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This Healthy Chicken Salad is a delicious and healthier twist on the classic chicken salad recipe. Mix up a batch of this no-mayo chicken salad for a tasty sandwich, or put it in ripe avocado halves for a gluten-free option.

Dill chicken salad on a crossiant on a wooden board
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This healthy chicken salad is a fresh take on a classic. Even better, it’s made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo.

It’s creamy, tangy, and packed with tons of flavor.

Chicken salad is such a great meal prep dish. It’s easy to make ahead and even better, the taste improves after 24 hours.

You might love some other mayo-free dishes: Greek Yogurt Egg Salad, Healthy Green Pea Salad, Instant Pot Potato Salad, and Healthy Deviled Eggs.

While I am not a mayo fan, if you are, check out our Whole30 Chicken Salad for a mayo-based option.

Ingredients

ingredients on a white board for making chicken salad without mayo

This recipe uses:

  • Cook and shredded chicken – use leftover shredded chicken from a store-bought rotisserie chicken, homemade roast chicken or our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
  • Green onions
  • Chopped celery
  • Dill relish
  • Plain Greek yogurt
  • Dried dill – though fresh will work great too
  • Dried chives – feel free to use fresh

How to MAke Healthy Chicken Salad

*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact measurements, etc. You can also click “jump to recipe” to skip down.

Start with leftover cooked chicken breasts. Use two forks and shred it in a medium mixing bowl. You can also chop it depending on your texture preference.

Add the other ingredients, and stir everything to mix thoroughly. Refrigerate it for at least 4-6 hours prior to serving. Yup, that’s it!

2 photos showing ingredients in a bowl for making chicken salad with dill

RECIPE VARIATIONS & OPTIONAL ADDINS

You can throw in some chopped or grated apples, sliced grapes, or dried cranberries for a new take on this healthy chicken salad.

Looking for more color? Try some finely diced chopped red onion instead of the green onion.

I also love some Djion mustard in mine, and either a splash of apple cider vinegar, or a bit of the vinegar brine from the relish.

The celery gives the salad a delicious crunch, but adding in some chopped almonds or walnuts can also be a great option.

No leftover chicken? Try a few cans of canned chicken if you have some in the pantry.

How to Store and Freeze

Storing Leftovers: Store leftover chicken salad in an air-tight container for up to four days.

Freezing Leftovers: Freeze chicken salad in small portions for 3-6 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

How to Serve Chicken Salad

It’s delicious on crusty bread like baguettes, no-knead dutch oven bread, even crackers, or a tortilla/pita for a wrap.

I also love it scooped into halved avocadoes or placed on top of chopped cabbage salad.

frequently asked questions

can i use mayo instead of greek yogurt in chicken salad?

Yes, if you prefer mayo, by all means, use that in your healthy chicken salad recipe!

Store-bought mayo is fine, but if you’re looking for an easy homemade option, check out this homemade Whole30 Mayo.

Can I use dairy-free greek yogurt in this recipe?

Absolutely! Just double-check that it is plain/unflavored.

If you’re using a non-dairy yogurt that isn’t “Greek-style”, your chicken salad may seem a bit more watery. Add in another 1/4 cup of chicken, celery, onions, or throw in some grapes or chopped/grated apple.

Can i use chicken thighs for chicken salad?

Yes! You use whichever cut of chicken you prefer.

If you’re using a leftover whole or rotisserie chicken, you can mix in different cuts to use in the recipe.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • Make this dish the day before you want to serve it. It gives the flavors a chance to meld together, and it tastes even better.
  • Store in the fridge for up to four days. After that, the whey from the Greek yogurt will start to water down the chicken salad.
  • Use your favorite store-bought relish, or finely chop some pickles you might already have in your fridge. Check out my Dill Pickle Relish canning tutorial if you’re a canner.
  • Throw some Pickled Shallots on top; yum!
a white bowl of mayo free chicken salad

Chicken Salad Without Mayo WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS

One serving has 0 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.

5 from 17 ratings

Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Dill chicken salad on a crossiant on a wooden board
This healthy chicken salad recipe is a delicious and healthier twist on the classic chicken salad recipe. Mix up a batch of this no-mayo chicken salad for a tasty sandwich, or put it in ripe avocado halves for a gluten-free option.

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Shred cooked chicken in a medium-sized bowl.
    2 cups cooked chicken
  • Add all the remaining ingredients together and mix to combine.
    ½ cup celery, 1 green onion, 2 tbsp dill relish, 5 tbsp plain Greek yogurt, 3/4 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp dried chives, Salt and pepper to taste
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours prior to serving for best results.

Notes

In a pinch, throw chicken breasts in an Instant Pot cover with water, and cook it on manual for 6 minutes. Then do a 10-minute natural release, then a quick release, and then shred. 
Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 140kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 20gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 152mgPotassium: 258mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 560IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

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About Sarah

Helping you serve up budget-friendly sustainable recipes with a side of balanced living.
Come for the food. Stay for the snark.

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22 Comments

  1. What can you use instead of the dill relish and dried dill? I don’t like the taste of dill.

    1. You can just leave them both out. If you want the “tang” from the relish, try sweet relish or a splash of white vinegar.