14 Healthy High-Protein Chicken Salad Recipes

I am the proclaimed chicken salad queen and I’ve now written that so many times on the internet, it has to be true!

No but really, I LOOOVVVEE a chicken salad which is why I have so many on my site

And since I also love hitting my protein goal too, almost every recipe is developed with that in mind.

So here are my 14 favorite high-protein chicken salad recipes. They range from the classics like grape pecan and shallot celery to more unique ideas like buffalo chicken and southwest BBQ.

Each one is easy to make, 13 of the 14 have 30+ grams of protein per serving, and, best of all, they are easy to customize.

So whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, easy meal prep idea, or just something delicious to snack on, I’ve got you covered.

Let’s dive in.

14 Healthy High-Protein Chicken Salad Recipes

We’ve covered all the bases with classics like shallot celery to cranberry almond to new varieties like green goddess and buffalo. Each recipe is high protein, easy to prep, and perfect for a quick lunch or easy snack.

Round Swamp Farm chicken salad copycat in a white bowl, creamy and velvety with finely shredded chicken, celery, and shallot.

Round Swamp Farm Chicken Salad (Copycat Recipe)

5 from 4 votes

A perfect dupe of the iconic Round Swamp Farm chicken salad, made with rotisserie chicken, celery, and shallot with a soft, whipped texture. Simple and perfectly seasoned, just like the original.

Total Time 15

Calories 318

Protein 35

Carbohydrates 3

Fat 18

SEE FULL RECIPE

High-Protein Dill Pickle Chicken Salad

5 from 2 votes

If you're a pickle person, this one's for you. Tangy, creamy, and loaded with dill pickles, this high-protein dill pickle chicken salad has 35g of protein and 5g of carbs per serving and comes together in 10 minutes. Perfect for meal prep.

Total Time 10

Calories 326

Protein 35

Carbohydrates 5

Fat 18

SEE FULL RECIPE

Overhead view of creamy chicken salad in a white bowl with pita crackers

Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

4.75 from 4 votes

Creamy honey mustard chicken salad made with shredded rotisserie chicken and a tangy yogurt-mayo double-mustard dressing. Sweet, savory, and 40g of protein per serving. Great on sandwiches, wraps, or straight out of the container.

Total Time 10

Calories 308

Protein 40

Carbohydrates 12

Fat 10

SEE FULL RECIPE

Rotisserie chicken salad with creamy Caesar dressing in a white bowl topped with Parmesan and romaine lettuce, surrounded by crackers.

Rotisserie Chicken Salad with a Creamy Caesar Dressing

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A protein-packed rotisserie chicken salad tossed in a rich and tangy Caesar-style dressing made with Greek yogurt, Parmesan, and lemon. Perfect for sandwiches and wraps.

Total Time 10

Calories 309

Protein 40

Carbohydrates 6

Fat 13

SEE FULL RECIPE

Green Goddess Chicken Salad

5 from 1 vote

Bright, herby, and creamy with a velvety whipped texture, this Green Goddess Chicken Salad is perfect for meal prep. It takes just 15 minutes to prep and has over 37 grams of protein per serving.

Total Time 15

Calories 329

Protein 37

Carbohydrates 8

Fat 17

SEE FULL RECIPE

the best chicken salad recipe with grapes, showing the creamy texture and vibrant ingredients.

The Best Chicken Salad with Grapes, Pecans & Tarragon

5 from 1 vote

Looking for the best chicken salad recipe with grapes? This super easy recipe features tender shredded chicken, sweet red grapes, crunchy pecans, and herbaceous tarragon for the perfect balance of sweet and savory. It makes a quick and easy lunch and is great for meal prep, too!

Calories 439

Protein 31

Carbohydrates 10

Fat 31

SEE FULL RECIPE

Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad (with Greek Yogurt)

5 from 1 vote

A creamy, high-protein chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and a tangy greek yogurt dressing. Ready in 15 minutes. 39g protein per serving.

Total Time 15

Calories 333

Protein 39

Carbohydrates 20

Fat 11

SEE FULL RECIPE

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

5 from 1 vote

A creamy, high-protein chicken salad made with diced rotisserie chicken, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, celery, and a yogurt-mayo dressing. Perfect for meal prep lunches, sandwiches, wraps, or crisp lettuce cups.

