Chicken and Egg Salad (High Protein)

What do you get when you combine two of your favorite meal prep salads? This chicken and egg salad!

I love a good chicken salad, and over the last couple of years, I really started to love egg salad (once I started making it myself). So I figured, why not combine the two? It’s a little crunchy with a creamy texture, has some tang to it, and is so delicious. And it’s not doused in mayo and lightly dressed with greek yogurt (although you can add more or less if you like).

Prep this chicken egg salad recipe at the beginning of the week for an easy and healthy meal option to have on hand for busy days. The longer you let it sit, the better it gets, too!

Is chicken salad healthy?

Chicken salad can be a healthy addition to any diet. Chicken is packed with lean protein, which is going to help fill you up and keep you full. It also usually has some veggies and fruit for micronutrients and fiber.

Store-bought chicken salad can be loaded with a lot of fat due to the amount of mayo used, which can add calories easily. Using greek yogurt will reduce the number of calories and fat and also add more protein. When making it at home, you have full control over your ingredients.

Can you put eggs in chicken salad?

Hard-boiled eggs are not an ingredient in classic chicken salad, but you can certainly add them, and they are used when making southern chicken salad. Once mixed, the yolks add a creamy texture and tons of flavor. Plus, they add more protein to your dish.

Ingredients

• shredded chicken
• hard-boiled eggs
• greek yogurt
• dijon mustard
• pickle juice
• celery
• green onions
• dill pickles
• fresh dill
• salt and pepper

How to make chicken and egg salad

1. Prep your eggs. If needed, make hard-boiled eggs. Once cooled, peel and roughly chop into bite-size pieces.
2. Make the chicken and egg salad. Add greek yogurt, mustard, pickle juice, salt, and pepper to a medium-large bowl and mix well to combine. Add in your shredded chicken, chopped eggs, celery, green onions, pickles, and dill, and stir until incorporated with the yogurt mixture. Adjust according to taste.
3. Enjoy! Serve in a sandwich, salad, or however you like! For the best flavor, let it chill in the fridge for a few hours.

How to make hard-boiled eggs

Depending on your kitchen appliances, there are a few different ways to make hard-boiled eggs.

1. stovetop – add water to a small pot or saucepan and bring it to a boil. Add eggs and cook for 6 and a half to 7 minutes, making sure the water remains at a rapid simmer. 
2. air fryer – add eggs to the basket of your air fryer and cook for 15 minutes at 250 degrees. This is my preferred method as it’s so easy! It also leaves the yolk just a touch jammy, which I love when mixed with the rest of the ingredients.
3. instant pot – add enough water to cover the bottom of your instant pot, about an inch. Add your trivet or steamer basket and place eggs in it. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes and let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes. See more details here.

Once the eggs are done, carefully remove them and place them in an ice bath (a bowl filled with ice and cold water) for 2-3 minutes.

How to serve

• chicken salad sandwiches or lettuce wraps – with your favorite sandwich additions.
• salad – serve on a bed of lettuce with your favorite veggies.
• with crackers, chips, veggies, or fresh fruit

Storage

• refrigerator – store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. You will need to give it a good mix after storing it, as it could get a little watery.
• freeze – I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe due to greek yogurt used.

Substitutions and additions

• shredded chicken – I like boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but chicken thighs will also work the same. You can also use a rotisserie chicken from the store for convenience.
• greek yogurt – dairy or dairy-free yogurt will work. You can also substitute mayo if you don’t like yogurt or want to make it paleo and Whole30. Using mayonnaise will add more fat and calories to the recipe.
• dijon mustard – leave out if you don’t like mustard.
• green onions – red onion will work instead, it will just give it a stronger flavor.
• dill pickles – I like dill pickles the best for this, but you can use whatever kind of pickles you like. Southern style chicken salad uses sweet relish.
• fresh dill – fresh parsley will work instead.

Here are some additions you can add:

• fresh herbs – parsley and chives would be good additions.
• spices – for a little more flavor. Garlic powder or smoked paprika would be delicious.

More healthy chicken salad recipes

• buffalo chicken salad with ranch
• healthy chicken salad with grapes & almonds
• chicken salad with apples & walnuts
• avocado chicken salad
• hummus chicken salad with veggies

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!

Recipe by Kelly Nardo, Eat the Gains | Photography by Sierra Inn