Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped grilled chicken breast
- 1 medium apple, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, toasted if desired
Dressing Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh thyme for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Grill chicken: If not already grilled, cook the chicken breast over medium heat on a grill until fully cooked and nicely charred, then let it cool. Once cooled, chop into bite-sized chunks, measuring out 2 cups for the salad.
- Mix salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chopped grilled chicken, diced apple, celery, red onion, and walnuts, mixing gently to evenly distribute all components.
- Prepare dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard until smooth and well blended. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Toss with dressing: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss thoroughly until every ingredient is well coated. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired for an aromatic finish.
- Serve: Enjoy the salad immediately on its own, inside wraps or sandwiches, or as a hearty topping for greens or other salad bases.
- Store leftovers: Place any unused salad in an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume within 3-5 days for freshness. Note that this salad does not freeze well, so plan accordingly if meal prepping.
Notes
- Grilled chicken can be prepared ahead of time or purchased pre-grilled to save time.
- To toast walnuts, simply place them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant, shaking often to avoid burning.
- You can substitute mayonnaise with a lighter alternative to reduce calories or fat if desired.
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance with the creamy dressing.
- Fresh thyme adds a pleasant herbal aroma but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (for grilling chicken if not pre-grilled)
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
