Not Your Mama's Chicken Salad

Elevate your lunch game with “Not Your Mama’s Chicken Salad,” a vibrant, flavor-packed twist on the classic favorite. This recipe combines tender shredded chicken with crunchy celery, sweet dried cranberries, and toasty sliced almonds for a delightful balance of textures. A creamy yet tangy dressing made with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a hint of honey gets an irresistible smoky kick from smoked paprika and optional cayenne pepper. Bursting with fresh parsley and brightened with a splash of lemon juice, this modern chicken salad is perfect for sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or paired with a crisp bed of greens. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for busy weekdays or effortless entertaining!

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 3 cups Cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
• 1 cup Celery, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup Red bell pepper, finely diced
• 0.25 cup Red onion, finely diced
• 3 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Honey
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.25 cup Sliced almonds, toasted
• 0.25 cup Dried cranberries

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded or diced cooked chicken breast, chopped celery, diced red bell pepper, and diced red onion. Stir until evenly mixed.

Step 2

Add the chopped parsley, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries to the bowl. Mix gently to combine.

Step 3

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper until smooth.

Step 4

Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir until everything is well coated and combined. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.

Step 5

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. This step is optional but recommended for better flavor.

Step 6

Serve the chicken salad chilled or at room temperature. It can be served in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, or over a bed of mixed greens.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1292.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2539.0

Total Fat 131.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 16.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 728.0mg	0%
Sodium 2492.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 90.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 12.4g	0%
Total Sugars 46.7g
Protein 230.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 334.0mg	0%
Iron 11.2mg	0%
Potassium 2969.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 48.0%

Protein: 37.4%

Carbs: 14.7%