mayo.

Many chicken salads made without mayo use yogurt. However, I have a really hard time with this because I think the yogurt gives the chicken salad a weird tanginess.

Some people claim that making chicken salad with yogurt tastes “just as good” as when you use mayonnaise. Frankly, I find that offensive because I have taste buds, and yogurt & mayonnaise do not taste the same.

So instead of using yogurt for the mayo-replacement, use cottage cheese in place of the mayo. The cottage cheese adds no flavor and does an excellent job at binding together the chicken salad.

As the name implies, this is a chicken salad made without mayo. This Chicken Salad recipe is your standard chicken salad with celery and onions, letting the chicken shine through.

Instead of using mayonnaise, you blend cottage cheese to use as a binder. The cottage cheese has a neutral flavor and simply holds together the chicken salad. It does not give any taste or strange texture to the chicken salad. Pinky promise.

While I love yogurt in smoothies, mashed potatoes, king cake, dips, snacks, and more, I don’t think yogurt can completely replace mayonnaise which has a much more neutral flavor compared to the tangier taste of yogurt.

How To Make A Creamy Chicken Saladno Mayo Needed

No

This recipe serves eight, but keeps in the refrigerator for five dayshello, work lunches!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced lemon zest
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • ½ cup thinly sliced celery
  • ¼ cup chopped scallions
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds

1. Make the dressing.

To make this chicken salad recipe, start by whisking together the sauce ingredients in a large bowl. Add the yogurt, lemon juice, oil, Dijon, zest, salt, black pepper, and cayenne to a large bowl and combine.

2. Shred the chicken.

Utilize leftover cooked chicken, or stop by the store on your way home and grab a rotisserie chicken, to cut down on prep time for this recipe. Use two forks to shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces, then toss into the bowl with the dressing.

3. Get chopping.

With any chicken salad, theres a bit of chopping involved. Luckily for no mayo recipe, we kept the knife work to a minimum. Thinly slice two ribs of celery and roughly chop scallions and parsley, add all three to bowl with dressing and chicken.

4. Personalize it.

Heres where you can make this recipe your own. To keep it classic, we added raisins and sliced almonds, but you can use whatever dried or fresh fruit you prefer as well as whatever nuts you have on hand.

5. Serve it up!

Serve this creamy, no-mayo chicken salad between toasted slices of sandwich bread, on a croissant, in a wrap or spooned into lettuce cups.

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What Goes Well With No Mayo Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad can be served as a snack or appetizer with some sliced veggies or crackers, on a bed of lettuce for a light lunch, or spread between some bread for a more substantial meal. You can also make Cucumber Chicken Salad Bites or a Chicken Salad Grilled Cheese.

Final thoughts:

I can’t say enough good things about this Chicken Salad, and while I probably shouldn’t toot my own horn so much, I don’t care because this stuff is so amazing! Make it NOW! You’ll wonder how you spent so much of your life without it, and you’ll never want to wait long before making it again.

MORE CHICKEN SALAD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:

Can I Substitute Mayonnaise For Yogurt

Because mayonnaise lacks acidity, it is not an excellent substitute for yogurt. When a recipe calls for it, a yogurt-based sauce is created to account for the acid in the yogurt. When you substitute mayonnaise, you lose the ability to have the acid react with the leavener .

Tuna Salad Without The Guilt

A Greek yogurt substitute is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to mayonnaise. Greek yogurt contains a high fat content that is both high quality and healthy. As a result, it is a good choice for tuna salad because it is creamy and has a similar flavor profile to mayonnaise.

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Healthy Easy And Delicious

Avocado, chicken breast, red grapes, and nuts make a creamy and flavorful chicken salad with a hint of sweetness and a little crunch. Just season with some salt and pepper and little lemon juice for a simple but crowd-pleasing lunch.

Serve it as a sandwich on whole grain bread for a balanced meal with complex carbs. Or serve it over a bed of greens for a low carb, high protein salad with tons of fiber that doesnt require any dressing.

