These chicken salad recipes are the options I make most often at home for quick and easy high-protein lunches. They’re never-fail options because my whole family happily eats them, they’re quick and fast to make (especially when I have cooked chicken on hand), and deliver nearly all the nutrients I need from a meal. I rounded up all of the best chicken salad recipes on this site, including creamy cold chicken salads and fresh salads with chicken added.
Make Easy Shredded Chicken
One of my best meal prep tips is to make a big batch of cooked shredded chicken, whether it’s cooked in the crockpot or in the Instant Pot. Once the chicken is cooked and shredded, it can be used in a multitude of recipes, including any of these chicken salads.
Another quick tip is to simply buy a rotisserie chicken, then pull, chop, and shred the chicken to use in chicken salads, chicken casseroles, soups, and more.
Creamy Cold Chicken Salad Recipes
When most people think of a chicken salad recipe, it’s a mayo-based creamy chicken salad, also called a refrigerator salad. These are my favorite type of chicken salad and I tend to make one of these recipes a few times each month for easy lunches my whole family enjoys. For an egg-free option in these recipes, use plain Greek yogurt in place of the mayo.
Curry Chicken Salad
To create this recipe, Dietitian Jess took the classic chicken salad up a notch by adding the warmth and spice of curry powder. The bold flavor adds an extra, complimentary element to the sweet bites of apple and rich, nutty cashews. This chicken salad is classic to serve stuffed into a croissant, as a sandwich or wrap, or over lettuce.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Dill Pickle Chicken Salad
Calling all pickle lovers, this is the chicken salad recipe to make. Dietitian Stacie created this chicken salad to feature the briny salty flavor of pickles, Dijon mustard, and fresh dill plus the crunchy and texture of finely chopped celery and red onion. This is a great option for meal prep lunches and yummy high-protein chicken salad that I love to make again and again.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Whole30
Waldorf Chicken Salad
One of the most classic chicken salad recipes, this Waldorf chicken salad is a recipe I’ve been making for years, and both me and my kids love it. The combination of shredded chicken, red grapes, walnuts, crunchy celery, and mayo never fails to satisfy. It’s my go-to when I’m short on time but need a nutritious, wholesome recipe for an easy lunch.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
BLT Chicken Salad
I always looked forward to eating a classic BLT in summer, but Dietitian Stacie had been dreaming about enjoying those favorite flavors as a salad instead of a sandwich. She created this BLT chicken salad on a whim for lunch one day and she was really onto something. The BLT combination is just as delicious as a creamy chicken salad as it is in classic form.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Molly came up with this honey mustard chicken salad on a whim, using up some leftover ingredients she couldn’t let go to waste. It turned out to be surprisingly tasty, sweet, tangy, full of crunch, and requires zero cooking time. I recently packed this chicken salad for a family trip and it was a delicious lunch we enjoyed for three days in a row as chicken salad sandwiches and scooped up with crackers.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo
Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad
This satisfying salad is made with tender chicken, smoked almonds, juicy grape tomatoes, sweet corn kernels, curly kale, and onion all tossed together with mayonnaise and BBQ sauce. It’s an unexpected version of chicken salad that has become one of my favorite high-protein lunches to serve in summer over a bed of greens, as a sandwich, or in my favorite wraps.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free
Blueberry Chicken Salad
From the blueberries to the fresh rosemary, the unique ingredients in this chicken salad create an incredible flavor combination that’s sweet, savory, tangy, and bright. And all the fresh veggies provide a satisfying crunch. Light and refreshing while still being filling, this summer salad has remained one of my favorite healthy chicken recipes for years, making for an easy snack, lunch, or light dinner.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Whole30
Cranberry Apple Chicken Salad
Just a handful of ingredients come together to make this fall-inspired chicken salad recipe. Along with the dried cranberries, it’s complete with toasted pecans, crisp bacon, diced apple, fresh herbs, and creamy mayo. This pecan chicken salad takes leftover chicken to the next level and makes for a satisfying lunch and a perfect recipe for weekend meal preps.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Asian Chicken Salad
This is one easy chicken salad that features limey peanut sauce instead of mayo to create the creamy dressing. It’s so fresh, featuring red bell pepper, slivered almonds, green onions, and broccoli slaw tossed with chopped roasted chicken. I serve it as lunchtime lettuce wraps or over a bed of greens with a generous squeeze of lime.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Avocado Waldorf Chicken Salad
This recipe swaps the traditional creamy mayo dressing for creamy avocado instead, making it an egg-free version that’s so flavorful. For the sauce, I blend avocado with lemon juice, fresh basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Then I toss that with shredded chicken, sweet grapes, apples, and walnuts for a twist on the classic Waldorf chicken salad.
Egg Free | Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad
Lemon poppyseed dressing has always been a favorite for Dietitian Stacie, so she took inspiration from that dressing to make this easy chicken salad that combines fresh strawberries, tender chicken pieces, red onion, and celery plus the three-ingredient dressing. It’s so fresh and light served inside lettuce cups or scooped with favorite crackers.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
More Salads With Chicken
These chicken salad recipes aren’t of the creamy type, but rather they feature fresh real-food ingredients plus the addition of cooked chicken for options that are crispy, crunchy, high in protein, and always satisfying.
