Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
Are you ready for a simple, flavorful chicken salad? This Lemon Basil Chicken Salad recipe takes healthy eating to a whole new level. The fresh flavors make this new take on chicken salad an instant family favorite, and it’s perfect for a simple lunch or light dinner.
I’m a big fan of trying new salad recipes at restaurants and then trying to recreate them and make my own at home. The fun part about making this simple salad recipe is that it tastes like a million bucks without costing that much.
You can eat this by itself out of a small bowl, or make lettuce cups or lettuce wraps full of the goodness. With less than 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving, you can’t go wrong with this easy meal.
Speaking of simple chicken recipes, be sure to try this Keto Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad, which was my inspiration for this new flavor combo. And this flavorful Blue Cheese Chicken Salad is simply delicious.
Ingredients
- Cooked chicken – You can use leftover chicken breast for this, or even leftover rotisserie chicken. Any type of cooked shredded chicken will work.
- Plain yogurt – This adds creaminess to this salad recipe.
- Mayonnaise – It also helps add texture and flavor.
- Fresh basil – Adds a fresh twist with delicious flavor.
- Lemon zest – Perfect for adding a burst of lemon flavoring.
- Salt – For flavor.
- Black pepper – For flavor.
- Onion powder – Adds a burst of onion flavor.
- Garlic powder – Adds an added garlic taste.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
Step One: Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, and spices together in a bowl.
Step Two: Fold in the chicken. Serve.
Top Tip💡
Take the base of cooked chicken, yogurt, and mayo and change up the seasonings to create a different salad entirely.
Substitutions
- Sour cream – Swap out the yogurt for sour cream.
- Cauliflower – For a vegetarian option swap out the chicken for cooked cauliflower. This makes a great side dish!
Variations
- Add avocado – Creamy avocados would be a great addition to the texture of this salad. Plus, it adds healthy fats!
- Nuts – Chopped nuts add a nice crunch.
- Add onion – Slices of red onion are a great option for this easy dish! I recommend using sweet onions if you are going to add anything to this recipe so that they stand out in flavor and taste. Slice them thin or dice them up for added texture.
- Seasonings – If you’re a fan of different flavors, change up the taste. Adding Italian seasoning, fresh lemon juice, or even a bit of fresh cilantro are all yummy options.
See this Basil Chicken Salad for another fun and delicious recipe.
Equipment
All you need to make this chicken salad recipe is a large bowl, and a measuring cup/spoons. It couldn’t be easier!
Storage
Once you make this salad recipe, storage is key to keeping it fresh. Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. You will then have a simple salad mixture ready to use when the craving strikes.
I don’t recommend freezing this mixture because of the added yogurt and mayonnaise. This recipe is best served fresh.
Common Questions
It’s up to you on how you want to serve and eat this recipe. I recommend serving it on top of lettuce or spinach, to add flavor to your day. You could also add it to a lettuce wrap, or low carb tortilla wraps to create a simple and yummy dish.
I simply use a knife and cut it into chunks, but using two forks to shred the chicken works as well. If you want to add the chicken into a food processor and pulse for a few seconds, that can easily break apart chicken breasts, too. Another option is to cook the chicken and then add it to a mixing bowl. Then, use a hand mixer and let it shred the warm chicken pieces. All options work well and really come down to the type of chicken texture that you want to have in the salad.
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Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz cooked chicken cubed or shredded
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp fresh basil finely chopped, packed
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine yogurt, mayo, and spices and mix thoroughly.
- Fold in the chicken.
Notes
Nutrition
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Love your recipes 💕
this was perfect for a hot afternoon day after working outdoors all morning.
Wonderful! A simple and refreshing chicken salad. It’s nice to know that I don’t have to do a lot of prep to get a delicious chicken salad. So easy to bake up some juicy chicken thighs. Throw some chicken into pasta and veggies for kiddos. And make this salad for myself to save myself some carbs. Win win!