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27 easy chicken salad recipes
- Janine Ratcliffe
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Make one of our wholesome chicken salads for a light lunch or dinner. Choose from our delicious chicken caesar salad, chicken pasta salad, roast chicken salad and more.
Looking for chicken salad recipes? Want the best healthy chicken recipes? Our easy dishes are inspired by a range of cuisines, from Chinese and Thai to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean.
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Make up a hearty chicken pasta salad or bang bang chicken salad, then save the leftovers for your lunchbox. If you want a light lunch, try our chicken quinoa salad, roast chicken salad or chicken caesar salad. After, check out more of our salad recipes and easy summer salads for fresh ideas using seasonal ingredients. Also see our collection of chicken recipes for all the most popular chicken dinner ideas.
How to make chicken salad
Chicken salad is a versatile dish that can be tailored to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.
- Chicken: Chicken breast is popular due to its lean protein content and mild flavour. It can be grilled, poached, roasted or shredded, depending on your preferred texture. Alternatively, chicken thighs can be used for a juicier and more flavourful option.
- Salad leaves: A base of fresh greens provides texture and nutrients. Mixing different leaves can add complexity to the dish.
- Nuts and seeds: Adding nuts or seeds introduces crunch and healthy fats. Almonds, walnuts, cashews, sunflower and pumpkin seeds all work well. Toasting them enhances their flavour and provides extra depth to the salad.
- Vegetables: A variety of vegetables can be included to add colour, texture and nutrients. Classic choices include cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers and carrots. Roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes or courgettes can add a warm, hearty element.
- Fruit: Fruits can introduce sweetness and balance the savoury flavours. Mango, pomegranate seeds, apple slices or dried cranberries work particularly well. Citrus fruits like orange segments can also add a refreshing zing.
- Carbs: Carbs such as roasted potatoes, croutons or cooked quinoa can be added to bulk up the salad. Whole grains like brown rice or couscous also work well, providing fibre and a satisfying texture.
- Dressing: A good salad dressing ties everything together. Options include yogurt-based dressings for creaminess, vinaigrettes with balsamic or apple cider vinegar for acidity, or herb-infused olive oil for a fresh and aromatic touch.
What to serve with chicken salad
If you're serving chicken salad as part of a spread, it's all about variety and balance. Elevate your offering with a hearty pasta dish – our pistachio and kale pesto pasta, with its vibrant, nutty flavour, complements the richness of the chicken perfectly. A selection of fresh bread is a must, allowing guests to create their own sandwiches. For a satisfying, grain-based option, try our mushroom and quinoa-stuffed courgettes. This dish not only adds a fulfilling texture but the warmth of the mushrooms and courgettes brings an intriguing contrast.
Easy chicken salad recipes
Chicken pasta salad
This quick pasta salad is great for using up left-over chicken. Throw it together with tomatoes, rocket, basil and fusilli for a protein-packed lunch or midweek dinner. Check out more delicious pasta salad recipes.
Tahini chicken caesar salad
Everyone’s favourite chicken salad gets a nutty upgrade thanks to an umami tahini dressing.
Chargrilled bang bang chicken noodle salad
A fresh, vibrant, hearty salad of slippery noodles with crunchy, zingy veg and a rich ginger peanut sauce.
Buffalo chicken salad
For a salad that’s got it all – a kick of heat from the hot sauce in the marinade and rich creaminess from the blue cheese dressing – try this crowd-pleaser for any summer BBQ.
Healthy chicken caesar salad
Enjoy a comforting and creamy caesar salad without the richness. This lighter version uses half-fat crème fraîche, worcestershire sauce and dijon mustard for an extra kick. We've got plenty more delicious caesar salad recipes to try.
Check out more healthy salad recipes here.
Chicken and avocado salad
Our chopped chicken, avocado and tomato salad is packed with lots of crunchy veg. It contains under 400 calories and is ready in 15 minutes, so it's ideal for a healthy midweek meal.
Chicken kyiv salad
Use shop-bought shortcuts to create this flavour-packed warm salad. Breaded chicken saves making croutons and the garlic butter adds an extra punch.
Roast chicken salad
This mouthwatering salad combines roasted chicken with charred Little Gem lettuce, a creamy shallot-infused yogurt dressing and crunchy croutons. It's low in calories and perfect for using up leftovers or a rotisserie chicken.
