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High Protein Chicken Salad with Cottage Cheese

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This high protein chicken salad with cottage cheese is creamy, tangy, and packed with lean protein. It’s perfect for meal prep, quick lunches, or a healthy post-workout snack, and stays fresh for days in the fridge.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 300g)
  • 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese (2% fat preferred, about 240g)
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced (about 75g)
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, minced (about 20g)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: chopped walnuts or almonds
  • Optional: sliced grapes or dried cranberries
  • Optional: chopped pickles or capers

Instructions

  1. Shred or dice the cooked chicken breast. If using cold chicken, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
  2. Finely chop the celery, red bell pepper, and red onion. If the onion is too strong, soak in cold water for 5 minutes and drain.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, add the cottage cheese. For a smoother texture, pulse it in a food processor for 10 seconds. Add lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
  4. Add the shredded chicken, celery, bell pepper, red onion, and parsley to the bowl with the cottage cheese mixture.
  5. Stir gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients. If the salad looks dry, add more cottage cheese or a splash of milk.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice, salt, pepper, or a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne if desired.
  7. Fold in any optional add-ins like nuts, grapes, or spinach, being careful not to over-mix.
  8. For best flavor, chill the salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  9. Serve chilled in lettuce cups, on whole grain bread, over greens, or as desired.

Notes

For ultra-creamy texture, blend the cottage cheese before mixing. Adjust seasoning after tasting, as cottage cheese saltiness varies. Salad keeps well for up to 3 days in the fridge. For dairy-free, use thick non-dairy yogurt. Add-ins like nuts, grapes, or pickles can be customized to taste.

Nutrition

Keywords: high protein, chicken salad, cottage cheese, meal prep, healthy lunch, gluten-free, low carb, easy salad, post-workout, no mayo

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/high-protein-chicken-salad-with-cottage-cheese-easy-meal-prep-recipe/