Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Printable)
Tropical chicken and pineapple with crisp veggies and a creamy lime-mustard dressing—light, refreshing and easy.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Fruits & Vegetables
02 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced, or canned pineapple, drained
03 - 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
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 additional 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 Make:
01 - Add diced chicken, pineapple, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, grapes, and macadamia nuts to a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the chicken and vegetables; gently toss to uniformly coat all components.
04 - Refrigerate the mixed salad for at least 15 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - Arrange butter lettuce leaves on plates if desired. Spoon salad onto lettuce and finish with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The tangy, creamy dressing hides a tropical twist that never fails to surprise even skeptical salad eaters.
- This salad became my lunch hero because it comes together fast and never feels heavy, even on the hottest days.
02 -
- If your pineapple or grapes are too juicy, skip draining and your salad will turn soupy within minutes—learned it the hard way.
- Toasting the nuts just until fragrant makes the biggest impact in both flavor and aroma—it’s a tiny step but worth the few extra minutes.
03 -
- Add fruit at the very last if you want picture-perfect salad every time.
- A small splash of pineapple juice in the dressing is a fun secret for extra tropical zing.