Description
This easy and delicious chicken salad recipe without celery is packed with crunchy and flavorful alternatives like nuts, apples, and bell peppers. Creamy, tangy, and versatile, it’s perfect for sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, or served with crackers for a light and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken (diced or shredded)
- ½ cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt for a lighter option)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup diced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (toasted for extra crunch)
- ¼ cup diced bell peppers (red or yellow for sweetness)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries or grapes (halved)
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley or dill
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Dice or shred your cooked chicken and place it in a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Combine everything: Pour the dressing over the chicken and mix well.
- Add crunch & flavor: Gently fold in the diced apples, toasted nuts, bell peppers, cranberries, and fresh herbs.
- Chill & serve: Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to enhance the flavors. Serve in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, or with crackers.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, swap mayo with mashed avocado or an olive oil-based dressing.
- Prefer a low-carb option? Skip the dried cranberries and serve in lettuce cups.
- Add extra protein by mixing in chopped hard-boiled eggs.
- If prepping ahead, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (using pre-cooked chicken)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: ~320 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Chicken salad recipe without celery, no celery chicken salad, creamy chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, easy chicken salad, crunchy chicken salad, mayo-free chicken salad