Bang bang chicken salad
Served in a creamy peanut butter sauce, this shredded chicken salad is pure comfort. Make it for dinner, then keep the leftovers for your lunchbox the next day.
Chicken quinoa salad
Looking for a simple and healthy salad recipe? Serve chicken breasts on a colourful bed of quinoa with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, sumac, mint and lemon zest. It's low in calories but absolutely packed with flavour. Discover more of our healthy salad recipes.
Thai chicken salad
This vibrant dish uses fresh herbs, fish sauce and lime juice as a dressing for shredded chicken and crunchy vegetables. Enjoy it for lunch or a light supper that's full of flavour but low in calories.
Kung pao chicken salad
Quick, delicious and low in calories, Donal Skehan's kung pao chicken salad is packed with flavour thanks to Chinese five-spice and sweet chilli sauce. Serve with a mixture of crunchy vegetables for a satisfying midweek meal.
Harissa chicken and couscous salad
Everything about this salad is bright and punchy. Harissa-roasted chicken breasts are served on a bed of lemony couscous, herbs and veg. It's the perfect weeknight dinner for two.
Chicken satay noodle salad
Combine stir-fried noodles with shredded carrots, cabbage and satay sauce, and the result is an utterly irresistible combination of tastes and textures. Noodles work particularly well to mop up the creamy peanut butter sauce and add substance to the salad.
Miso kale, pomegranate and chicken salad
Feeling the winter blues? Throw together this hearty, colourful chicken and sweet potato salad. Serve with kale, pomegranate and avocado, and dress in a zingy miso, honey and tahini dressing.
Kale chicken caesar salad
Try a modern twist on chicken caesar salad by serving with chopped kale in a zingy dressing. This recipe is really easy, ready in just 30 minutes and under 350 calories – perfect for a midweek meal.
Spiced chicken salad with cashews and cucumber
This fragrant chicken, cucumber and dried fruit salad from cooking guru Sabrina Ghayour is perfect for a Persian dinner party spread. Serve it in a big dish and let everyone dig in.
Deli chicken salad
Create your ideal deli lunch at home. Bursting with Mediterranean flavours such as fresh tomatoes, olives and basil, this colourful chicken salad is easy to make and ready in just 20 minutes.
Chargrilled chicken chimichurri salad
We've added the punchy flavours of chimichurri sauce to this griddled chicken salad recipe. A quick and easy dish that has less than 250 calories and is ready in 15 minutes, ideal for a healthy midweek meal.
Sweet and sour chicken salad
With juicy pineapple and crunchy cucumber, this healthy salad is a burst of freshness. Whip it up in just 15 minutes and serve in a tangy lime and honey dressing.
Vietnamese chicken salad
Make the most of left-over chicken in this simple and speedy salad. Serve it shredded with cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs, then dress with a punchy combination of lime, chilli, ginger, honey and fish sauce.
Jerk chicken skewers with mango salad
Get a taste of the Caribbean by coating chicken pieces in delicious jerk seasoning and cooking over a hot griddle pan. A refreshing mango and sugar snap pea salad is the perfect accompaniment for these spiced skewers.
Cumin chicken with kale salad
Make chicken that little bit more exciting with a fragrant cumin and paprika crust. Serve on a crunchy almond and kale salad with a drizzle of hummus and white wine vinegar dressing.
Chicken and lentil salad
Make the most of seasonal ingredients in this flavoursome chicken salad with crunchy green beans, mangetout and lentils. A punchy dijon mustard dressing finishes off the dish perfectly.
Griddled chicken with rice salad and mango dressing
Check out this easy griddled chicken breast with a sweet, juicy mango dressing and wild rice. This simple salad recipe is low in calories and ready in just 35 minutes.
Catalan roast chicken, potato and pepper salad
This satisfying chicken, potato and pepper salad is a great way to use up Jersey Royals. Sweet smoked paprika gives the dish a big flavour boost.
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Pomegranate chicken and mint salad
Boost the flavour of this low-calorie chicken salad with juicy pomegranate molasses, mint and a sharp lemony dressing. Using low-fat yogurt adds a touch of creaminess without being too rich.
Authors
Janine RatcliffeFood director
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