Thai Chicken Salad
If eating a wide variety of plant-based foods is a goal, this salad can help make it happen. It features so much fresh produce mixed with cooked shredded chicken, edamame, peanuts, and a delicious soy-sesame dressing. It’s a nutritious no-cook main dish salad that makes a great lunch to serve all week long or a fresh and light dinner on hot days.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Mandarin Chicken Salad
This popular salad has been made famous by being featured on many restaurant menus, but it’s so easy to make at home. One of my kids’ favorite salads, this recipe is refreshing, healthy, and filling in all the right ways. Packed with crisp-crunchy veggies, toasted almonds, tender shredded chicken, sweet mandarin oranges, and a delicious sesame-ginger sauce, this Chinese-inspired salad is perfect for easy meals and entertaining.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Crispy Rice Salad With chicken
This is one of those salads that will have everyone talking long after it’s gone – it’s that good! I created it as a way to showcase delicious crispy rice in a big salad that fills my entire kitchen with the most fresh smells. I combine coleslaw veggies, shredded chicken, edamame, avocado, cilantro, and chives in a big bowl with the crispy rice and a sesame-ginger dressing. The textures plus the combination of sweet-salty-savory ingredients is truly something special.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free
Harvest Chicken Salad
This spinach-based chicken salad makes a satisfying lunch or dinner salad that’s good served either warm or chilled. It features favorite comfort flavors, including roasted sweet potatoes, dried cranberries or raisins, apples, and a quick maple-Dijon mustard dressing, this spinach salad really captures the food essence of the fall season.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo
Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad
For someone who loves buffalo wings, like me, this salad is always a top pick. It’s crazy flavorful, fresh, high in protein and fiber, and easy to make with grilled buffalo-marinated chicken. From the crunchy cucumbers, carrots, and celery to the creamy blue cheese crumbles to the crisp roasted chickpeas, this salad features ingredients that make every bite delicious and interesting.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free
Chopped BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad
Sweet, savory, tangy, and full of protein and veggies, this BBQ ranch chicken salad recipe is a satisfying and delicious dinner that Dietitian Jess created when finding a use for leftover blackened chicken. It’s ready in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect choice for everything from weeknight dinners to meal prep lunches and potlucks.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
If there’s one salad that my family will always readily eat, it’s a caesar salad. So I had the idea that if I simply added cooked chicken and a favorite pasta, then I’d have a complete meal in just one recipe. Not only is this salad delicious and always disappears fast, but I love serving it because I know me, my husband, and my kids are getting all the main nutrients we need from a single recipe.
Gluten Free Option | Nut Free
Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad
Dietitian Jess loves ordering a chicken fajita salad from her favorite Mexican restaurant. And she says this homemade version is on par with any big, fresh main-dish restaurant fajita salad she can order. There’s just so much good stuff going on, flavor- and texture-wise, thanks to the crisp greens, grilled sliced chicken, tender grilled vegetables, and crispy tortilla chips.
Gluten Free | Nut Free
Jennifer Aniston Salad With Chicken
According to an old Instagram post she made, Jennifer Aniston loves this combination of ingredients. It features chickpeas, quinoa, fresh Italian parsley and mint, pistachios, cucumber, red onion, and crumbled feta. The salad is nutritious, and I made it even more well rounded, delicious, and higher in protein by stirring in some shredded chicken and boosting the lemony flavor of the vinaigrette.
Egg Free | Gluten Free
Summer Berry Pasta Salad With Chicken
Dietitian Stacie loves this pasta salad featuring chicken and fresh berries, making it sweet, savory, and satisfying. She serves it as a hearty side dish or main course salad that’s great for picnics and potlucks as well as meal prep. This 30-minute chicken salad recipe is versatile, high in protein, and full of flavor.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free Option | Nut Free
Chopped Mediterranean Salad With Chicken
Ana and I created this recipe together when we were craving a big, fresh salad featuring Greek-inspired flavors like hummus, spring greens, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, lemon, and freshly ground black pepper. We added cooked chicken to up the protein and make it a complete dinner in a salad bowl. The range of ingredients provides a good balance of nutrients, as well as delicious flavors and textures inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Mango Chicken Salad
This vibrant salad features a base of kale and quinoa plus the addition of cooked chicken, fresh sliced mango, red cabbage, avocado, cilantro, and a perfect honey red wine vinaigrette. It’s refreshing, delicious, and healthy. I served it recently for a backyard BBQ to rave reviews and an empty bowl to take home.
Egg Free | Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Whole30
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Dietitian Jess says nothing says fresh quite like the vibrant flavors in this easy pasta salad. It’s her go-to meal prep option when the weather gets warm. She loves that it’s full of chicken, pasta, fresh veggies, cheese, and pesto, so she’s getting both flavor and nutrition. It’s especially great for brining to summer BBQs and potlucks and for packing homemade lunches.
Egg Free | Gluten Free Option
Cold Noodle Chicken Salad
Another unique and satisfying option for a chicken salad, this recipe is crispy, light, sweet, and savory. It’s a cold noodle salad that has main dish energy since it features cooked, chopped chicken. Simple to prepare, it can be on the table in about 25 minutes and is also great for meal prep since tastes even better the next day.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free Option
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