Tossed in a tangy, creamy dressing, this Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds is the perfect treat for your next baby shower, brunch, or meal prep for those busy days! This healthy chicken salad recipe comes together quickly and is full of delicious fresh ingredients like grapes and celery {Gluten-free}.
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Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe
Although most chicken salad isn’t nearly as healthy as it sounds, this chicken salad with grapes and almonds is much lighter than other recipes, thanks to the addition of yogurt and fresh fruits and vegetables.
As a bonus, this chicken salad is unsweetened, too, except for the subtle sweetness from the cranberries.
Plus, the yogurt really mellows out the flavour of the mayonnaise, making this salad even more enjoyable to eat. It’s perfect for adding to your weekly meal prep or monthly meal plan!
For more healthy chicken salad recipes, be sure to try out this Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad too!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Full of flavour: With so many delicious add-ins, this yogurt chicken salad has tons of flavour! It has so many different textures that make eating it such a treat.
- Easy: If you use some leftover diced chicken, this easy recipe comes together especially quickly.
- Healthy: By thinning the mayo with Greek yogurt and adding lots of fresh ingredients, this easy chicken salad with grapes is lower in fat and higher in protein and fibre than your classic chicken salad recipe.
Ingredient Notes
- Mayonnaise: This is a traditional base for chicken salad, as it adds the perfect tangy flavour and creamy texture.
- Greek yogurt: I like to add some Greek yogurt for extra protein and to reduce the fat content in this delicious chicken salad. You can use sour cream instead if desired.
- Green onions: Sliced green onions add a savoury, fresh flavour to this chicken salad recipe.
- Cooked chicken: Dice precooked boneless skinless chicken breasts or use a leftover rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for less prep.
- Celery: Chop celery into small pieces for a crispy crunch in every bite.
- Fresh grapes: I used red seedless grapes for a pop of colour and sweet flavor, but you can use green grapes too.
- Cranberries: Since there is no added sugar in this simple chicken salad, dried cranberries add a hint of sweetness and beautiful colour.
- Almonds: Don’t forget some sliced or slivered almonds for a little crunch and a nice nutty flavor.
- Salt and black pepper: Be sure to add kosher salt and ground pepper to bring out the flavours in all of your ingredients.
How to Make Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds – Step-by-Step
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, green onion, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Combine chicken, celery, red grapes, dried cranberries, and almonds and toss until well coated
- Serve the chicken mixture on a sandwich, wrap, bed of greens, or along with crackers.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Notes:
- Allow it to sit: This chicken salad recipe tastes best once it’s had a chance to sit for a few hours and absorb all of the flavours. It tastes even better the next day!
- Preparing chicken: You can use diced or shredded chicken for the purpose of this recipe. It’s a great way to use up that leftover chicken. If you’re really short on time, you can also use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- Allow chicken to cool: If cooking chicken to make this recipe, allow it to fully cool before mixing with the other ingredients.
- For extra delicious flavour: If you have the time, this salad also tastes great if you toast the almonds first before incorporating them in with the rest of the ingredients.
Recipe FAQ
Your classic chicken salad may seem like a great option, but it can be incredibly high in fat due to the use of lots of mayo in the dressing. This healthy chicken salad recipe swaps out some of the mayo with high-protein Greek yogurt and skips the sugar. This lightened up version of chicken salad makes an easy meal high in protein and healthy fats that can fit into a healthy balanced diet.
Unfortunately, chicken salad does not thaw well at all. The chicken can be thawed, but the grapes and celery will break down and become a soggy mess. The mayo and yogurt will also begin to separate. You’ll end up with a watery, mushy chicken salad, which is quite unpleasant. For best results, store it in the refrigerator and consume it fresh.
Many people love to serve chicken salad for brunch or a shower, so it goes perfectly with other finger foods. Serve sliced vegetables with dips, fresh fruit with Greek yogurt fruit dip, avocado egg salad, and other appetizer-style snacks, like:
* Avocado Goat Cheese Cucumber Appetizers
* Chocolate Dipped Clementines with Chopped Pistachios
* Grape, Gouda, and Arugula Skewer
Storage Guidelines
Store leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
If you need to leave it out at room temperature for a party or event, place your serving container into a bowl of ice to keep the temperature below 40 degrees.
Chicken salad does not thaw well, so I don’t recommend freezing any leftovers.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many different ways to serve this chicken salad with grapes and almonds, which is part of the fun! One easy way to serve it is over a bed of lettuce for a light lunch or scoop it up with some whole-grain crackers.
You can also load it onto your favourite sandwich bread for a chicken salad sandwich.
Watching your carbs? Try making some healthy lettuce wraps or serve it on one of these low carb bagels!
Recipe Variations
- French flavour: Add a tablespoon or two of Dijon mustard and a splash of lemon juice for a French twist on chicken salad.
- Sweeten with honey: For a slightly sweeter chicken salad, honey is a great addition! Start with a teaspoon and add more if needed.
- Spin on Waldorf salad: For a twist on Waldorf salad, add diced apple and replace the almonds with chopped walnuts and the cranberries with raisins
More Similar Recipes
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Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken breast
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
- 1 cup quartered red seedless grapes
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons slivered or sliced almonds
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, green onion, salt and pepper until combined.
- Add the chicken, celery, grapes, dried cranberries and almonds and toss until well coated.
- Serve on a sandwich, wrap, bed of greens or along with crackers.
Notes
- Allow it to sit: This chicken salad recipe tastes best once it’s had a chance to sit for a few hours and absorb all of the flavours. It tastes even better the next day!
- Preparing chicken: You can use diced or shredded chicken for the purpose of this recipe. It’s a great way to use up that leftover chicken. If you’re really short on time, you can also use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- Allow chicken to cool: If cooking chicken to make this recipe, allow it to fully cool before mixing with the other ingredients.
- For extra delicious flavour: If you have the time, this salad also tastes great if you toast the almonds first before incorporating them in with the rest of the ingredients.
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