Healthy Easy Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Tender chicken mixed with fresh vegetables wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves for a light meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
05 - 8-10 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine

→ Dressing

06 - 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
07 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Add-Ins

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped walnuts
15 - 1/4 cup seedless grapes, halved

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, celery, red bell pepper, and red onion.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir gently until well combined.
04 - Fold in parsley, nuts, or grapes if desired.
05 - Spoon the chicken salad evenly into the lettuce leaves and fold to wrap.
06 - Serve immediately, or chill the chicken salad for 30 minutes for enhanced flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No cooking required for the salad itself, just shred your chicken and you're already halfway done.
  • The Greek yogurt base keeps everything creamy while cutting calories compared to traditional mayo-heavy versions.
  • It tastes even better after sitting for a bit, so you can make it ahead and grab it when hunger hits.
02 -
  • Don't chop your vegetables too coarsely or the lettuce wraps become unwieldy and everything falls apart as you eat, so those small, even pieces really matter.
  • If your lettuce leaves are limp, run them under cold water and pat them dry before filling, as crisp leaves hold the salad together infinitely better than sad ones.
03 -
  • If you're making this for a crowd, prepare the chicken salad filling in a bowl and let everyone assemble their own wraps, which takes the pressure off you and lets people customize exactly how much they want in each one.
  • A squeeze of honey whisked into the dressing adds a subtle sweetness that makes the whole thing taste more complex and intentional without screaming sweetness.
Go Back