My green goddess chicken salad recipe is the kind of creamy, herb-y, protein-packed lunch that makes weekdays extra delicious! I made a homemade green goddess salad dressing in just a few minutes, then combined it with chopped leftover chicken, red onions, and pistachios. No cooking or delivery required at lunch time with this on the menu!
Chicken Salad with Green Goddess Dressing and Pistachios
I’m a big proponent of chicken salad for easy lunches, so I’m always working up new flavors and recipes to keep lunchtime fun and simple. I’ve made my own creamy green goddess dressing for salads in the past, so I thought I’d try mixing it up with some cooked chicken to see how it tastes. It was so good, like it came from a gourmet sandwich shop. I added red onion for some bite, pistachios for some crunch, and all the different flavors came together for the perfect chicken salad. I like making lettuce wraps or dipping it with rice crackers, but it tastes great on a regular old sandwich too!
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Lean, green, and ready for lunchtime!
I’d say my homemade green goddess dressing is the star of this recipe, and it was so easy to make. I chopped up a bunch of fresh herbs, then blended them with mayo, yogurt, lemon, and garlic for a bright, tangy flavor. It’s a a great dressing to keep on hand, and the herbs can be swapped out depending on what you have.
Green Goddess Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (*)
- ¼ cup red onion (finely chopped)
- ½ cup pistachios (chopped (optional)**)
Green Goddess Dressing:
- ½ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- ¼ cup fresh chives (chopped)
- ¼ cup fresh basil (chopped)
- ¼ cup fresh dill (chopped)
- ½ cup mayonnaise (***)
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt (***)
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the chopped herbs, then reserve 2 tablespoons for later.½ cup fresh parsley, ¼ cup fresh chives, ¼ cup fresh basil, ¼ cup fresh dill
- Add the remaining herb mix, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper to a blender or food processor.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup plain greek yogurt, 1 lemon, 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Blend until smooth.
- Add the chicken, pistachios (if using), and red onion to a large bowl. Pour in the dressing and add in the reserved chopped herbs.4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast, ¼ cup red onion, ½ cup pistachios
- Stir everything together until the chicken is fully coated in the dressing.
- Serve as is or in a sandwich or lettuce wraps.
Notes
- Using a blender or food processor is the easiest way to create a smooth, well-combined dressing. However, ingredients can be mixed by hand if needed.
- This is a versatile dish! Serve as a salad or bowl, as a dip, as sandwiches, or as a wrap.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
How to Make Green Goddess Chicken Salad Step by Step
Prep: Gather the list of ingredients for the green goddess dressing and the chicken salad. I like to prep poached chicken breasts for this, but a rotisserie chicken from the store would work great. Chop up the fresh herbs, cooked chicken, red onion, and pistachios. All of this can be done ahead of time if meal prepping.
Make the Dressing: Combine ½ cup of chopped fresh parsley, ¼ cup of chopped fresh chives, ¼ cup of chopped fresh basil, and ¼ cup of chopped fresh dill. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the herb mixture for later, then add the rest of the herbs to a blender or food processor. Add ½ cup of mayonnaise, ½ cup of plain greek yogurt, the juice of 1 lemon, 1 minced clove of garlic, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, then blend until you get a smooth, green dressing.
Make the Chicken Salad: Next, add 4 cups of chopped cooked chicken, ¼ cup of finely chopped red onion, and ½ cup of chopped pistachios to a large bowl. Pour the dressing on top, and add the reserved herbs. Stir everything together until the chicken is fully coated in the dressing.
Serve: Once combined, you can serve it immediately or store it for later. It makes a great dip for crackers, breads, or veggies. Or serve it inside a wrap, lettuce cups, or sandwiches.
Make Sandwiches: If you’re making this green goddess chicken salad for sandwiches, simply scoop portions onto your bread of choice. This would taste so yummy with rosemary focaccia or sourdough!
How to Store
Once all ingredients are combined, this green goddess chicken salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing it. Serve chilled straight from the fridge! The homemade dressing can also be stored separately, in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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