Description
Bright, refreshing, and satisfying—this Chicken Waldorf Salad is everything you want in a quick lunch or light dinner. It’s a delicious mix of tender chicken, crisp apples, juicy grapes, crunchy celery, and toasted walnuts, all tossed in a creamy lemon-kissed dressing. Whether you’re meal prepping, planning a picnic, or just need new lunch ideas, this easy recipe checks all the boxes. Great for a healthy snack, dinner ideas, or breakfast-to-lunch transition, it’s also naturally gluten-free and simple to customize. A true classic with timeless appeal.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups cooked chicken breast, diced
1 medium Granny Smith apple, chopped
1 cup red grapes, halved
¾ cup celery, thinly sliced
½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped and toasted
⅓ cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups romaine or butter lettuce (optional, for serving)
Instructions
1. Dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Chop the apple, halve the grapes, slice the celery, and toast the walnuts.
2. In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
3. Add the chicken, apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts into the dressing. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
4. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
5. Serve cold over a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or as-is with a fork. Garnish with extra walnuts or black pepper if desired.
Notes
Toasting the walnuts makes a big difference—don’t skip it if you want maximum flavor and crunch.
If prepping ahead, store the dressing and salad separately to keep the texture fresh.
For a lighter version, use all Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: chicken salad, healthy lunch, easy recipe, Waldorf salad, meal prep ideas