With 22 grams of protein and 11 grams of healthy fats, its sure to keep you satisfied for hours!

Reasons Youll Love This Recipe

Quick And Healthy Chicken Sandwich- NO MAYONNAISE | Healthy Chicken Sandwich Recipe For Weight Loss
  • Low fat and low cholesterol. Swapping in Greek yogurt for mayo makes this a hearty, healthy chicken salad recipe.
  • High protein. Depending on the brand, ½ cup of Greek yogurt adds 12-15 grams of protein!
  • Not too heavy. Mayo-based salads tend to sit like a rock in your stomach. Using Greek yogurt keeps the salad light while still filling you up.
  • Easy to make. After you cook the chicken, all other ingredients come together quickly in one bowl.
  • Great way to use leftover chicken. This chicken salad recipe can use shredded chicken, chopped baked chicken breasts, or rotisserie chicken.
  • Meal prep. I love making this 2-3 days ahead of time for a quick lunch or snack during the week.

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Grilled Corn Salad With Chili

Serve this Asian salad with grilled steak, chicken or firm white fish like halibut. You can also double the recipe and bring it to your next potluck. If you can find tatsoi, a peppery Asian leafy green, use it instead of mild-mannered spinach. Store-bought Thai sweet chili sauce and umami-packed white miso build fast flavor in this easy summer salad.

How To Make The Cashew Cream Sauce

The trick to getting cashews to blend up into a creamy sauce is to soak them in water for at least 2 hours. Simply pour the cashews in a bowl and cover with water.

Once soaked, toss the cashews, garlic, water and salt into a blender.

I like to use our ninja blender to make these types of sauces since it makes it really smooth and creamy without any chunks. Blend until smooth. Add more water if you want a thinner sauce.

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About This Chicken Apple Salad Recipe

Lately Ive been receiving quite a few requests for easy, make ahead, healthy lunch options that can be taken on-the-go.

And I get it! Falling into a lunch rut can be easy to do, and taking the time to prepare an entire meal mid-day everyday isnt always an option.

But let me tell you this easy prep chicken apple salad is your answer!

Im obsessed with this simple salad and eat it so often that I feel like everyone needs to know about how to make it themselves at home.

Since you can make it ahead of time & store it in the fridge, its perfect for lunch, a light dinner, or to bring to a potluck or picnic.

The combination of the hearty chicken, sweet apples, crisp celery, crunchy cashews and the shallot & white wine vinaigrette is so refreshing make it once and I have a feeling youll be hooked!

If youve never had a mayo-free chicken salad before, then youve got to try this one! The easy homemade dressing is light, tangy and adds plenty of flavor without needing any added mayo, yogurt or dairy.

What Type Of Chicken

Healthy Chicken Salad with Almond Butter Dressing

You have a couple of options here. Rotisserie is the easiest and the most practical one. But I hardly ever go for that one since I prefer to make chicken at home. I usually poach chicken breasts for my salad. Or sometimes even better, I make crispy simple roasted chicken pieces in oven for dinner. Then next day, I use the leftovers in my salad. It is so practical and it is like I have two meals out of one. And you can do it with any leftover chicken.

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The Best Tuna Melt Recipe

No matter where you are from, I think most of us grew up eating some variation of a simple tuna salad sandwich. For me, even now its one of my favorite meals to throw together for a quick lunch or dinner.

Now, just imagine taking a simple tuna sandwich to the next level. The Tuna Melt is basically just a scrumptious extension of the already delicious classic. Sort of like a fancy grilled cheese, but layered with yummy tuna salad, its cheesy on the inside and crispy on the outside. You can cook them in a skillet, but I actually like to bake mine in the oven. I have found that baking them is a tad bit healthier and also toasts them perfectly.

And this recipe takes very little effort and can quickly be made in just 15 minutes! Or, you can prep the sandwiches the night before. They make a healthy complete meal when served with a side of Air Fryer French Fries, a Ceasar Salad, or a bowl of Roasted Tomato Soup.

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