Healthy Harvest Chicken Salad
Sharing my healthy twist on chicken salad. This Healthy Harvest Chicken Salad recipe is packed with lean protein, crisp apples, crunchy celery, golden raisins, and buttery pecans—all tossed in a creamy, light dressing. It’s perfect for meal prep, school lunches, or a light, nourishing dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Salad Recipe
- Protein-packed with chicken breast
- Naturally sweet and crunchy thanks to apples and celery
- Light and creamy dressing made with Greek yogurt and mayo
- Perfect for meal prep or back-to-school lunches
- Gluten-free and customizable for different diets
Healthy Harvest Chicken Salad Recipe: Your Busy Fall Go-To
If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for easy, nutritious meals. Lunch time can be a struggle for me (and easy to skip) especially if I don’t have a quick, obvious option in my fridge.
This Harvest Chicken Salad is a perfect solution for lunchtime hunger pangs. It’s protein-packed, full of flavor and texture, and holds up really well for several days. My favorite way to enjoy this salad is wrapped in a whole grain tortilla with a big chunk of crunchy lettuce (oh and a handful of potato chips) but can also be served in between two slices of bread, scooped with crackers, eat with a spoon, or in lettuce cups for a low-carb meal.
Ingredients for Healthy Harvest Chicken Salad
- Chicken– We use chicken breast or use a rotisserie from the grocery store.
- Apple– You’ll want to use a sweet crisp apple like honeycrisp or Fuji.
- Celery
- Carrots
- Pecans– Roasted or raw pecans.
- Golden Raisins
- Dressing– Mayo, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, agave, salt and pepper.
Simple To Make Chicken Salad
- Prepare salad ingredients- chicken, apples, celery, carrots, etc… and layer everything in a medium bowl.
- Make dressing by combining all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
- Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss to combine.
- Enjoy right away or place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Creative Ways To Serve Harvest Chicken Salad
- Lettuce wraps: Scoop into butter lettuce leaves for a low-carb option.
- Whole-grain sandwiches: Pile it high on multigrain bread with some greens.
- Stuffed avocados: Spoon it into halved avocados for a nutrient-dense lunch.
- Scooped with crackers or pita chips for a snacky board or light dinner.
- Wrapped in a tortilla with a crunchy Romaine lettuce. (my fav)
Healthy Harvest Chicken Salad
Equipment
- small bowl
- medium bowl
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cut in chunks or shredded
- 1 large apple cut in bite size pieces choose a sweet, crisp apple like honeycrisp
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/3 cup carrots, shredded, about 1 small carrot
- 1/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
Dressing
- 1/4 cup plain, full fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 tbps lemon juice
- 2 tsp agave, or use honey
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsb fresh parsley, finely chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Combine the Dressing
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and combine until smooth–1/4 cup each Greek yogurt and mayo, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp agave, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Assemble the Salad
- To a medium bowl add 2 cups cooked chicken (chopped or shredded) 1 large diced apple, 1/2 cup diced celery, 1/3 cup shredded carrots, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, and 1/4 cup golden raisins. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Place in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up 4 days.
Notes
- Swap out all mayo for Greek yogurt if you prefer. The salad will have a tangier taste.
- Use rotisserie chicken to save time!
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Pack in portions: Divide into individual containers with crackers or greens for easy grab-and-go lunches.
- Double the batch: This recipe doubles easily if you’re feeding a family or doing a full week of meal prep.
Nutrition
Meal Prep These Salads Next:
These salad recipes are great for meal prep. Simple Chicken Salad, Mexican Chicken Salad, Tuscan Tuna Salad, Spaghetti Pasta Salad, and Cold Asian Noodle Salad.
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