Mediterranean Chicken Salad

August 4, 2021

Mediterranean Chicken Salad is an easy lunch to make-ahead and enjoy all week! Packed with flavor and protein, you can serve this cold lunch salad on a sandwich, over a salad, or by the forkful. Enjoy!

Gluten Free, Nut Free, Egg Free, Grain Free, Soy Free

A few weeks ago I put a call out for recipe requests… and I got a hella lot of requests for easy lunch recipes.

I can personally relate because lunch can be a tough meal to curate. Especially since becoming a mom and having to feed another mouth 3 meals (+ snacks) everyday, it can get monotonous. How many sandwiches can you make?!

So every once in a while I make something that’s just for me. Sure, I share it with my 2-year-old, but I really make exactly what I’m in the mood for.

Enter this Mediterranean Chicken Salad. It’s…

Packed with flavor
Easy to make
A great way to repurpose leftovers
Made with just 8 ingredients
Loaded with protein
Versatile to use
Allergy-friendly

We had some leftover grilled chicken in the fridge that I was honestly just bored of. I couldn’t look at another chicken sandwich or grilled chicken salad.

So I jazzed up my leftovers and packed them with flavor, like:

Olives
Red onion
Fresh herbs
Spices

And when you’re bored of lunch, the way to un-bore yourself is to add flavor and satisfaction.

After all, satisfaction [and allowing yourself to eat foods you love] is KEY to stop thinking about food so much.

What makes this “Mediterranean?”

Staples of the Mediterranean diet include fresh vegetables and fruit (including herbs and spices), whole grains, healthy fats, like olives and olive oil, fish, plus some dairy and poultry.

The fresh flavors, like olives, dill and parsley, plus dried oregano impart Mediterranean influences in this chicken salad.

I opted to use Greek yogurt for a bit more of a tang than the usual chicken salad made with mayo (although there’s nothing wrong with using mayo here either!). If you’re dairy free, you can always use a coconut yogurt or other non-dairy yogurt instead of the Greek yogurt used here. You can also use mayo, if that’s what you have on hand.

Ingredients to make Mediterranean Chicken Salad

You’ll need less than 10 ingredients to make this easy lunch salad…

Cooked chicken – leftovers are great!
Olives
Red onion
Celery
Dill
Parsley
Greek yogurt (or dairy free alternative)
Dried oregano

I especilly love this recipe because it’s kind of a cook once, eat twice type of meal.

This is a great recipe to make with leftover chicken from the night before.

If you don’t have leftover chicken you can use:

Grilled chicken (no matter the marinade or spices used!)
Rotisserie chicken (use store-bought and save your sanity!)
Poached chicken

You could even make this same recipe using canned salmon or chickpeas instead of chicken if that’s not your thing. It’s a great way to switch things up, but still enjoy the delicious flavors packed in this recipe.

Why I used Greek yogurt instead of mayo in this healthy chicken salad recipe…

No, I didn’t use Greek yogurt to save calories or “lighten up” a traditional chicken salad recipe. I deliberately used Greek yogurt for the tang and extra Mediterranean influence. It provides great flavor in this recipe.

This is an important distinction because I’m not forcing myself (or you) to use Greek yogurt. My intention behind using Greek yogurt was culinary-based… not rooted in saving calories, as it may have been back in my disordered eating days.

If you always use Greek yogurt instead of mayo in chicken or tuna salad, I would love for you to take a look at WHY. Do you actually like it? If yes, GREAT! Keep doing you! If not, know that it’s 100% ok to use mayo.

Of course, if you’re dairy free you can use mayo or a dairy free yogurt for equal tang.

How to Make Mediterranean Chicken Salad

This easy chicken salad recipe could not be easier to make and tastes incredible (so it’s worth some extra chopping!).

First, add all ingredients to a mixing bowl.

Second, mix together all ingredients.

Third, enjoy! (Yes, it’s that easy!)

The most difficult part of making this recipe is deciding how you’d like to enjoy it. On a…

Sandwich
Snack plate
Salad
By the forkful
The options are endless!

How to Balance Your Plate with this Mediterranean Chicken Salad

This Mediterranean Chicken Salad is a great protein-packed lunch to use as part of a balanced plate…

Chicken salad is packed with protein – over 30 grams of protein per 3.5 ounce serving of chicken!

To balance the remainder of your plate, here are some ideas:

Fill half your plate with VEGGIES:

Israeli salad
Chopped cucumbers, grape tomatoes, sliced bell pepper
Mixed green salad

Be sure to add CARBS:

Whole wheat pita
Leftovers roasted sweet potatoes
Pita chips
Or any other carb that sounds good!

Add some extra HEALTHY FATS:

Olives are the obvious choice
Salad dressing
Drizzle of oil
Feta cheese
Sliced avocado