This Whole30 Chicken Salad recipe is creamy, crunchy and a tad bit sweet. This recipe is great for summer picnics and work lunches. We like to batch cook it so we can eat it all throughout the week. This chicken salad is great on a bed of greens, with gluten free crackers, vegetables, or just on its own in a bowl.
Growing up, chicken salad was one of my favorites. As I started getting into paleo I would have regular store bought chicken salad and it always made my stomach hurt, I knew there had to be a better alternative and this is it!
I love having chicken salad in the refrigerator for my week ahead! It is the perfect dish to have on hand when you have a busy day on the go, are traveling, or even to take to a meeting. The fresh pops of sweetness from the grapes with the crunch from the celery and almond slivers makes this dish a huge hit in my home and with my local Pittsburgh meal prep clients.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is so simple but full of flavor!
- Not only is this recipe creamy, savory, and salty, but it also has a sweet burst from the fresh grapes and a crunch from the celery.
- Kids will love this recipe.
- This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy free, whole30, paleo, keto, soy free, and refined sugar free.
- A small serving of this paired with my favorite kale salad would make for a great lunch!
- You can prepare this dish in advance and have lunches for the whole week ahead.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts–Already cooked! I love getting all of my meats and proteins from Butcher Box. They send me a monthly supply right to my doorstep so all I have to do is thaw it out the night before prior to using it. If you use my Butcher Box link you can get free bacon for life with your order.
- Avocado mayo-This is the paleo alternative to conventional mayo. It is made with either avocado oil or olive oil which is better for us than the canola oil that is used in regular mayo.
- Celery-To add a nice crunch.
- Purple grapes-To add some sweetness.
- Almond slivers-To add even more crunch! This recipe can be made without the nuts if you have a nut allergy.
- Sea salt-To taste.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you do not like almonds, you can substitute your nut of choice or leave out. This adds additional crunch to the salad.
- If you don’t like large chunks of chicken, you can shred your chicken or dice smaller. A great hack for shredded chicken is to place the chicken in the base of your stand mixer and let the mixer do the work!
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step by Step Instructions
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl – I love my glass mixing bowls! I like to have ones that can be used in the oven, fridge, freezer, or at room temperature. It helps to make less dishes to clean up!
Expert Tip
- Tip # 1: If you do not have pre-made chicken, you can lightly season your chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder and cook in the oven at 350 degrees F until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Tip # 2: Make sure that the grapes you buy are nice, fresh, and hard. This way you don’t have to worry about them going bad too soon. If the green crapes in your local store are better quality, you can use the green or purple grapes.
- Tip # 3: If you don’t like to eat a lot of salt, you can adjust the measurement to your preference. If there are multiple individuals eating this, you could also make this dish without the salt and allow each person to salt the chicken salad to their preference.
Recipe FAQ
No! It will still have crunch at the end of the week. The almond slices may soften but they don’t get soggy.
In the instant pot with a cup of bone broth on high pressure for 8 minutes.
In the oven on 350 degrees F for 20 minutes with bone broth in the bottom. Check the internal temperature of the chicken to see if it’s done. It should be at 165 degrees F.
Poached, on the stove top with bone broth. Approximately 8 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the breast. Cut the middle of the breast to see if it is pink, if it is pink keep cooking.
You can serve with whatever you like or eat it on its own! I like to serve mine on a bed of greens, or with celery sticks, zucchini slices, and almond flour crackers.
Storage Instructions
- This dish can be stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 5 days.
Other Whole30 Chicken Recipes You Will Love
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Whole30 Chicken Salad
Equipment
- sharp knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 pound chicken breast Cooked-I like Butcher Box. Use my link and get free bacon for life!
- 1/2 cup purple grapes washed, do not chop them. They will get mushy.
- 1 1/2 cup celery chopped
- 1/2 cup almond slivers
- 1 1/2 cup avocado mayo Start out with with 1.5 cups and if you want it creamier add another 1/2 cup until you achieve desired consistency.
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Chop the pre-made chicken breasts into cubes. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until mixed throughout. Serve with celery sticks or almond flour crackers.
Dana says
This is amazing! It’s so simple but so delicious! I can’t stop making it
Christina Abernethy says
I first tried the whole 30 chicken salad from Allianna’s Kitchen delivery service and instantly fell in love! It was AMAZING! I have now made it at home multiple times following the recipe. It’s perfect for lunch or a quick snack on the go! It’s also hubby and kid approved too! We love it!
Allianna Moximchalk says
Yay! This makes me so happy to hear! xoxo
Lori says
This is really good! easy to put together and such a great quick lunch!
Allianna Moximchalk says
This is the perfect lunch, glad you enjoy it too!
Diana says
Absolutely loved it. Will be putting this in my weekly rotation for Whole 30 and beyond!
Allianna Moximchalk says
Wahoo! Thanks for making!
Danielle says
This recipe is a keeper!! It is absolutely delicious! I am not a huge fan of mayonnaise based salads but tried this recipe and it is phenomenal!! As an added bonus, it’s super easy to make and a quick clean up! I enjoy this chicken salad on bell peppers!
allianna says
I am so glad you liked it Danielle, thank you for making!!