Clean Eating Chicken Salad

4.70 from 13 votes

Feeling sluggish? Rev up your engines with this satisfying clean eating chicken salad!

clean eating chicken salad

I’m sure we’ve all had more than a few versions of chicken salad. So many of them are mayonnaise-laden and heavy, filling us up with more unhealthy fats than we need. It shouldn’t have to be that way, though. This dish has so much potential – it’s a convenient topping for a healthy lunch or dinner, and it’s a protein-packed powerhouse. So, we came up with a clean eating chicken salad recipe that will nourish your body and please your palate.

It’s not just about tasting great and feeling light, either. Our clean eating chicken salad recipe is super easy to make and works well for meal prepping options for weekday lunches. Or, you can eat it on the weekend in the great outdoors as a picnic! Your whole family will love it, especially when they learn how this recipe goes one step further in helping you meet your weight loss goals.

Clean Eating Chicken Salad

Clean Eating Chicken Salad - a delicious healthy chicken salad recipe

This clean eating chicken salad recipe is specifically designed to help you win the fight against toxins. If you’re feeling a bit more sluggish than usual lately, you might be losing this battle. Toxins are everywhere – they’re in the air we breathe and the food we eat. These unhealthy toxins want to keep your body from being at peak performance.

The best way to ensure that your body stays healthy and strong? Avoid unnatural processed foods. Incorporating a diet that’s high in nutrition and low in processed ingredients will help you achieve that goal. This clean eating chicken salad is filled with simple but healthy ingredients, making it perfect for those on a clean-eating diet or those just looking to focus more on nutrition.

That’s why we skip the mayonnaise (which, in addition to being full of saturated fats, sometimes has MSG and other chemical additions). We swapped in healthy Greek yogurt to give your body a boost of much-needed probiotics. Combine that with the protein-packed chicken and nutrient-dense celery, onions, and grapes to create the perfect filling for those whole-wheat pitas.

There you have it – the only chicken salad recipe you’ll ever need! If you’re trying to cut back on carbs, serve this tasty, clean eating chicken salad on a bed of lettuce. It’s also great rolled up in chard leaves, which make a great gluten-free tortilla replacement.

Watch this video to see how to make Clean Eating Chicken Salad:

4.70 from 13 votes

Clean Eating Chicken Salad

With clean ingredients and a sweet and savory bite, this Chicken Salad is fantastic for lunch or dinner.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 4 people
Serving Size 0.25 of recipe
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Author SkinnyMs.

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts cooked, cut into cubes
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 1/4 red onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup red seedless grapes quartered
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt non-fat
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • sea salt to taste
  • 2 whole-wheat pita pockets halved
  • 4 romaine lettuce leaves large

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix all of the salad ingredients. Chicken salad can be eaten as is or eat as a pita sandwich. Recipe serves 4.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25of recipe | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 486mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 2
Keywords Budget-Friendly, High Protein, Kid-Friendly, Quick and Easy

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Last Updated: June 08, 2018

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The SkinnyMs. team believes that all people, regardless of age, size, and fitness level, have the power to transform their lives — they just need the resources to do so. The SkinnyMs. method promotes healthy living through a combination of clean eating and regular exercise. We offer everything you need to be successful.

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60 Comments

  1. I think I must have done something wrong. :-/ It turned out less creamy and more dry. Like there was too much chicken and not enough everything else. Perhaps my 2 pieces of chicken were too large? I didn't have more yogurt than what was needed for the recipe, or I would have tried doubling that. I think I need to try again. 🙂

    1. Mandy, There was likely too much chicken. Try mixing the yogurt first, then add chicken until desired consistency is reached.

    1. I cook mine ahead by dumping a family pack of breasts in the slow cooker with a splash of broth. Ready in less than 3 hours. Cube or shred and freeze for quick meals (quesadillas, chicken salad, etc).

    2. This is a great recipe that also works with leftover chicken breasts. I usually make more than I need so the leftovers make it easy for more no-cook meals.

