Description
A refreshing and tropical gluten-free chicken salad featuring tender chicken breast, sweet pineapple chunks, crunchy veggies, and a creamy, tangy dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or picnic.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or chopped)
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper (diced)
- 1/4 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup celery (chopped)
- 1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts (optional)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish
- Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, pineapple chunks, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, chopped celery, and macadamia nuts if using. This forms the base of the salad with a variety of textures and flavors.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt (if using), honey, lime juice, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined, creating a creamy and tangy dressing.
- Toss the Salad: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and gently toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and develop. Serve chilled over a bed of lettuce, in a gluten-free wrap, or with gluten-free crackers. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.
Notes
- To make this salad dairy-free, omit the Greek yogurt and use a dairy-free mayonnaise alternative.
- For an extra tropical twist, try adding shredded coconut or chopped mango to the salad.
- Ensure canned pineapple is well drained to prevent excess moisture in the salad.
- Feel free to substitute macadamia nuts with other gluten-free nuts or seeds according to preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Hawaiian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
