This Greek Chicken Salad recipe is a staple for an easy and healthy lunch in our home! The recipe includes details on how to make it Whole30 compliant or Paleo, and it is naturally, gluten free, dairy free, low carb, and most importantly crazy delicious!
I sometimes find it really hard to find lunch options that are healthy, delicious, and not just plain boring. We found this especially challenging when we did the Whole30 diet last fall. But when my food options start to get monotonous, I get cranky, so I turned to the kitchen and started playing around to create some new recipes that would keep my life a little more delicious.
{To see ALL of our Whole30 Recipes, click here!}
One thing I always like to do when I am creating new recipes is to take a basic recipe, like in this case, chicken salad, and try to incorporate some of my favorite flavor combinations into it in a more non-traditional way. I talked all about how much I love Greek flavors in this post about my homemade Greek Seasoning. Those flavors turned out to be a match made in heaven for a basic chicken salad.
{See ALL of my to-die-for Chicken Salad recipes here!}
Homemade Greek Chicken Salad
This recipe is simple enough and just requires a few ingredients to get a really awesome and tasty end result. If you are using precooked chicken, then the best part is that this only requires a few minutes of chopping to get this from the fridge to the table. The biggest trick to staying Whole30 Compliant is the Mayo. For Whole30 compliant it needs to be homemade (I used this one, it isn’t as scary as it sounds,I promise!) or you can buy a Whole30 Compliant Mayo like this one .
You will start out with your chicken breast. You can use canned, which I have definitely done in a pinch, but fresh chicken will have a better texture and flavor so go for the fresh if you can get your hands on some. You can cube or shred the chicken. I like mine shredded, but this is completely a preference thing.
Next chop the celery and grapes so they are in small easy to chew pieces. Then place the chicken, celery and grapes in a large bowl and top with the mayo, lemon juice, and greek seasoning. If you are doing the Whole30 diet you will want to use homemade mayo or Whole 30 Compliant Mayo, and this Homemade Greek Seasoning, if not you can use the homemade version (which is to die for!) or pick up a package of Cavendar’s Greek Seasoning at your local grocery store. It is also pretty tasty but has some extras that are not allowed on the Whole30 diet. And if you aren’t doing Whole30, I highly recommend adding a big handful to feta cheese to the mixture too. Yum!
Mix it all together and let it sit in the fridge in an air tight container for 1-2 hours to let the flavors really come together. Or if you are like me, and not so patient, make a nice lunch and then let the REST of it sit in the fridge for a few hours.
This makes quite a bit and is really great to feed a crowd at a brunch, bridal shower, baby shower or just to fill up your lunchbox for the work week. We have made this for all of the above!
****Scroll to the bottom for the FULL PRINTABLE Recipe****
Also make sure to save these delicious recipes:
Whole30 Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe
Whole30 Bacon Ranch Avocado Egg Muffin Recipe
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Greek Chicken Salad Recipe {Paleo, Whole30 Compliant}
Hover over "serves" value to reveal recipe scaler
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast shredded or chopped
- 1 1/2 cups celery chopped
- 1 1/2 cups grapes halved or quartered
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise {use homemade or whole30 compliant mayo for the diet}
- The juice from 1 lemon {about 2 Tbsp}
- 1 Tbsp greek seasoning {use this greek seasoning recipe one if paleo or whole30}
Instructions
Mix the mayo and greek seasoning until blended.
Combine the chicken celery and grapes in a large bowl.
Stir in mayo blend into mixture until incorporated evenly.
Eat and enjoy! It's delicious!
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
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FAQs
Tahini is a sesame seed paste typically used in Mediterranean dishes. It has a mild nutty flavor and can commonly be found as an ingredient in hummus or baba ganoush. However, it is perfect for heartier dressings and sauces, and is 100% Whole30 compliant.
What's the difference between paleo and whole 30? ›
The Whole 30 and Paleo Diet are very similar. The Whole 30 is more restrictive than the paleo diet. For example, no sugar is allowed in the Whole 30 but only refined sugar is cut out of the Paleo diet. The Whole 30 is meant to be consumed for 30 days, whereas the Paleo diet is designed to be a long-term diet.
