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Protein-Packed Chicken Salad with Apples

Protein-Packed Chicken Salad with Apples

Delicious Protein-Packed Chicken Salad with Apples recipe with step-by-step instructions.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 975 kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • cutting board
  • Knife
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

For the salad

  • 2 ¼ cups chicken (cut into ½-inch cubes)
  • ½ cup celery, finely chopped
  • cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup Honeycrisp apples, finely diced
  • cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup roasted almonds, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

For the dressing

  • ½ cup Greek yogurt (preferably 5% fat)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

Cooking the Chicken

  • Choose your preferred cooking method: bake at 375°F for about 30 minutes, pan-fry for 10 minutes per side over medium-high heat, or simmer gently in water for 10 minutes until cooked through. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F or shows no pink when cut. Once cooked, let it cool slightly before cutting into ½-inch cubes.

Preparing Ingredients

  • While the chicken cooks, prep your vegetables and fruit. Finely chop the celery and red onion, dice the Honeycrisp apples, and chop the parsley and roasted almonds. Dice the apples last and toss lightly with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Mixing the Salad

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken cubes with the prepared celery, red onion, apples, dried cranberries, almonds, and parsley. Toss gently to distribute everything evenly.

Making the Dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, remaining lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. Pour the dressing over the base ingredients and fold gently until everything is evenly coated.

Chilling

  • Refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled on bread, crackers, lettuce cups, or wraps.

Notes

The salad tastes better the next day as the flavors continue to develop, making it perfect for meal prep.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 975kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 55gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Chicken Salad with Apples, easy recipe, fresh ingredients, healthy salad, meal prep, Protein-Packed Chicken Salad
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