When it comes to chicken salad, I know what I like. I want flavor, texture, and a plentiful portion! This healthy lemon almond chicken salad has all of that: flavored with the zest and juice of a lemon, coated in a creamy dressing made of light mayo and yogurt, and sprinkled with crunchy almonds, each bite is better than the next. The serving size for this salad is one heaping, protein-packed cup, which leaves you full and satisfied. Healthy lemon almond chicken salad is sophisticated and delicious for a crowd, but ready in minutes for a quick and easy lunch meal prep for the week.
Course lunch, main course
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken salad
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 25 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Calories 368kcal
Author Steph
Equipment
large pot
mixing bowl
Ingredients
Poached Chicken - you can skip this step and use 6 cups of cooked shredded chicken
3lbschicken breastraw
1tspkosher salt
1tbspwhole peppercorns
2bay leavesdried
2clovesgarlicsmashed
Salad
1/2cuplight mayo
1/2cupplain non fat Greek yogurt
1lemonzested and juiced
1tbspDijon
1/2tspkosher salt
fresh cracked pepper
1/2cuponiondiced
2tbsptarragonfresh, chopped, can sub: fresh parsley
1/2cupalmondschopped
Instructions
Poached Chicken - you can skip this step and use 6 cups of cooked shredded chicken
Add the raw chicken breast to the bottom of a large pot.
Add the salt, peppercorns, smashed garlic cloves, and bay leaves.
Cover the chicken with cold water.
Place the lid on the pot, and bring the water to a boil.
Reduce to a low boil or rapid simmer, and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.
Remove the chicken to a cutting board to cool.
Chop or shred the chicken.
Yields 6 cups of cooked chicken. You can skip this altogether and purchase cooked chicken breast instead.
Salad
Chop the onion, tarragon, and almonds.
Combine the yogurt and mayo in the bottom of a large mixing bowl. Add the zest and juice of the lemon, Dijon, salt, and pepper.
Whisk together to form a dressing.
Fold in the cooked chicken and the diced onion, almonds, and tarragon.