This Curry Chicken Salad Is a Meal Prep Lunch Hero

Curry Chicken Salad

This Curry Chicken Salad is the lunch inspiration you’ve been needing. Tender chicken, sweet grapes, and crunchy cashews are tossed with a creamy curry dressing to make this twist on traditional chicken salad feel fresh and inspired.

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Why You’ll Love This Curry Chicken Salad With Grapes Recipe

The Flavor Is Unbeatable. Like my other curry-flavored salads (Chickpea Salad Sandwich and Curry Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Chickpeas), this salad is bold, bright, and absolutely delicious. Warm, earthy spices pair perfectly with cool, tangy yogurt for a delicious dressing, and the salad mix-ins add both texture and flavor.
It Can Be Served in Numerous Ways. Equal to this unexpected chicken salad’s bright flavor is its diversity: serve it over lettuce for a quick lunch, wrapped in a tortilla for a filling dinner, or on crackers for a light snack. It will taste delicious any way you serve it!
A Meal Prep Master. This curry chicken salad with grapes is a meal prepper’s dream. It’s loaded with filling protein to keep you powered for hours. Like my Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad and Whole30 Chicken Salad, it stores well for up to four days in your refrigerator and it’s ready to spring into action whenever (and however!) you need it.

Curry chicken salad with grapes in lettuce leaves

5 Star Review

“Holy smokes! This was devoured! It’s so simple but yet, it’s absolutely delicious.”
— Becky —

How to Make Curry Chicken Salad

The Ingredients

For the Chicken Salad

Chicken. You can use rotisserie chicken, or Baked Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chicken Breast, or Grilled Chicken Breast.
Grapes. Delightful bursts of sweetness that complement the more savory flavors in this recipe. For a different fruity twist, you could make this curry chicken salad with apples.
Cashews. It’s 100% worth the extra step to toast them first. As with almost any nut, toasting the cashews accentuates their flavor and crunch as a leading sidekick in this salad. If you prefer, you can take a note from my Whole30 Chicken Salad and use almonds.
Celery + Green Onion. For freshness, more crunch, and a touch of green.

For the Dressing

Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt is packed with protein, helps make the salad thick and creamy, and adds a subtle tanginess.
Lemon Juice. For brightness and acidity.
Maple Syrup. Adds natural sweetness that tastes incredible with the curry flavor.
Curry Powder. Filled with rich spices, warmth, and earthiness, curry powder is the key to this salad’s delicious flavor.
Other Spices. A little garlic powder, salt, and pepper boost the flavor even more.

The Directions

Toasted cashews on sheet pan for curried chicken salad

Toast the Nuts. Chop, then set them aside.

Ingredients for curried chicken salad in bowl before stirring

Add the Salad Ingredients. Make sure the bowl is large enough for mixing.

Prepare the Dressing. Whisk until smooth.

Curry chicken salad in mixing bowl with dressing, before tossing

Stir Everything Together. Serve as desired. ENJOY!

How to Serve Curry Chicken Salad

As Lettuce Wraps. A lightened-up take on a chicken salad sandwich. (Love this idea? Try these easy Lettuce Wraps!)
As a Salad. Top a bed of lettuce with this chicken salad for a healthy, tasty meal. I like to prepare extra dressing for drizzling over the top.
With Crackers. Incredibly simple and perfect for a light lunch or snack.
Inside a Pita or Tortilla. Stuff a pita or tortilla with curry chicken salad for a perfectly packable meal.
As a Sandwich. Pile the salad between two pieces of bread or a croissant for an easy curry chicken salad sandwich.

Bowl of curry chicken salad with grapes and cashews

What to Serve with Curry Chicken Salad

Another Salad. Make your own version of a salad sampler at home. Serve this chicken salad alongside Pea Salad or Sweet Potato Salad with Bacon.
Fruit. For a light and healthy side, pair this recipe with Fruit Salad.
Chips or Fries. Serve curry chicken salad with crispy Air Fryer Potato Chips or Sweet Potato Fries (delicious with curry powder).
Soup. Soup and salad is a beloved, classic combo. Try Pumpkin Curry Soup or Curried Carrot Soup.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Customize as You Please. While we love this salad as written, it can easily be customized to your liking. Extra mix-ins like golden raisins (for a pop of sweetness), diced apples, or even chopped red onion would be delicious.
Don’t Burn the Nuts! This may seem simple, but trust me, it’s way too easy to do. In the blink of an eye, your nuts can go from beautifully toasted to scorched. Keep a close watch on them.
No Soggy Ingredients. If your chicken or mix-ins are a little watery, make sure you pat them dry before adding them to the salad. The extra liquid will water down the dressing, making it bland. If you see any liquid pooling in the bowl when you add all your ingredients together, drain it before stirring in the dressing.

Curry chicken salad with cashews in lettuce leaves

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Curry Chicken Salad

With grapes, toasted cashews and chicken tossed in a creamy curry dressing, this easy curry chicken salad is sure to jazz up your lunch!

Course Main Course, Salad

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 158kcal

Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Ingredients

⅓ cup raw unsalted cashews or almonds
2 cups (½-inch-diced) cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts see notes for cooking methods, about 2 small breasts
3 stalks celery finely chopped
1 ½ cups seedless red grapes halved
2 green onions finely chopped, plus additional to taste or for garnish
3 tablespoons nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons pure maple syrup or honey
2 teaspoons curry powder plus additional to taste
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
For serving: pita bread, whole grain bread, bibb lettuce, or crackers

Instructions

Toast the nuts: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until crisp, fragrant, and toasted. Set a timer and do not walk away from the oven during the last few minutes, as nuts can burn the moment you stop watching. Immediately transfer to a cutting board. Let cool a few minutes and roughly chop.
In a large bowl, place the diced chicken, celery, grapes, green onions, and toasted nuts.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, maple syrup, curry powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the top of the chicken mixture. With a big spoon, stir gently to evenly coat and combine.
Enjoy cold or at room temperature inside a pita, on toasted bread, wrapped with lettuce, dipped with crackers, or over a bed of greens

Video

Notes

TO STORE: Refrigerate curry chicken salad in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
TO FREEZE: While you can freeze curry chicken salad, be aware that the texture may alter a bit once thawed (the flavors will still be tasty!). Freeze leftover chicken salad in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
CHICKEN COOKING METHODS: Try this Crock Pot Shredded Chicken, Instant Pot Shredded Chicken, Baked Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chicken Breast, or stovetop method for How to Cook Shredded Chicken.

Nutrition

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