Dairy Free Chicken Salad

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This Dairy Free Chicken Salad is the perfect solution if you are looking for a creamy, flavorful chicken salad without dairy. Made with just 10 simple ingredients, this chicken salad is packed with tender chicken, crunchy celery, and a light, tangy dressing. It is a delicious, healthy option for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.

Nothing beats a classic chicken salad. It is packed with protein, and can be eaten as a snack, made into a meal, or served with crackers at a party. It's the perfect dish to make for meal prep, too!

Chicken salad is a classic Southern dish, and the best part is that you can make it with so many flavors - it's really all about personal preference! Do you want to try other dairy free recipes? Check out my Dairy Free "Butter" Chicken or my High Protein Quinoa Salad.

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What are the Ingredients for Dairy Free Chicken Salad?
How do I make Dairy Free Chicken Salad ?
Recipe Substitutions
Ways to Serve Dairy Free Chicken Salad
Tips for Perfecting This Recipe
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating
Recipe FAQ's
Hungry for More?
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Dairy Free Chicken Salad

What are the Ingredients for Dairy Free Chicken Salad?

Chicken breast - Chicken breast is a great lean protein for a high protein diet. It is super versatile and serves as a blank canvas for so many flavors.
Celery - Celery is a great crunchy addition to chicken salad. It is also loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
Vegan mayonnaise - Most traditional mayonnaise is dairy free, but vegan mayonnaise is often made with better-for-you ingredients like avocado oil.
Dijon mustard - Dijon mustard adds a tangy flavor without additional calories in your chicken salad and other salad dressings.
Lemon Juice - Lemon juice is another lower calorie addition to the dressing in this chicken salad recipe.
Parsley, dill, and chives - You can use your favorite combination of herbs, but this is my favorite combination in this dairy free chicken salad recipe.
Salt and pepper - Add flavor to your chicken salad by adding salt and pepper! If you are cooking the chicken yourself, I recommend adding salt and pepper when you're cooking it as well.

How do I make Dairy Free Chicken Salad ?

This image shows the chicken salad dressing ingredients all whisked together in a bowl. There is also the bowl of chicken and bowl of celery waiting to be added to the dressing.

In a medium bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lemon juice, parsley, dill, chives, salt, and pepper.

This image shows the chicken salad once it has been mixed together. All the ingredients, including the chicken and celery have been stirred together in a mixing bowl.

Pour the mayonnaise mixture over the chicken mixture, and toss until well mixed.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Recipe Substitutions

Celery substitution: I get it. Celery isn't for everyone. However, in this easy chicken salad recipe, it adds the perfect crunch without a ton of flavor. If you want to try something else that also has a yummy crunch, I recommend either chopped radishes for a little kick or chopped apple for a little sweetness.
Herb substitution: I love the combination of fresh parsley, dill and chives in this recipe. However, you can add your favorite combination of herbs. Tarragon chicken salad is always a winner, so you could easily substitute the dill and chives for that.

Ways to Serve Dairy Free Chicken Salad

As a wrap - Dairy free chicken salad is a delicious recipe on its own, but it also tastes great as a chicken salad wrap with butter lettuce and avocado.
With crackers - There are many options of hearty, artisan crackers to go along with this chicken salad.
On a sandwich - Who doesn't love a chicken salad sandwich? Make it on some hearty crusty bread? YUMMMMM.

Tips for Perfecting This Recipe

Do not overcook the chicken. If you are cooking the chicken breast yourself, be careful that it is not overcooked it becomes tough and rubbery. This is not what you want in a chicken salad!
Shred the chicken in the food processor. To get the chicken to perfect texture for chicken salad, I recommend placing it in the food processor and pulsing 15-20 times, until it is finely shredded and there are no large chunks.
Chop the celery finely. Chopping the celery finely allows you to mix it well, get a yummy crunch, but ensures that you don't get any celery "ribbons" stuck in your teeth!
Meal prep chicken salad. Chicken salad is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time. When it is made at least a day before serving, all the flavors have time to meld together.

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

To store: The chicken can be cooked a day ahead of time and then shredded and added in with the remaining ingredients the next day. If cooking ahead of time, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If making the complete chicken salad, store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

To freeze: This chicken salad recipe can be frozen for up to 1 month.

To thaw: If you freeze chicken salad, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and serve as usual.

Recipe FAQ's

Can I use chicken thighs in this dairy free chicken salad recipe?

I have not tested this recipe with chicken thighs, but you should be able to use them if you prefer that flavor. If you want chicken thighs, my suggestion would actually be to use half chicken thighs and half chicken breasts in this recipe.

Can I add grapes to this chicken salad?

Yes! If you are a grapes in your chicken salad kind of person, then you can absolutely add them to this recipe.

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