The Best Rotisserie Chicken Salad Recipe

This rotisserie chicken salad is a delicious high protein lunch option. Packed with rotisserie chicken, celery, apple, almonds, mayonnaise, greek yogurt and more, this healthy recipe works well as a sandwich, wrap, or dip with crackers and veggies. 

If nothing else, I am a salad girl.

Not like ‘I love lettuce’ salads. Although those kinds of salads are tasty too.

I’m talking about protein salads. You know… chicken salad, tuna salad, salmon salad, chickpea salad. You name it, I’ll be enjoying a delicious, creamy ‘salad’ for lunch!

This rotisserie chicken salad recipe is the perfect easy lunch because it doesn’t require cooking chicken yourself, it’s packed with protein, and it’s perfect for meal prep. You can serve this chicken salad as a sandwich, wrap, bagel, or as a dip with vegetables or crackers.

It’s super versatile. And the best part is, you can make it once, and enjoy it all week long… and it only gets better as it sits in the fridge.

And if you’re new here, hi! I’m Miranda and I’m on a mission to make healthy eating easier with simple recipes and truly doable nutrition tips. Learn about my story or start repairing your unhealthy relationship with food if you have extra time.

Why you’ll love this recipe

You don’t have to cook chicken. Seriously, is there anything more annoying than cooking chicken from scratch for lunch?! We don’t have time for that! This healthy chicken salad recipe uses rotisserie chicken to save your time and energy so you can focus on more important things.

It’s high in protein. Many women under-eat protein. And it’s not your fault–protein isn’t always super appetizing or easy to get. But it’s very important for growing muscle, feeling full and keeping cravings to a minumum. And this is a super delicious way to get more of it.

It’s balanced. When you think about chicken salad, your mind might go straight to mayonnaise! And while this chicken salad recipe with rotisserie chicken certainly has some mayo, it’s also loaded with veggies, fruit, nuts and even greek yogurt for a healthy lunch option that will leave you feeling great.

It’s extremely filling. And that’s because this recipe has protein, fiber and fat–the ultimate formula for a filling and extremely satisfying meal. If you usually end lunch wanting a little nibble of something more, you’ll want to add this recipe to your rotation.

It’s customizable. Delicious chicken salads need a few things. Chicken (obviously lol), crunch, fat, fruit and tang. If you don’t love some of the ingredients I use or want to add a few of your own, it’s super easy to do!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Rotisserie chicken–this recipe uses chopped storebought rotisserie chicken without skin to save you time! Bonus: it’s a little higher in salt and flavour than what you might make at home, so it makes for a really tasty chicken salad recipe. 
• Celery–this is here for the crunch factor. If you don’t like celery or don’t have any on-hand, replace it with ⅓ cup finely chopped carrot, radish or bell pepper. Or just leave it out!
• Green onions–I prefer green onion in chicken salad because it has a milder flavour and it’s a bit gentler on your breath. Feel free to sub with finely chopped red onion if you prefer.
• Apple–for the perfect sweet crunch. I recommend keeping the skin on for extra fiber and colour. If you don’t love apple, use whatever sweet, crunchy fruit you love. Sliced grapes or chopped pear would work great too.
• Slivered almonds–this adds some texture, healthy fats and fiber. Sub for any nut or seed you enjoy such as chopped pecans, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
• Plain greek yogurt–this recipe combines greek yogurt and mayonnaise for a little extra protein without sacrificing taste. I recommend using 2% plain greek yogurt or higher for less tang and a better mouthfeel. 
• Mayonnaise–because it’s delicious. This is the olive oil mayonnaise I’ve been loving lately, but feel free to use whatever you have available at home.
• Lemon juice–freshly squeezed lemon juice tastes better than bottled, but use what you have!
• Dijon mustard–you can swap with whatever mustard you have on hand.
• Salt and pepper–measure with your heart. You might need a little less salt than you think because we’re using rotisserie chicken. So start with less and add as needed!

How to make rotisserie chicken salad

Prepare your chicken: Remove meat from rotisserie chicken and discard the skin. Dice meat into small, even pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.

Add your remaining ingredients: Add your prepared celery, green onions, apple, almonds, greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt and pepper to the mixing bowl.

Tip: When chopping your vegetables, fruit and chicken, aim to make all ingredients roughly the same size. This will help your chicken salad stay together better on sandwiches and wraps.

Combine ingredients and refrigerate: Mix ingredients well until thoroughly combined. Add additional mayonnaise or greek yogurt, 1 Tbsp as a time, if it looks dry. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container with lid. Place in the fridge and allow mixture to rest for 2-hours before serving.

Serve and enjoy: Rotisserie chicken salad can be served as a sandwich, wrap, bagel, or as a dip with crackers or vegetables. Remove from the fridge right before serving and enjoy cold.

Variations

• Add a finely chopped jalapeno for extra spice. Leave the seeds if you’re feeling brave!
• Swap sliced apples for ½ cup halved red grapes for a more traditional option.
• Add ¼ cup buffalo sauce for a fun and spicy variation.
• Try pecans, walnuts or sunflower seeds instead of almonds.
• Swap chicken for 2-3 cans of cooked chickpeas for a vegetarian option.
• Use all mayonnaise or all greek yogurt depending on your preference.
• Add a big handful of fresh herbs such as dill, parsley or cilantro.
• Swap lemon juice for lime juice to switch up the flavour.

How to serve chicken salad

The beauty of chicken salad is that it’s so versatile. Try serving this rotisserie chicken salad as a:

• Sandwich with whole wheat bread, a croissant or bagel. Add lettuce, tomato and avocado slices for extra texture and flavor.
• Bell pepper sandwich for a lower carb option. Serve with your favourite chips for some satisfying crunch on the side.
• Wrap in a high fiber tortilla or high protein wrap. Serve with fruit and veggies like apple slices, snap peas or baby carrots.
• Dip with crackers, cucumber slices or carrot chips. Turn this into a snack plate and add some nuts, fruit and cheese slices on the side.
• Spoonful. All on its own… or am I the only one who does that?!

We operate through a ‘nutrition by addition’ lens around here. Which means we’re always looking for ways to add nutrition to our favourite foods! 

Rotisserie chicken salad is packed with protein and fat. So when you’re thinking of foods to serve with it for a filling, healthy and satisfying meal, include some high fiber starchy carbs, and colorful fruits and vegetables.

Tips for success

• Chop your ingredients in even, uniform sizes so the mixture sticks together better.
• Start with less greek yogurt and mayonnaise and add more as needed. Rotisserie chickens can vary in size, so you don’t want to add too much.
• Use 2% plain greek yogurt or higher. Nonfat is a little too thick and tangy.
• Start with less salt than you think you might need because rotisserie chicken offers a lot of flavour and sodium on its own.
• You can serve the rotisserie chicken salad right after preparing, but the texture and flavour gets better after a few hours in the fridge!
• You can add a little extra lemon juice if you love citrus. Start by making the recipe as written, and add more as desired.

Frequently asked questions

How long will this keep in the fridge?

Rotisserie chicken salad will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Can I use chicken breast instead of store bought rotisserie chicken?

Yes, you can use 3 cooked chicken breasts if you prefer. But you might need to add some extra salt and pepper because rotisserie chicken is more flavorful.

Can I use the whole green onion in this recipe?

Yes! Just trim the ends and remove any slimy or brown bits first.

What kind of apple should I use?

Whatever you prefer or have available! Lately, I’ve been using pink lady or honeycrisp because that’s what we snack on. Jazz, envy, fuji, and even granny smith apples work great too.