This hearty chipotle chicken salad is packed with flavor, crunch, and a little heat. It’s the perfect recipe to make in advance for meal prep and a great way to switch things up from the normal chicken chicken salad you might be used to.
Easy and Full of Flavor: Chipotle Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is the underrated and undefeated champ of the meal prep/snack games, in my personal opinion. It’s so easy to make (I mean what could be easier than throwing all of your ingredients into a bowl and stirring??) and it’s packed with protein to keep you feeling full which makes it a great option for a healthy lunch or snack.
Don’t be fooled by the somewhat fancy sounding title, this Chipotle Chicken Salad is just as easy to make as the more traditional classic chicken salad that you may be used to.
To keep things interesting though, this recipe kicks things up a notch with the addition of chipotle powder, roasted red peppers, fresh herbs, and crunchy veggies. It’s a fun and delicious twist on chicken salad that I know you’ll love!
Chipotle Chicken Salad Ingredients
Chicken: The star of the show, of course! I prefer to use diced or shredded chicken breast in all of my chicken salads, but feel free to use dark meat if that’s your thing.
Mayo: A good tasting and high quality mayonnaise is super important for a great chicken salad. If you need to make this recipe Whole30 compliant, be sure to check the label for added sugar as well.
Veggies: This particular chicken salad recipe packs in some extra crunch, thanks to fresh celery and diced red onion, and even more flavor because of the roasted red bell peppers. The raw veggies help to add even more variety and texture to the chicken salad.
Spices and Seasonings: Most chicken salad recipes use a combo of salt, pepper, and other spices or seasonings to add flavor. This recipe packs a bit of a kick thanks to the chipotle powder. If you don’t love spice, try starting with ¼ a teaspoon of chipotle powder and work your way up. If you love a kick, go ahead and add in a full teaspoon to start!
How to Make Chipotle Chicken Salad
Step One: Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
Step Two: Serve over greens with sliced avocado, tomatoes, and garnished with cilantro!
How to Serve Chipotle Chicken Salad
Got leftover chicken salad and want to switch things up a bit from your usual way of serving it?
- Try making a lettuce wrap with bibb lettuce leaves or even a collard green wrap with fresh collard green leaves.
- You can also use your favorite bread to make a traditional sandwich with lettuce and tomato.
- Serve it over mixed greens with plenty of extra vegetables and avocado.
This Cold Chicken Salad Recipe Makes A Great Quick and Easy Lunch
When it comes to a quick and easy lunch, chicken salad is the MVP. It’s great to prep in advance, you can eat it cold, and it works well on top of mixed greens for a full or salad or paired with veggies for more of a snacky lunch.
If you want to prep and store this chicken salad in advance for a quick lunch, try packing it with a few sliced veggies like bell peppers, carrots, or celery. That way, when you’re rushing out of the house in the morning, all you have to do is quickly grab a container and go. I also like to pair mine with a few of my favorite grain-free crackers.
Different Types of Chicken Salad Recipes
One of the best things about chicken salad is the versatility. With just a few different herbs and spices, you can easily whip up different and unique chicken salad flavors.
All of these start with the same base of mayo and then add in different veggies, dried fruit, herbs, or spices. Feel free to get creative with your ingredients and come up with a new flavor combination that you love!
Here are a few of my favorite chicken salads:
- Waldorf Chicken Salad
- Classic chicken Salad
- Basil Pesto Chicken Salad
- Curry Chicken Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Chopped Thai Inspired Chicken Salad
I hope you give this Chipotle Chicken Salad a try! This makes a quick and easy lunch that’s perfect for meal prep.
If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.
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Chipotle Chicken Salad (Whole30, Paleo, Keto)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This hearty chipotle chicken salad is packed with flavor, crunch, and a little heat. It’s the perfect recipe to make in advance for meal prep and a great way to switch things up from the normal chicken chicken salad.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked and diced/shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup celery, chopped
- 1 tablespoon red onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Chipotle powder
- 1/3 cup roasted red peppers, diced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- juice of one lime
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
- Serve over greens with sliced avocado, tomatoes, and garnished with cilantro.
Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: THE MINDFUL HAPA
