Description
This Classic Chicken Salad is a fresh and comforting dish featuring tender shredded chicken, crisp celery, sweet-tart green apples, and smoky turkey bacon, all brought together with a creamy plant-based mayo and tangy Dijon mustard dressing. Perfect for quick lunches or picnic dinners, it offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors that can be easily customized to your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Salad Ingredients
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or chopped
- 1 cup celery, finely diced
- 1 green apple, finely chopped
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1/2 cup plant-based mayo (natural)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (natural)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook chicken breasts thoroughly until fully done. Allow them to cool slightly before shredding or chopping into bite-sized pieces for the salad.
- Crisp the Bacon: In a skillet, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels, then chop into small pieces to add smoky crunch.
- Chop the Vegetables and Fruit: Finely dice the celery and green apples, and chop the fresh parsley to add fresh color and texture.
- Mix the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together plant-based mayo (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), lemon juice (natural), salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine and Toss: In a large bowl, add the shredded chicken, diced celery, green apples, chopped turkey bacon, and parsley. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and gently mix until everything is evenly coated but still light and fluffy.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving. Garnish with additional chopped parsley or chives if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh celery and apples for maximum crunch and flavor.
- Gently fold ingredients to keep the salad light and avoid mushiness.
- Adjust the amount of plant-based mayo (natural) based on your preferred creaminess.
- Prepare the salad a day ahead for enhanced flavors and convenient meal prep.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No cooking method
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken salad, plant-based mayo, turkey bacon, healthy salad, quick lunch
