Waldorf Chicken Salad

This Waldorf Chicken Salad recipe is great to prepare ahead of time for a healthy lunch or snack! Made with tender chicken, fresh fruit, veggies, and a creamy herbed dressing, it’s sure to become a meal prep staple. 

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Why You’ll Love This Waldorf Chicken Salad Recipe

• Easy to make – all you need is a few minutes to stir the ingredients together, and you can eat right away! Plus, this recipe only requires two dishes, meaning clean-up is fast, too. 
• Nutritious – made with Greek yogurt and diced chicken, this recipe has more protein than your average chicken Waldorf salad. Then, we include chopped nuts, fresh fruit, and veggies for a boost of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber to keep you full!
• Versatile – there are so many ways you can customize this recipe with different mix-ins and serving options. No matter what, it’s always delicious! 

Chicken Salad Ingredients

Chicken Breast: the star of the show! I prefer to use diced chicken breast in all of my chicken salads but feel free to use dark meat if that’s your thing.

Fruit: Seedless grapes and apples add a sweet flavor and a bit of crunch. I prefer to use red apples like Sweet Lady or Honey Crisp, but any variety you like best will work.

Veggies: diced celery and red onion add a little crunch add so much flavor. 

Walnuts: feel free to use any other nut you prefer such as almonds, pecans, or pistachios. 

Fresh Herbs: fresh chives and parsley create a classic, refreshing taste. 

Mayonnaise: this forms the base of the dressing, adding bits of creaminess and binding everything together. When you’re shopping, look for a mayo that is made from a high-quality oil.

Greek Yogurt: this reduces the amount of mayo needed and also adds a boost of protein without sacrificing any of the classic taste or texture! 

Dijon Mustard: tangy dijon mustard gives the chicken salad some good flavor.  

Spices: you’ll need salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. 

Lemon Juice: the acidity helps cut through some of the heaviness of the fats, creating a vibrant, well-rounded taste. Freshly squeezed is best! 

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• MIXING BOWL 
• MEASURING CUPS
• SPOON
• MEASURING SPOONS

Tips to Prepare Your Chicken

One of the most common questions I get is how to make chicken for a chicken salad. There are a couple of different ways you can prepare chicken for this recipe, and they’re all great options! 

• Roast bone-in split chicken breasts – this is my favorite way to prep the chicken. I season two bone-in split chicken breasts with salt, pepper, avocado oil, garlic powder, and onion powder and then roast them at 400 degrees for around 40-45 minutes or until completely cooked through. Once they have cooled, I remove the skin, pull the meat from the bones, and dice up the meat.
• Bake boneless skinless chicken breasts – if you have some boneless skinless chicken breasts on hand, this is another great option. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil, and season the breasts with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Once cooled, dice up the meat.
• Poach boneless skinless chicken breasts – if you prefer, you can poach your chicken breasts in boiling water until they are cooked through. 
• Use leftover roasted chicken – another great (and easy!) option is just to use leftover chicken from a whole roasted chicken. You could even use a combination of white and dark meat if you like.

How to Make the Best Waldorf Chicken Salad Recipe

Step One: Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, grapes, walnuts, and herbs to a large mixing bowl. 

Step Two: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and lemon juice until well combined. 

Step Three: Pour the dressing over the chicken salad ingredients, and stir to combine and coat everything.

Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?

Yes, I actually recommend making this chicken Waldorf salad in advance! Chilling the ingredients allows the flavors to really sink in and enhances their flavor.

Store your chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways you can serve this Waldorf chicken salad recipe! Some of my favorite options include: 

• As a salad over a bed of leafy greens 
• In a lettuce wrap with Bibb lettuce leaves or collard greens
• With bread or buns to make a sandwich or sliders
• As a dip with crackers, pita, or veggie sticks

More Delicious Chicken Salad Recipes

• Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad
• Healthy Homemade Chicken Salad
• Pesto Chicken Salad
• Curry Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
• Chicken Bacon Avocado Chopped Salad
• Chopped Thai-Inspired Chicken Salad

I hope you give this Waldorf Chicken Salad a try! It’s easy to make and perfect for meal prep! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.

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Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: THE MINDFUL HAPA