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This Shredded Chicken Salad is creamy and delicious, it tastes like Costco chicken salad but healthy and homemade. Ready in just 10 minutes, this is a simple recipe that you are sure to love. High protein, low carb, keto, and low calorie. It’s perfect for meal prep!
Next time you cook chicken, shred it and make this salad. Quick and easy to make, it comes together in a bowl in under 10 minutes. Pull chicken apart, then combine it with Greek yogurt and mayo. Congratulation, you just made the creamiest and most delicious shredded chicken salad. The best thing is that it’s so healthy: high protein, low carb, keto, gluten-free, low calorie and perfect for weight loss. You can even make it dairy-free.
If you’ve ever tried Costco chicken salad, this dish tastes exactly the same. Rich and creamy, flavorful and so satisfying. The secret is mixing about a tablespoon of chicken broth into the salad. This copycat Costco chicken salad tastes delicious on its own, or in combination with other foods such as sandwiches, pasta salads or wraps. This salad with shredded chicken is also great for healthy meal prep, make a huge bowl ahead and you will have meals for the week.
Ingredients & Substitutes
- Shredded chicken. You’ll need to shred cooked chicken breast, it’s healthy and packed with protein. As an alternative you can also shred rotisserie chicken or canned chicken, both options are great.
- Greek yogurt. This healthy shredded chicken salad recipe replaces most of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt. It is low calorie, high protein and perfect for a rich and creamy salad.
- Mayonnaise. Two tablespoons of mayo add richness and creaminess. If you prefer, mayonnaise can be substituted with more Greek yogurt or cream cheese.
- Chicken broth. The chicken broth improves the taste profile of this dish, making it the perfect copycat Costco recipe. Chicken broth can be omitted, in case you don’t want to use it.
- Lemon juice. The lemon tenderizes meat and enhances flavors. The juice of a lemon also helps preserve freshness of the ingredients.
- Celery and onion. Diced celery and onion add crunchiness and flavor to the salad. Feel free to chop some green onion as a replacement for red onion.
- Salt and pepper. The basic recipe only requires salt and ground black pepper, but you can also add other seasonings.
How to shred chicken for salad?
This is a shredded chicken salad recipe, meaning that you’ll need to pull the chicken. Start by cooking it according to your preferences, make it in a pan, on the grill, or boil it. After cooking, let the meat cool down to room temperature. Or place it in the fridge overnight to prepare this salad the next day. Once it has cooled, you can shred chicken at home in 4 different ways.
- Using two forks – Hold the chicken with one fork and use the other to pull it apart.
- Using a stand mixer – Place the cooked chicken into the bowl and then shred it using paddle attachments. I normally use my Kitchenaid mixer.
- Using a hand mixer – If you don’t have a stand mixer, add the chicken to a large bowl and pull it apart with the help of a hand mixer, on low speed.
- Using a food processor – Cut the chicken into chunks, then add it to your food processor. Carefully pulse until shredded, but don’t process it too much or the meat will turn into powder.
- Using your hands – Wash your hands very well, then use your fingers to pull apart the chicken. The easiest way if you don’t have any equipment.
How to make shredded chicken salad?
In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chicken broth and lemon juice. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated with cream. Add diced celery and chopped onion into the bowl, then stir to combine. Season the salad with salt and pepper to your likings.
Seal the bowl with wrapping paper or place the salad in a food container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. You can also serve it immediately, but I highly recommend allowing it to cool a bit because it gets more flavor. If properly sealed, this dish will last for up to 3 days.
Storage directions
Shredded chicken salad is made with fresh ingredients, meaning that it must be stored in the fridge. Here is how to store leftovers to preserve freshness and prevent the food from going bad.
First of all, place leftover shredded chicken salad in an airtight container with lid or cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Once packed and sealed, refrigerate for a maximum of 3 days. Unfortunately this dish does not freeze well.
Recipe variations
- Dairy-free salad with shredded chicken. Replace regular Greek yogurt with nondairy yogurt and mayonnaise with dairy-free mayo.
- Rotisserie shredded chicken on salad. Prepare this recipe with rotisserie chicken, it is more flavorful and so convenient. No need for cooking it at home.
- Salad with canned chicken. Drain and rinse a large can of chicken, then pull the meat apart and use it to prepare your salad.
- Extra ingredients. Mix in your salad dices of avocado, sliced cucumber, grapes, mango or chopped boiled eggs.
- Herbs and seasonings. Experiment with your favorite seasonings such as onion powder, garlic powder, dried or fresh dill, Mexican Elote seasoning or chili flakes for a spicy flavor.
This is a chicken salad with shredded chicken, meaning that you’ll need to pull the white meat apart. Indeed cubed chicken can also work, but you will make a different recipe.
Absolutely! If you shred chicken boiled or cooked with no added oil or fat, it will still remain a low calorie protein source that is perfect for weight loss. Chicken is highly filling, low fat, low carb and keto, perfect for weight loss diets.
Yes, this dish is incredibly healthy. Made with Greek yogurt instead of only mayo, it is low in calorie, high in protein and keto. One serving has just about 110 calories. Last but not least, this salad is incredibly filling thanks to its high protein content (13.9 g per serving).
Serving ideas
This creamy salad is so versatile. Make it ahead and store in the fridge, it is perfect for healthy lunches on the go. Rich and creamy, it tastes delicious already on its own. But if you still need ideas, here are some of the best ways to eat healthy pulled chicken salad.
- In sandwiches: For a healthy lunch on the go, enjoy the salad between slices of oat bread, protein bread, cottage cheese flatbread, or any bread you like.
- Over bagels: Top a protein bagel with fresh slices of tomatoes, lettuce and some creamy pulled chicken.
- In tortilla wraps: What’s better than a wrap stuffed with chicken salad and lettuce?!
- Lettuce wraps: Spoon onto large lettuce leaves and roll them up like wraps. Keto, low in calories and incredibly satisfying!
- Cucumber boats: Make the viral tuna cucumber boats with shredded chicken as a replacement for tuna.
- Pasta dish: Mix some pulled chicken salad in a bowl of Italian pasta salad for a protein packed summer meal.
More healthy salads
- Caprese salad
- Watermelon salad
- Cucumber salad
- Deviled egg potato salad
- Cucumber tomato salad
- Creamy cucumber salad
- Mexican street corn salad
Shredded Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 12 oz chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- ⅓ red onion, chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chicken broth and lemon juice. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated with cream.
- Season shredded chicken salad with salt and pepper to your likings.
- Add diced celery and chopped onion into the bowl with chicken, then stir to combine.
- Seal the bowl with wrapping paper or place in a food container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. If properly sealed, this chicken salad will last for up to 3 days.
