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Healthy No-Mayo Chicken Salad Lunchbox Cups: Easy Meal Prep

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These Healthy No-Mayo Chicken Salad Lunchbox Cups are a creamy, tangy, and protein-packed lunch that comes together in under 30 minutes. Made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo, they’re perfect for meal prep and stay fresh for days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie or canned)
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat or 2%)
  • 2 ribs celery, finely diced
  • 1 medium apple (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), cored and diced small
  • ½ cup red grapes, halved
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh dill or parsley
  • 6–8 small lettuce cups (butter lettuce, romaine hearts, or endive leaves)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: If using rotisserie chicken, remove skin and bones, then shred or dice into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups). If using canned chicken, drain well and flake with a fork; pat dry with a paper towel.
  2. Dice the vegetables and fruit: Finely dice celery, apple, and red onion. Halve the grapes. Keep apple pieces about ¼-inch cubes. If adding nuts, chop coarsely.
  3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and pickle juice until smooth. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
  4. Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, add chicken, celery, apple, grapes, and red onion. Pour dressing over top and fold gently with a spatula until evenly coated. Do not overmix.
  5. Chill (optional but recommended): Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld.
  6. Assemble the cups: Spoon about ¼ to ⅓ cup of chicken salad into each lettuce cup. Do not overfill. For meal prep, store salad separately and add lettuce cups just before serving.
  7. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with extra chopped pecans or fresh dill if desired. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

If the salad seems dry after sitting in the fridge, stir in a tablespoon of yogurt or a splash of pickle juice before serving. Keep lettuce separate until ready to eat to avoid sogginess. The salad tastes best on days 2 and 3.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken salad, no mayo, healthy lunch, meal prep, Greek yogurt, gluten-free, high protein, easy recipe

Find it online: https://evabakery.com/healthy-no-mayo-chicken-salad-lunchbox-cups-easy-meal-prep/