Description
A creamy, flavorful chicken salad featuring tender rotisserie chicken, sweet red grapes, crunchy celery, and roasted cashews all tossed in a tangy yogurt and mayo dressing seasoned with Dijon mustard and spices. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or as a refreshing snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% milkfat or higher)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons sugar (or honey, to taste)
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salad Mix-ins
- 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or diced (rotisserie chicken breast preferred)
- 1 1/2 cups red grapes, sliced
- 1 cup finely diced celery (about 2-3 stalks)
- 1 cup roasted cashew halves and pieces
Optional Seasonings
- Dried or fresh herbs (such as dried chives)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- White pepper or freeze-dried chives for finishing
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sugar, kosher salt, onion powder, and garlic powder until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Adjust the seasoning so the dressing tastes slightly salty and concentrated, as it will blend with the other ingredients later.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cubed cooked chicken, sliced red grapes, finely diced celery, and roasted cashew pieces. Pour in your preferred amount of the prepared dressing over these mix-ins.
- Toss and Mix: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the dressing, ensuring each bite has a nice balance of flavors and textures.
- Adjust Seasonings: Taste the chicken salad and adjust the flavor if needed by adding more salt, pepper, or your choice of herbs such as dried chives. Stir in any additional seasonings like white pepper or freeze-dried chives for extra flavor and a pop of color.
- Serve and Store: Serve the chicken salad chilled on a whole wheat wrap, lettuce leaf, sandwich bread, toast, or as a dip alongside crackers. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- This chicken salad is versatile—feel free to swap cashews for walnuts or almonds for a different crunch.
- You can adjust the sweetness by using honey instead of sugar or omitting sugar altogether for a less sweet salad.
- Using rotisserie chicken streamlines prep time, but leftover cooked chicken works equally well.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt.
- To keep it gluten-free, serve the salad in lettuce wraps or on gluten-free bread.