Total Time 10

Calories 435

Protein 37

Carbohydrates 18

Fat 24

SEE FULL RECIPE

Overhead view of apple walnut chicken salad with diced apples, celery, walnuts, and scallions in a white bowl.

Healthy Apple Walnut Chicken Salad

5 from 2 votes

A fresh, creamy chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken, crisp apples, green onions, and toasted walnuts in a tangy Greek yogurt and Dijon dressing. Balanced, high in protein, and perfect for meal prep.

Total Time 15

Calories 382

Protein 37

Carbohydrates 10

Fat 22

SEE FULL RECIPE

Apricot Chicken Salad with Toasted Cashews

5 from 1 vote

A creamy apricot chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken, dried apricots, toasted cashews, fresh tarragon, and a tangy greek yogurt and grainy mustard dressing. Ready in 15 minutes. 39g protein per serving.

Total Time 15

Calories 410

Protein 39

Carbohydrates 25

Fat 18

SEE FULL RECIPE

Buffalo chicken salad in a white serving bowl drizzled with hot sauce and topped with fresh chives.

High-Protein Buffalo Chicken Salad

5 from 4 votes

Bold, tangy, and a little spicy. Finely shredded chicken tossed in a creamy buffalo dressing with crunchy celery and carrots in every bite. Takes 15 minutes and has 35 grams of protein per serving.

Total Time 15

Calories 325

Protein 35

Carbohydrates 4

Fat 18

SEE FULL RECIPE

Bowl of Southwest Chicken Salad topped with cilantro and lime, served with tortilla chips on the side.

Barbecue Lime Southwest Chicken Salad

5 from 2 votes

A creamy chicken salad with a bold Southwest twist and 32 grams of protein per serving. Packed with shredded chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeños, and cilantro, all tied together with a smoky BBQ-lime dressing.

Total Time 40

Calories 323

Protein 32

Carbohydrates 17

Fat 14

SEE FULL RECIPE

Spicy Jalapeño Cashew Chicken Salad

5 from 1 vote

This cashew chicken salad combines rotisserie chicken, toasted cashews, and finely diced fresh jalapeño in a creamy lime-cilantro greek yogurt dressing. It's a no-cook, high-protein lunch that's ready in 15 minutes and only tastes better after a night in the fridge.

Total Time 15

Calories 361

Protein 38

Carbohydrates 14

Fat 17

SEE FULL RECIPE

Overhead view of curry chicken salad topped with toasted almond slivers and dried blueberries in a white bowl.

Curry Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds & Dried Blueberries

5 from 2 votes

This curry chicken salad is creamy, crunchy, and sweet with just the right touch of spice. Madras curry powder, dried blueberries, jalapeño, and toasted almonds make it a crave-worthy twist on the classic.

Total Time 30

Calories 442

Protein 32

Carbohydrates 21

Fat 26

SEE FULL RECIPE

Chicken Salad Questions

What makes these chicken salads high protein?

Chicken salad is naturally high protein because well… chicken. What makes the particularly high protein is that I call for chicken breast which is higher in protein than dark meat and I swap some of the mayo for greek yogurt which keeps things creamy but lower fat and high protein.

Can I make chicken salad without mayo?

Totally and it’s actually my preference as you’ll see in most of these recipes. Greek yogurt is a really easy 1:1 substitution that works in any chicken salad recipe. Or you can do a mix of greek yogurt and mayo. The split is up to you.

How long does chicken salad keep in the fridge?

Most of these recipes stay good in an airtight container for about 4 days making them great for meal prep. Anything with a crunchy element will get slightly mushier so I recommend eating it within 2 days or keeping it separate until you’re ready to eat it.

What is the best chicken to use?

All chicken works: rotisserie chicken, poached chicken breast, canned chicken, leftover chicken. My favorite is rotisserie chicken because I think it has the best texture and flavor (plus it makes these recipes no-cook).

Final Thoughts

Chicken salad is genuinely one of those things I can eat every day and never get sick of. It’s easy to make, totally customizable, and you can switch up the flavors and add-ins so it never gets boring.

This list of high-protein chicken salads has a little something from everyone.

Whether you’re into the classics like grape pecan or are looking for something new like southwest BBQ, this list covers all the bases.

If you’re looking for recipes to add to your meal prep rotation bookmark this post for later (or pin it!)

And let me know if you give any a try. I’d love to know what you think.

Enjoy,

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