Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Filling and flavorful, healthy chicken salad with walnuts and grapes is great on a lettuce wrap or tortilla, or served on its own. This chicken salad is easy to make and keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How long it takes: 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, mixing bowl
Servings: 6
A Healthy Chicken Salad
I think you’ll be pleased with how this chicken salad turns out. It’s one of my absolute favorite lunches right now, especially wrapped in a soft whole wheat tortilla. The walnuts give a subtle crunch and offer a fantastic nutty flavor. The celery provides a more pronounced crunch and freshness.
The yogurt dressing with apple cider vinegar and celery seeds is the perfect dressing to tie this all together. I promise you won’t even miss mayonnaise. Making this recipe with Greek yogurt not only decreases fat and keeps it low in calories but it also adds protein to help keep you satisfied for hours.
Recipe Variations
- Try different fruit. Substitute a chopped apple for the grapes. Instead of dried cranberries, try dried cherries, raisins, or golden raisins.
- Add a savory note. Finely diced onion or scallions can be added to the salad.
- Nut options: Omit the walnuts or substitute toasted sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, or toasted pecans.
- Brighten it up with fresh herbs. Add a tablespoon of chopped fresh tarragon or parsley to the salad.
- Yogurt options: Instead of yogurt, use mayonnaise or a combination of both.
Cover chicken salad tightly with plastic wrap or put it in a bowl with a lid. Refrigerate for up to three days. Stir before serving. The yogurt dressing has a tendency to separate but it’s fine once you give it a stir.
More Chicken Salad Recipes
- Dill Chicken Salad
- Curried Chicken Salad – If you love curry, this is the recipe for you!
- Avocado Chicken Salad – creamy and healthy!
- Cranberry Chicken Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
More Sandwich Recipes
Healthy Chicken Salad with Walnuts and Grapes
Ingredients
Salad:
- 3 cups diced cooked chicken breast (about 3 chicken breasts or 1.25 pounds)
- 1 cup diced celery (about three stalks)
- 1 cup halved seedless grapes
- ¾ cup chopped toasted walnuts (see note)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Dressing:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (see note)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey (or granulated sugar)
- 1 teaspoon celery seed (not celery salt)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl , combine chicken, celery, grapes, walnuts, and cranberries.3 cups diced cooked chicken breast, 1 cup diced celery, 1 cup halved seedless grapes, ¾ cup chopped toasted walnuts, ½ cup dried cranberries
- In a small bowl or 2 cup measuring cup, whisk together yogurt, vinegar, honey, celery seed, salt and pepper.1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon celery seed, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- Pour dressing over chicken mixture and stir until all ingredients are combined. Taste the salad and add more salt or pepper, if needed.
- Refrigerate until ready to use or serve immediately on a wrap, sandwich, or on top of lettuce.
Notes
- To toast walnuts: Spread the walnuts on a microwave-safe plate and microwave in one-minute intervals, stirring each time, until fragrant and golden. It will take about 3 minutes.
- Dressing: If you prefer, the dressing can be made with mayonnaise instead of yogurt, or a combination of mayo and yogurt.
- Storage: Refrigerate chicken salad in a covered container for 2 to 3 days. Stir well to recombine before serving.
- Variations: If desired, substitute a chopped apple for the grapes. Try raisins, golden raisins, or dried cherries instead of the cranberries. Different types of nuts or sunflower seeds can be substituted for the walnuts. Leftover turkey can be used instead of cooked chicken.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
I don’t have honey for the chx salad what else can I use
You can use agave or a bit of white granulated sugar.
I’m not normally a chicken salad fan, but the dressing for this is perfection. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
So glad you like it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, it really means a lot to me!
I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s a lunch favorite in my family. It’s hearty enough for dinner, too, and is delicious served on a bed of lettuce. The dressing makes it a healthy alternative to the traditional Waldorf salad. Thanks, Rachel!
Thanks! I’m so glad you like this recipe!