Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Print Version)
Tender chicken, pineapple, celery and grapes tossed in a creamy lime-honey dressing with toasted macadamias.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Fruits and Vegetables
02 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced or canned pineapple, drained
03 - 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved
07 - 1/4 cup toasted macadamia nuts, chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or extra mayonnaise for dairy-free
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
11 - 2 teaspoons honey
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
15 - Butter lettuce leaves for serving (optional)
# Directions:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked chicken, pineapple, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, grapes, and macadamia nuts.
02 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until fully blended.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture and gently toss until all components are evenly coated.
04 - Refrigerate the assembled salad for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
05 - Arrange butter lettuce leaves on serving plates, spoon the salad on top, and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It’s the easiest way to bring a little tropical fun to even a regular weekday lunch—trust me, this is sunshine in a bowl.
- The blend of creamy dressing with crunchy vegetables and sweet fruit has turned picky eaters into fans every single time.
02 -
- I learned the hard way that over-mixing can turn the whole salad into mush—toss gently!
- Switching from canned to fresh pineapple honestly made the flavors pop in a way I never expected.
03 -
- Save a sprinkle of toasted nuts and fresh herbs just for topping at the end—it adds unbeatable flavor and crunch.
- Letting the salad chill for at least 15 minutes brings the flavors together in a way that tossing and serving just can’t match.