Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Printable)
Tender chicken with pineapple, grapes, celery and macadamia in a creamy lime-honey dressing—bright tropical flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded (grilled or poached)
→ Fruits & Vegetables
02 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced or canned pineapple, drained
03 - 1 cup celery, sliced thinly
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, optional
→ Dressing
08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or extra mayonnaise for dairy-free
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, optional
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked chicken, diced pineapple, sliced celery, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, halved grapes, and chopped macadamia nuts.
02 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the combined salad ingredients and toss gently using a spoon or spatula to ensure even coating.
04 - Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
05 - To serve, arrange butter lettuce leaves on plates, spoon the chilled salad on top, and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together quickly, especially with leftover chicken, making you look like you planned ahead.
- The burst of sweet pineapple is a playful twist that wins over even salad skeptics.
02 -
- I once added the dressing too soon and the salad became watery after a couple of hours—now I always combine just before serving.
- Toasted nuts can go from golden to burnt in a heartbeat; keep your eye on them and don’t multitask during this step.
03 -
- Pat your pineapple and grapes dry if they seem juicy—excess moisture will thin out the dressing.
- For a pop of freshness, zest the lime before juicing and stir in half the zest.