  2. This was delicious! I used just plain yogurt (not Greek), and substituted red apple for grapes, cucumber for celery, and added some crushed cashews! Awesome. Great recipe.

  3. One question and probably a stupid question, the nutritional value include the pita bread or is it just the salad?

  4. When you say two cooked chicken breast,do you mean a whole breast split which would give you four pieces or one whole chicken breast which would give you two pieces ?

    1. Carol, A whole chicken can be divided into 2 breast pieces(one on either side), 2 drumsticks, 2 thighs, 2 wings, so it would be 2 breasts.

  5. Add 1/2 a cubed apple, cranberries or craisins, curry, and tarragon and you have my recipe. Yummy.

      1. How is there possibly even close to 11 grams of fat per serving? Chicken breast has approximately 1.5 grams per serving and there is nothing else in the ingredients that I see which contain any fat.

        1. Dave, We’ll recalculate the data. If there are any changes, you’ll see them by tomorrow morning.

  6. I made this for lunch today and it was very good. I added 1 dessert spoonful of mayonnaise (which will have upped the calories!) and two large mint leaves finely shredded. Unfortunately I didn't have red grapes to hand so used cherries instead. I chopped the celery up into tiny chunks and, as I did not have garlic powder, I finely diced a clove of garlic. It was delicious.

  7. Is the calorie count for one serving, or the total for 4 servings? Based on the number of pitas, I figure 1 serving is 1/2 pita filled with salad. Thanks!

    1. There are 240 calories in a single serving. Yes, each serving is about 1/2 cup of salad in 1/2 of a pita.

  8. Hi! I find that this recipe is = 2 SmartPoints. How can that be when you say 6? I mean it’s good news but I wonder why the difference. I plugged all the ingredients and amounts into their app and it calculates it at 2 Smart Points 🙂

  9. The chicken salad is probably where the 2SP’s come from and then the remaining 4SP are for the pita….perhaps??

  10. I tried this with quorn chicken pieces to make a vegetarian option and it was super yummy! Separated it in to four tubs for lunch and just add it to a pitta at lunch time for work. Great recipe! Thanks 🙂

    1. Hi Natakie,

      I would not recommend freezing the chicken salad. The yogurt won’t freeze well and the salad will end up runny once thawed. You can prepare this a few days ahead, about 4, and refrigerate.

  11. I feel kind of stupid needing to ask this, but are the romaine lettuce leaves considered “salad ingredients” to be mixed with everything else, or do they go on a sandwich separately?

    btw, I like to buy bone in chicken breasts and simmer them for the broth. The chicken can then be cooled and pulled off the bone to freeze and have on hand for things like this.

  12. This is my family’s favorite! I have to run away from my step son when I take the last of it beacause he wants it! I use rotisserie chicken breasts with this. It’s just so delicious!

  13. I want to make my own pita pockets. I have a recipe, but the pockets turn out, though tasty, more like bread rounds. How can I make a pita pocket that turns out like the one in the picture for this chicken salad pita?

    1. Hi Anne, making pita pockets is not an easy technique. It’s best to use a recipe with minimal ingredients. You will need to carefully slice through the center of the bread once it’s cooked which is very difficult as the pitas will be thin. I would recommend using the pitas you have made since you enjoy the recipe and preparing pita pocket sandwiches more like a taco or wrap.

  14. I don’t see mayo listed as an ingredient. Your comment above makes it seem like it should be in there. Is it supposed to have mayo and how much? Thanks.

  15. Thank You For Sharing ♥️I WILL TRY!! My Husband Will eat If He doesn’t see Its Yogurt? He eats it, But it’s “ mind over matter! He didn’t Like almond milk , but he was Eating it in Food for a while and Didn’t even notice!And He’s very Health conscious And Works Out and Eats Healthy SO he SHOULD Like it. G-d♥️Bless

  16. Made this today and it was yummy! My family didn’t even know there was no mayonnaise. Highly recommend!5 stars

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