Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Printable)
Tender chicken, pineapple, grapes and macadamia nuts in a creamy lime-honey dressing—bright and perfect for summer lunches.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Fruits & Vegetables
02 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
03 - 1 cup celery, sliced thin
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved
07 - 1/4 cup toasted macadamia nuts, chopped
→ Dressing
08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
11 - 2 teaspoons honey
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
15 - Butter lettuce leaves, for serving
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, add diced or shredded chicken breast, pineapple, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, seedless grapes, and toasted macadamia nuts.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken and fruit mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are coated evenly.
04 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to blend flavors.
05 - Arrange butter lettuce leaves on plates, spoon salad onto the leaves, and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It’s the ultimate way to use up leftover chicken in a dish that tastes anything but leftover.
- The combination of tropical fruit and zingy dressing keeps every bite light and fresh, earning it repeat requests from my friends.
02 -
- I once rushed the chilling step and the salad tasted a little chaotic—never skip that fridge time, even if you’re hungry.
- Tossing the ingredients gently, not vigorously, keeps the delicate chicken and fruit from turning mushy.
03 -
- Letting the salad chill longer brings out deeper, rounder flavors and better texture with each bite.
- A little bit of dressing goes a long way—save any extra for a sandwich spread the next day.