Add flavor to your summer meals with this easy Curried Chicken Salad. It’s creamy, crunchy, and a little spicy, and it takes only 10 minutes to throw together.
I have found a new favorite dinner recipe for the warm weather months. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it doesn’t require an oven. And it is jam packed with flavor! I plan on making this Curried Chicken Salad all summer long. And well into the fall and winter too.
We make a lot of keto chicken salad in the summer. We toss some boneless, skinless chicken on the grill and chop up some celery for a basic version. But I got a little tired of the basics and l went nosing around my spice drawer. And the spicy curry mix caught my eye.
I am glad it did, because this salad is spectacular. One bite and I was hooked. I think you will be too!
Why you will love this recipe
Chicken salad makes life easy. You can make a big batch and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days, so it’s fabulous for meal prep. That way, it’s ready for quick keto lunches and dinners whenever you need it.
And as long as you have the chicken cooked and ready to go, it takes only about 10 minutes to throw together. A bit of chopping, some mixing and stirring, and you’re ready to go.
Adding curry powder and some chopped nuts adds depth of flavor and great texture. The creaminess of the dressing contrasts delightfully with the crunch of the nuts and celery. And this curried chicken salad can be as mild or as spicy as you like. Use mild or hot curry, add more more to taste, whatever works best for you.
This is a fabulous addition to your favorite low carb high protein recipes!
Ingredients you need
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- Cooked chicken: You can use skinless, boneless breasts or thighs and cook them yourself, or you can grab a rotisserie chicken and pull off the meat. We like to grill some thicken thighs for this salad.
- Celery: Celery is a classic addition to any keto chicken salad.
- Red pepper: I added red pepper for a pop of color, but any pepper would do. Or you can leave it out altogether to reduce the carbs.
- Chopped pecans: You can really use any chopped nuts here, like walnuts and almonds. If you are allergic to nuts, leave them to altogether or add some sunflower seeds. Toasting them first adds even more flavor.
- Mayonnaise: Get a good quality mayonnaise that doesn’t have any added sugar.
- Curry powder: I like to use a spicy curry powder for this chicken salad but mild works just as well. I also give it a touch of cayenne for an extra kick.
- Salt and pepper
Directions
Really, it couldn’t be easier to make this curry chicken salad recipe. All you need to do is toss everything in a bowl together and stir until well combined.
I like to mix the dry ingredients together first, before adding the mayo and spices. That way, you ensure an even distribution of ingredients.
How to serve Keto Chicken Salad
Scoop it into large lettuce leaves for some easy lettuce wraps. I like butter lettuce leaves for flexible wraps and iceberg lettuce for stiffer cups.
I also like it simply served it over a regular green salad. I find I don’t need any dressing because it is so flavorful!
Turn it into a sandwich with some Keto Bagels. Or make an open-faced toasted sandwich with a slice of Coconut Flour Bread.
Serve it as a dip with keto crackers. You could try my nut-free crackers, or grab a few bags of my favorite RealPhat Foods crackers. Use code FOODDREAMER for 10% off.
Use it as the topping for cucumber bites or make stuffed avocados.
Frequently Asked Questions
Classic chicken salad tends to be low in carbs as it is. But some recipes call for higher carb additions like raisins, grapes, or sweetened dried cranberries. This keto chicken salad recipe sticks with low carb ingredients and has only 1.4g net carbs per serving.
Depending on the ingredients, chicken salad can be very healthy. This Curried Chicken Salad is high in protein and fiber, and low in carbohydrates, so it’s a healthy option for most diets.
Store this chicken salad in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing it, as the vegetables will become mushy.
More healthy chicken recipes
Keto Chicken Marsala
This Keto Chicken Marsala is a classic recipe with a healthy twist. You can’t beat this golden pan-seared chicken topped with succulent mushrooms in a rich, velvety sauce. And it has only 4.5g of carbs per serving!
Easy Souvlaki Chicken
Take your tastebuds on an adventure with this Chicken Souvlaki recipe. It’s an easy and healthy meal that’s naturally high in protein and low in carbohydrates. And it’s bursting with bright Greek flavor!
Walnut Crusted Chicken Breast
This Walnut Crusted Chicken checks all the boxes for a heart-healthy keto recipe. It’s tender and flavorful, and so easy to make. With plenty of good fats and less than 2g net carbs per serving, you can dig in guilt-free!
Curried Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb (680.39 g) cooked chicken, diced
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1/2 medium red pepper, chopped
- 1/4 cup (27.25 g) roasted chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup (112 g) mayonnaise
- 1 to 2 tbsp (1.01 tbsp) curry powder
- 3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) pepper
- 1/8 tsp (0.13 tsp) cayenne, optional
Instructions
- Place the chicken, celery, red pepper, and pecans in a bowl and toss to combine.
- Add the mayonnaise, curry powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne and stir until well coated. Refrigerate until chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
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Love it! So fricking easy. I subbed some chopped red onion for the red pepper due to allergies. I used 4 tsp of curry powder for around a pound of chicken. I would add more roasted pecans next time – maybe double. They were the star of the show in my opinion.
So glad you liked it!
I had a roast chicken that needed to be cooked and decided to use it for this chicken salad. I conveniently had the other ingredients on hand, that’s a first! It’s very flavorful. Did not disappoint. Instead of the cayenne, i added a very small amount of chipotle chili powder and it was fantastic. Give it a try if you are tired of basic chicken salad and want to spice up your plate!
I am so addicted to this recipe! I’ve made it 3 times this month. My DIL asked for the recipe and discovered I misread red “peppers” and added red “onions!” Next time I’ll add both! And this morning I substituted hard boiled eggs for the chicken and made it for breakfast – just can’t get enough. Oh, and one tip for a super fast meal – if you keep Costco’s canned chicken on hand you can have a meal ready in minutes!!
Love this! Easy, quick and a way to stretch rotisserie chicken to multiple meals with very different taste.
This was delicious. I did use more mayonnaise so I probably had more dry ingredients … yeah, I used the whole pepper and 2 stalks of celery. I’ve had it every day this week for lunch. Thank you.
Perfect combination of flavors and textures.
This looks amazing and I want to give it a go….but mayo is an absolute no-go in this household (long story that I will spare you). I’m thinking that greek yogurt would be a good substitute for the thickness but I am wondering how I might replicate the flavour of mayo. Or would the tanginess of the yogurt be enough? Your thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
As always, I really really appreciate all that you do and share.
This recipe is so good. I did add some unsweetened dried cranberries to add a touch of tartness.