Is canned chicken Whole30 approved? ›
Is Canned Chicken Whole30 Compliant? The short answer: it depends on the brand. Generally, the standard canned chicken that you'll find at the grocery store contains some form of “modified food starch” or “rice starch” or other additives—which are neither whole30 compliant nor paleo.
How many calories in a small chicken Greek salad? ›
Greek salad with chicken contains 421 calories per 383 g serving. This serving contains 31 g of fat, 23 g of protein and 13 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 5 g sugar and 3.1 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.
Is tahini OK for Paleo? ›
Unprocessed Fats and Oils: Coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and tahini are all acceptable on a paleo diet.
Is hummus OK on Whole30? ›
Traditional hummus is made from garbanzo beans, which are a legume and not Whole30 compatible. However, there are some really yummy hummus-like dip recipes out there, using cauliflower, carrots, or even green peas as a base.
Do you lose weight fast on paleo? ›
The Bottom Line. It's well known that following a paleo diet can help you lose weight. It's high in protein, low in carbs, may reduce appetite and eliminates highly processed foods and added sugar. If you don't like counting calories, evidence suggests the paleo diet could be a great option.
Is paleo or Whole30 better for weight loss? ›
Whole30 also cuts out highly processed foods. This super-restrictive, 30-day plan aims to “reset” your eating and pinpoint food sensitivities. Both paleo and Whole30 could help you lose weight and feel more energized. Both paleo and Whole30 can be tough to sustain.
What is a Whole30 substitute for butter? ›
But that doesn't mean you can't eat any butter when you're doing Whole30 or that you should start looking for some butter substitute. According to the program rules, the best—and only—way to eat butter when you're doing Whole30 is to eat clarified butter or ghee.
Is balsamic vinegar allowed on Whole30? ›
Vinegar. Nearly all forms of vinegar, including white, red wine, balsamic, apple cider, and rice, are allowed during Whole30 program. Added sugar, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, stevia, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, etc.
Canned olives are mentioned throughout the official Whole30 site as being a great natural fat to eat while on Whole30. Additionally, the Whole30 program states, "Do not consume carrageenan, MSG, or sulfites.
Is it OK to eat Greek Salad everyday? ›
It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and iron. It also contains ingredients full of phytonutrients and antioxidants, such as oil and onion, which reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. We suggest adding this low-fat superfood to your everyday diet!
How healthy is Greek Salad? ›
Heart Health
The Mediterranean diet, of which Greek salad is a quintessential part, is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. The healthy fats in olive oil, along with the antioxidants from the vegetables, contribute to lower cholesterol levels and better cardiovascular health.
How nutritious is Greek Salad? ›
Compared with other salads, Greek salad is relatively low in calories and carbs. It also contains a moderate amount of heart-healthy fats from ingredients like olives, feta cheese, and olive oil ( 4 ). One serving (319 grams) of Greek salad contains ( 5 ): Calories: 211.
Who should not eat tahini? ›
Allergies. Unfortunately, if you are allergic, it may be difficult to avoid products that contain sesame since sesame does not have to be disclosed as an ingredient in foods. However, tahini will always include sesame seeds. So if you know that you have a sesame allergy, you should always avoid tahini.
Can you have sesame seeds on Whole30? ›
Nuts and Seeds
Tree nuts, including almonds, cashews, and macadamia nuts, are all allowed during Whole30® as well as seeds like sunflower and sesame seeds. You can enjoy these nuts and seeds whole or ground. However, stay away from peanuts, which are actually legumes.
Can you eat Baba Ganoush on Whole30? ›
This Easy Baba Ganoush Recipe (Keto and Whole30) is the perfect healthy snack or appetizer. Made with roasted eggplant and a handful of simple ingredients, every bite is exceptionally creamy, smoky, and rich!
Does tahini count as nut butter? ›
The seeds are ground until they form a thin paste-like sauce—it's the same process for making any type of nut butter, except that instead of cashews or almonds, you're using sesame seeds! Tahini is vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free; unless you have a sesame allergy, it's totally safe to eat.
