Description
Hawaiian chicken salad blends tropical flavors into a refreshing meal. Cool pineapple, grilled chicken, and crisp vegetables create a delightful island-inspired dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
Dressing and Binding Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Vegetables and Garnish:
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut
Serving Options:
- Lettuce leaves
- Bread
Instructions
- Dice cooked chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces, ensuring consistent texture throughout the salad.
- Chop fresh pineapple chunks, removing any tough core and creating bite-sized segments that complement the chicken.
- Finely slice celery and bell pepper to add crisp texture and vibrant color to the mixture.
- Mince red onion into delicate pieces to distribute mild, sharp flavor evenly.
- Whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, and Dijon mustard in a separate bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Season the dressing with salt and freshly ground black pepper, balancing the sweet and tangy components.
- Gently fold the dressing into the chicken and vegetable mixture, ensuring each ingredient is thoroughly coated.
- Sprinkle sliced almonds and shredded coconut for added crunch and tropical dimension.
- Refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and enhance overall taste profile.
- Serve chilled atop crisp lettuce leaves or as a filling for sandwiches, wraps, or on toasted bread.
Notes
- Optimize chicken tenderness by poaching or using leftover roasted chicken for extra flavor depth.
- Swap mayo with Greek yogurt or avocado for a lighter, healthier version that maintains creamy texture.
- Choose fresh pineapple over canned for brighter, more vibrant taste and better nutritional profile.
- Make this dish gluten-free by serving in lettuce wraps instead of traditional bread or rolls.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 275 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg