Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Print View)
Tender chicken, pineapple, celery and grapes in a creamy lime-honey dressing—bright, easy and chilled to serve.
# 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 and diced
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 extra mayonnaise for dairy-free option
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)
# Method:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, add diced chicken, pineapple, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, grapes, and macadamia nuts.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt (or additional mayonnaise), lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss with a spatula or large spoon until all components are evenly coated.
04 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
05 - Arrange butter lettuce leaves on individual plates if desired. Spoon salad onto the leaves and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley before serving.
# Insider Tips:
01 -
- The sweet crunch of pineapple and grapes is pure sunshine hidden in a salad bowl.
- You can whip this up in under half an hour, and people will ask you for the recipe every single time.
02 -
- If you rush the chilling step, the salad won’t taste as harmonious and fresh—the wait is worth it!
- One time, I used leftover rotisserie chicken and it made the salad extra savory and quick.
03 -
- Always toast the nuts right before adding so they don’t lose their crunch in the salad.
- Taste the dressing before mixing in—you can always add a dab more honey or lime depending on your mood.