Healthy Chicken Salad With Greek Yogurt

This healthy chicken salad is one of my go-to recipes when I want something lighter but still filling. It is high in protein and made with simple, wholesome ingredients. The creamy avocado and Greek yogurt dressing makes it so tasty, you won't even miss the mayo.

As you may already know, I'm a big fan of chicken salads. They're perfect for meal prep, quick lunches that don't need reheating, light dinners, or even a satisfying snack. I absolutely love a good old classic made with full-fat mayo. But sometimes, I crave something lighter and healthier. And this healthy chicken salad recipe has become one of my favorites.
What I love most is that every ingredient is wholesome and has a purpose. I've experimented with quite a few mayo-free dressings, and my family (including me!) voted for this one-made with avocado and Greek yogurt. It's so creamy and flavorful, that you honestly won't even miss the mayo.

I know some people don't love the taste of Greek yogurt on its own, but when you mix it with avocado, olive oil, mustard, and lemon juice, it turns into this uniquely tasty dressing that works perfectly with chicken.

Ingredients and substitutions

You can find a full list of ingredients in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Cooked chicken: this recipe works best with poached chicken breasts (home-made roasted works too). Leftover rotisserie chicken is great too, but try to avoid overly salty or heavily seasoned ones.
• Grapes: You can use red or black grapes. They add sweetness to the salad. No grapes? Use one peeled apple instead.
• Celery: adds crunchiness and fresh taste to the salad.
• Green onions: Instead of red onion, I prefer using green onion in this particular recipe for a milder taste. You can use red or sweet onion instead.
• Fresh parsley: because they are tasty and good for you.
• Ripe avocado: you will need half of the ripe avocado to make the dressing.
• Greek yogurt: for a good creamy dressing, use full-fat Greek yogurt.
• Olive oil: helps to emulsify the dressing and is also good for you.
• Lemon juice: adds brightness and freshness. it also keeps the avocado from browning.
• Dijon mustard: for a little sharpness and tang.
• Fresh tarragon: adds a subtle anise flavor. You can easily skip it.
• Salt and pepper to taste: I season both the salad and the dressing for the best results.

How to make mayo-free creamy chicken salad

Step 1. Prepare the may-free dressing. In a small bowl, mash half of the avocado. Add Greek yogurt, Olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, diced tarragon (if using), salt and pepper. Mix well until one consistency.

Note: you can cook the chicken and make the dressing the night before.

Step 2. Make the salad. Shred cooked chicken. Half or quarter red grapes. Chop celery finely. Slice green onions thinly. Add all ingredients to the large bowl. Season with a little bit of salt and pepper.

Step 3. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir it until it is well coated. Taste the salad and add more salt or pepper as needed. For best results, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Serving ideas

Honestly, I love this salad on its own - it's so delicious and filling. But you can also serve it in lots of fun and easy ways. Here are a few classic and creative ideas:

• Sandwiches: Try it on whole grain or sourdough bread.
• Lettuce wraps: Use butter lettuce, romaine, collard greens, or cabbage leaves.
• Stuffed in pita pockets
• Topped on crackers or rice cakes
• Over a bed of mixed greens
• Cucumber boats: Slice a cucumber in half, scoop out the middle, and fill it with chicken salad for a fresh, low-carb snack.
• Apple slice stacks: Slice a crisp apple and use the slices to scoop up the chicken salad or make little sandwiches.