Smoked Chicken Salad (High Protein)
This quick and easy Smoked Chicken Salad with Cottage Cheese is both fresh and creamy without any heavy mayo. Make this protein-packed smoky, yet fresh salad in 5 minutes flat. Perfect for chicken salad sandwiches or lunch wraps.
I’m a creature of habit when it comes to lunches and most days I make myself a quick lunch wrap. I do alternate the protein filling though, switching between my egg salad with cottage cheese, smoked tuna dip, Italian beef meatballs, and this smoked chicken salad.
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Smoked Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb smoked chicken breast diced
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese full-fat or light
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp fresh chives finely sliced
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Optional
- 1/8 tsp salt to taste
- 1/8 tsp chili powder or chili flakes
- 1 tbsp milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the diced smoked chicken, cottage cheese, Dijon mustard, chives, lemon juice, and pepper. Stir until well combined.3/4 cup cottage cheese, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp fresh chives, 1/8 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 lb smoked chicken breast
- Taste the salad and season further with salt, pepper, and chili if desired. Add 1 tbsp of milk if the salad is too dry.1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp chili powder, 1 tbsp milk
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
- Smoked chicken – I buy ready-to-eat smoked chicken breast from our local butcher but most supermarkets stock it as well. Choose organic and free-range chicken if possible. You can also use pan-fried, roasted, or grilled chicken for this recipe as well. Any leftover chicken works a treat really.
- Cottage cheese: I use full-fat cottage cheese but you can also opt for a lighter version. Alternatively, you can substitute parts with Greek yogurt or sour cream if needed.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard gives a slight spicy kick but you can also choose wholegrain or yellow mustard.
- Fresh herbs: I use fresh chives but fresh dill or fresh parsley are great options too.
- Lemon: Lemon juice adds some freshness.
- Chili (optional): I like to add a pinch of chili powder, chili flakes, or a dash of siracha sauce to the salad for some heat.
- Veggies (optional): Include finely chopped green onions, celery stalks, or red onion for extra color and flavor.
Key steps: chicken salad
1. I use pre-smoked chicken breast for convenience. Simply cut it into bite-sized pieces.
2. Add all ingredients, mix, and season to taste with salt and pepper. That’s it!
My top 3 chicken salad tips
- Watch the salt: Smoked chicken can be very salty. Taste and season as required to avoid over-seasoning the salad.
- Add milk: Depending on the consistency of your cottage cheese the salad can be dry. Add 1-2 tbsp of milk, one at a time, to increase the moisture.
- Switch it up: Use it to make smoked chicken sandwiches on whole grain bread, pita pockets, tortilla, or lettuce wraps as a low-carb meal.
