(This recipe for Spicy Chicken Salad is generously sponsored by Great Day Farms. All opinions are my own)
This spring and early summer, I’ve been really excited about getting in better shape. I love getting up super early (most of the time, haha) and exercising with an amazing group called Camp Gladiator and eating (mostly) healthier foods. Since my workouts are pretty intense I’ve been needing to add a lot of protein to my diet. I try to mix things up a bit as far as my diet goes- I’m definitely not one of those people who enjoys eating the same things over and over again.
I love chicken salad but wanted to try to spice up the traditional southern recipe that usually incorporates celery, grapes, mayo, etc. My husband and I both love spicy foods so I used jalapeno-stuffed olives (yum!), cajun seasoning and cayenne. (If you don’t like things that spicy, you can omit the cayenne. I’ll still be your friend. 😉 )
Since I’m trying to get more protein, I decided to replace the mayo with a sauce made with a combination of cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. I added in Great Day Farms boiled eggs that my husband picked up from the deli at Wal-Mart to add even more protein and flavor. The result was a deliciously creamy, spicy chicken salad that we both loved. (Although next time, I think I will add grapes back to the mix. A little pop of something sweet would make it perfect!)
If you’re looking for super easy, grab-and-go protein options, these pre-boiled (and peeled, hallelujah!) eggs from Great Day Farms are a winner for sure. I just slice one in half and add a dash of salt for an easy snack.
What is your favorite way to make chicken salad? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
- 1 pound cooked, seasoned chicken breast, chopped OR shredded
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp. Tony Chachere's cajun seasoning
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 3 Great Day Farms hardboiled eggs
- 6 large jalapeno-stuffed olives, chopped
- ¼ cup chopped pecans, optional
- In a blender, blend cottage cheese, yogurt, and seasonings until smooth.
- In a large bowl, add chicken, olives, eggs and pecans if using. Mix well. Pour dressing over chicken mixture and mix well. For best flavor, refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
- Serve with lettuce, on bread, or with crackers.
If you are a Trim Healthy Mama, use low-fat cottage cheese and remove the egg yolks and omit the pecans to make this a FP. Serve over lettuce.
To make an E meal, omit egg yolks and pecans. Add 1 cup sliced grapes and serve with plan approved crackers such as Wasa.
To make an S meal, use full-fat cottage cheese and chicken thighs if you like. Serve over lettuce.
About Kelli Hays
