Healthy Curry Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt

This no-mayo curry chicken salad has big curry flavor plus shredded chicken, diced apples, celery, and raisins. We’re keeping it light with nonfat greek yogurt too!

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2022 and has been republished with all new photos.

Ya’ll, I am in love with this curry chicken salad. In love, I tell you.

It has a punch of curry flavor, not too much and not too little. It’s got loads of texture thanks to crunchy celery and apples. It has the perfect sweetness thanks to the raisins. And the best part? It’s incredibly light because we’re using nonfat greek yogurt instead of mayo.

Chicken salad is a great way to get extra protein in your day whether you’re enjoying it as a meal or snack. It’s such an easy option! If you’re wanting a more classic chicken salad recipe I suggest trying my Ultimate Chicken Salad. Want another greek yogurt chicken salad? Try my Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad! Obsessed with all things pesto? My Easy Pesto Chicken Salad is right up your alley!

Healthy Curry Chicken Salad Ingredients

• Fully cooked shredded chicken: Any kind of chicken works well here. Boneless chicken breast is the choice I make most often. To save time I like to purchase a cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and just give it a quick chop.
• Celery: Diced crunch celery adds peppery flavor and more texture to this easy curry chicken salad.
• Apple: Choose a sweet apple variety for this entree. I recommend gala, red, or honey crisp apple.
• Cilantro: Cilantro is a popular flat-leafed herb that’s often confused with parsley. It has a stronger flavor than parsley and is used in a variety of cuisines around the world.
• Green onions: Green onions provide some freshness to counter the curry flavors in this salad.
• Raisins: Raisins add sweetness to this chicken salad. You can use any variety you prefer including golden raisins.
• Plain nonfat greek yogurt: Select a plain (unflavored and unsweetened) nonfat greek yogurt. It’s perfectly creamy and mostly flavorless so that our flavors come from the ingredients in our chicken salad.
• Lime juice: Fresh lime juice adds a brightness to this entree.
• Seasonings: Curry powder, salt, and black pepper are all you need to add more flavor to this homemade chicken salad.

How to Make Chicken Curry Salad

In a large bowl (we’ll use the same bowl for the other ingredients), stir together the yogurt, lime juice, curry powder, salt and pepper. This creates a creamy dressing. Then stir in (to the same bowl) the shredded fully cooked chicken, celery, apple, green onion, cilantro, and raisins. Taste add a little salt or more curry powder based on your personal preference.

What chicken is best to use?

Any fully cooked chicken works great. Boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs are both good options. I typically either boil chicken breasts or shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken (to save time). You can use any leftover chicken too. Be sure to chop it into small pieces. The delicious flavor in this dish doesn’t come from the chicken so how you cook it truly doesn’t matter.

If you’re starting with raw chicken, you’ll want 2 pounds of skinless and boneless chicken breasts. Add to a pot of boiling water. Simmer on medium heat until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the water and set aside so it can cool. Then use two forks to shred the fully cooked chicken. You can also use a sharp knife to chop the chicken on a cutting board if you prefer. Measure the finished chicken to make sure you have 4 cups.

What yogurt is best to use?

Select a plain (unflavored and unsweetened) nonfat greek yogurt. It’s creamy and mostly flavorless so that our flavors come from the ingredients in our chicken salad!

What is curry powder?

Curry powder is a blend of spices. There are many different kinds and the spice blend used will vary. Common spices used are turmeric, fenugreek, and coriander. Other spices may be used as well including chile peppers for those with some heat.

It’s thought to have been originally created by the British to mimic the flavors of traditional Indian cooking.

Curry powder is not the same as curry. The term curry refers to a popular Indian dish made with sauce (or gravy), meat, and vegetables.

Is this chicken salad spicy?

It isn’t. This has a mild curry flavor. Of course keep in mind that every curry powder is different so if you select a spicier one you’ll end up with a spicier chicken salad.

What yogurt is best to use?

Select a plain (unflavored) nonfat greek yogurt. It’s perfectly creamy and flavorless so that our flavors come from the ingredients in our chicken salad! Don’t use a sweetened option because we want the tanginess of the yogurt.

How to store leftovers

This chicken salad is an easy recipe for meal prep! The flavors get more pronounced over time so you can make it in advance and use it in make-ahead lunches.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days.

How to serve this

Use this recipe to create a chicken salad sandwich by scooping in between two slices of toasted bread or into a croissant.

To keep this dish light and low carb, enjoy on a bed of greens like romaine lettuce or butter lettuce. You can even make a lettuce wrap and pair with fresh fruit. My Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing would be a perfect accompaniment.

If serving at a party, I recommend using smaller croissants for little two-bite sandwiches! You can also scoop this chicken salad with crackers or add to the top of cucumber slices for easy portable eating!

Share the Love: