High-Protein Classic Chicken Salad

Shredded chicken, celery, a creamy bowl – 10 minutes, no cook

This is classic deli chicken salad, not a sandwich filler that needs bread. Shredded chicken, celery, red onion, and a Greek-yogurt-plus-mayo dressing mix in one bowl, like the photo. Ten minutes. No stove if the chicken is already cooked.

Four servings. Chill it if you can. It tastes better cold.

Prep10 min

CookNone

Servings4

Protein32g

Net Carbs2g

Calories280

Why you’ll love this bowl

32g protein per serving – lunch that holds you
Only 2g net carbs – no bread required
About 10 minutes, one bowl
Shredded chicken, celery, onion, cream, like the photo
No boxed mix, no sweet relish
It meal-preps for the week

Health notes

High protein: About 1 lb cooked chicken plus Greek yogurt.
Low carb: Celery and onion, no grapes, no bread.
Four servings: One medium glass bowl.
Macros are per serving, not the whole bowl.

Key element – mix yogurt with mayo, and dice the celery small

All mayo tastes heavy. Half Greek yogurt keeps the protein high and the dressing light, like the bowl in the photo. Small dice on the celery and onion so every forkful has crunch, not giant chunks.

Ingredients

Salad (4 servings)

1 lb (450g) cooked chicken breast, shredded
2 celery stalks, small dice
1/4 cup red onion, small dice
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or full-fat)
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt + 1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp chopped parsley, optional

Swaps

Rotisserie: Pull the white meat. Skip the skin for lower fat.
Canned chicken: Drain it hard. Two 12-oz cans work.
No mayo: Use all Greek yogurt. Slightly tangier.
Dill pickle: Add 2 Tbsp chopped pickle. Still low carb.

Instructions

Shred. Shred the cooked chicken with two forks so the pieces look like the bowl in the photo, not cubes.

Dice. Cut celery and red onion into a small dice so they scatter through the salad instead of sitting in chunks.

Dressing. Stir yogurt, mayo, Dijon, lemon, salt, and pepper in the serving bowl until smooth.

Fold. Add chicken, celery, and onion. Fold until every shred is coated, like the photo. Taste salt.

Serve or chill. Eat now, or refrigerate 20 minutes so it firms up. Scatter parsley if you have it. Four servings.

Pro tips

Shred, do not cube. Shreds hold the dressing, like the photo.
Pat the chicken dry if it is wet. Water thins the dressing.
Small dice on onion. Big pieces take over the bite.
Start with 3 Tbsp mayo. Add more only if it looks dry.
It tastes better after 20 minutes in the fridge.

Nutrition

Nutrient	Per serving (1 of 4)
Calories	280
Protein	32g
Net carbohydrates	2g
Total carbohydrates	3g
Fiber	1g
Total fat	14g
Sodium	520mg

Estimates with breast meat, Greek yogurt, and mayo. Sweet pickle relish will raise carbs.

Variations

Dill

Add 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill and an extra squeeze of lemon.

Avocado

Mash 1/2 avocado into the dressing. Skip 1 Tbsp mayo.

Buffalo

Stir in 1 Tbsp sugar-free buffalo sauce.

Lettuce cups

Spoon into romaine or butter lettuce. Still 2g net.

Storage

Method	Time	Notes
Refrigerator	Up to 4 days	Keep covered. Stir before you eat.
Freezer	Not ideal	The dressing splits when it thaws.
Meal prep	4 boxes	One serving per box

FAQ

Yes. About 2g net carbs per serving with no grapes, no bread, and no sweet relish.

Yes. Cold leftover breast or rotisserie is the 10-minute version. Shred it while it is cold.

Yogurt adds protein and keeps it light. Mayo keeps it creamy, like the bowl in the photo.

No. It is ready in 10 minutes. Chill 20 minutes if you want it firmer.

Lettuce cups, cucumber slices, or a fork. Bread will add carbs.

You can, but carbs jump. Keep this version classic so it stays at 2g net.

Test your knowledge

5 quick questions about this bowl

1. Protein per serving?

2. Net carbs per serving?

3. How many servings in the bowl?

4. What keeps the dressing high-protein?

5. How should the chicken be cut?

High-Protein Classic Chicken Salad