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Healthy Chicken Salad

Healthy Chicken Salad is made with shredded chicken, crisp celery, dried sweet cranberries, juicy grapes, and crunchy sliced almonds. It's coated in a no-mayo three-ingredient dressing.
Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Healthy Chicken Salad
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 -8 small sandwiches
Calories 260kcal
Author Chelsea Lords
Cost $7.54

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
  • 3/4 cup sliced celery (~4 stalks)
  • 1 cup sliced seedless red grapes
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or dried sweet cherries)
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, optional
  • 3/4 cup reduced-fat ranch dressing Note 1
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper
  • For serving: 6-8 pieces green leaf lettuce, miniature or full sized croissants or other toasted bread

Instructions

  • CHICKEN: Chop or shred the chicken to get 3 cups and add to a large bowl.
  • SALAD: Slice the celery in half and then chop to get small pieces. Halve the grapes. Add the 3/4 cup celery, 1 cup grapes, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, and 1 teaspoon poppy seeds to the bowl with the shredded chicken.
  • DRESSING: In a small bowl, add the 3/4 cup ranch dressing, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper (add to preference; I add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper but that depends on the dressing used). Whisk and then pour over the salad. Gently toss to combine and again taste for seasonings.
  • SERVE: Toast bread and serve the chicken salad on top of the bread with lettuce, or in croissants with lettuce, or add this chicken salad to lettuce to make lettuce wraps!

Video

Notes

Note 1: Ranch dressing: Use your favorite low-fat ranch dressing. Hidden Valley Ranch (low fat) was a favorite from taste testers. My personal favorite dressing of choice is Bolthouse Farm's Yogurt Classic Ranch or Marie's creamy ranch (both found in the refrigerated produce section of the store, not with shelf-stable bottled dressings).

Nutrition

Serving: 8small sandwiches | Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.2g | Protein: 11.2g | Fat: 21.1g | Cholesterol: 37.1mg | Sodium: 156.6mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 4.7g