Light Chicken Salad is wonderfully creamy yet uses minimal mayonnaise for a healthier, slimmed-down take on traditional Southern chicken salad. For a low-carb meal, serve it over a bed of lettuce or with sliced cucumbers and red bell pepper.
To keep this salad creamy without adding excess fat and calories, a blend of low-fat cottage cheese and light mayonnaise is used. Processing the cottage cheese with the mayonnaise in a food processor smooths out the curds, producing a silky base that still feels rich but contains fewer calories than traditional recipes.
Cottage cheese not only adds creaminess but also boosts the protein content of this Light Chicken Salad, making it a satisfying choice for a healthy diet. It’s a versatile ingredient that can lighten dishes in many other recipes, where it substitutes well for higher-fat dairy like sour cream.
This version of chicken salad is flavored with lemon juice and a touch of honey for a balanced tang and subtle sweetness, plus garlic powder, white pepper, and paprika for mild savory notes. Chopped celery and red or sweet onion add crunch and freshness. If you like, stir in some chopped hard-boiled egg for extra richness and texture.
One serving of this Light Chicken Salad contains approximately 128 calories, making it a light option for lunches, sandwiches, or lettuce wraps.
More Lightened Up Southern Favorites
- Baked Fried Okra
- Skinny Creamed Corn
Light Chicken Salad
Light Chicken Salad is creamy but uses less mayonnaise for a healthier, slimmed-down version of classic Southern chicken salad.
Salad
Southern
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 cups cooked and chopped white chicken meat
- 1/2cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1/4cup light mayonnaise
- 1/2tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 to 1/2teaspoon salt
- 1/4teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4teaspoon paprika
- 1/3cup chopped celery
- 1/3cup chopped red or sweet onion
Instructions
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Place the cooked, chopped chicken in a large bowl.
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In a food processor, combine the cottage cheese, light mayonnaise, lemon juice, and honey. Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
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Pour the dressing over the chicken and stir to combine. Fold in celery, red onion, and seasonings (salt, garlic powder, white pepper, and paprika) until evenly distributed.
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For a finer texture, place half of the chicken mixture in the food processor and pulse a few times, then return it to the bowl and mix with the rest.
Note: Nutritional values are provided as a guideline only.
