Description
This High Protein Mediterranean Chicken Salad is a flavorful, nutritious dish perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Packed with protein and fresh Mediterranean ingredients like feta, olives, cucumber, and herbs, it’s tossed in a creamy Greek yogurt and mayonnaise dressing. The salad is versatile, served chilled on its own, as a lettuce wrap, or alongside keto-friendly crackers and veggie sticks.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 cups Canned Chicken (or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 medium Cucumber (diced into 1/4-inch pieces, seeds removed)
- 1/4 cup Red Onion (finely minced)
- 1/2 cup Olives (chopped, variety of choice)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Dill (chopped; parsley can substitute)
- 4 leaves Lettuce Leaves (for wrapping)
- 1 cup Veggie Sticks (carrot or bell pepper)
Cheese
- 1 cup Feta Cheese (crumbled; goat cheese can be substituted)
Dressing
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise (Hellmann’s recommended for texture)
- 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (Fage Total 5% for richness)
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice (add to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (fresh garlic can be used)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 teaspoons Greek Seasoning (premade mix or a blend of oregano and thyme)
Accompaniments
- 1 box Keto-Friendly Crackers
Instructions
- Prepare Veggies and Cheese: Dice the cucumber into small 1/4-inch pieces, removing all seeds to avoid excess moisture. Finely mince the red onion and chop the fresh dill. Crumble the feta cheese into small pieces and chop the olives according to your preference.
- Make the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, Dijon mustard, and Greek seasoning. Whisk all together until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Add the Chicken: Drain the canned chicken thoroughly to remove excess liquid. Gently fold the chicken into the prepared dressing mixture, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Carefully fold in the diced cucumber, minced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, chopped olives, and fresh dill into the chicken and dressing mixture. Mix gently to combine all flavors well.
- Chill to Meld Flavors: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. This resting period allows the flavors to meld and intensify for a tastier salad.
- Serve: Serve the salad chilled either in a bowl or wrapped inside crisp lettuce leaves. Accompany the salad with keto-friendly crackers and fresh veggie sticks like carrot or bell pepper for a balanced meal.
Notes
- To lighten the recipe, substitute mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt.
- Use fresh garlic minced finely instead of garlic powder for a stronger flavor.
- This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 2 days, making it ideal for meal prep.
- For a dairy-free option, replace feta cheese with a vegan cheese alternative and use a dairy-free yogurt.
- Rotisserie chicken can be used instead of canned chicken for a fresher taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken salad, high protein chicken salad, Greek chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, low fat chicken salad, no cook salad, keto-friendly chicken salad
