A creamy, lightened-up dressing made with blended cottage cheese adds a boost of protein and great flavor to this Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad. Serve it with crackers or over greens for an easy lunch or light dinner.
Getting the recommended amount of protein each day can seem like an impossible task. But making easy swaps in familiar recipes is one of the most effective ways to make it work without relying on powders. With about 34 grams of protein per serving, this Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad is an effortless way to help meet your daily goals.
I know, cottage cheese. It has really become the “it” ingredient these days, but if you look at the nutritional profile, it’s hard to dispute. Using cottage cheese in place of ingredients like mayonnaise is one of my favorite tricks because not only does it add protein, it’s also lower in calories and fat and adds nutrients like calcium, making this simple swap a win all around.
Blending the cottage cheese until smooth creates a creamy, flavorful dressing and is the key to making recipes like this and my Cottage Cheese Dip work so well.
Table of contents
Ingredients
- Cottage cheese: I like to use full-fat or 2% low-fat cottage cheese for the best flavor and texture. Lower-fat varieties will work, but the dressing may taste a little tangier and blend slightly thinner. Cottage cheese can vary in saltiness by brand with some being quite high in sodium. Check labels and buy the one with the lowest sodium so you can control the salt level.
- Cooked chicken breast: This is a great way to use a rotisserie chicken. I prefer to chop the chicken instead if shredding it for a nice consistency.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens and balance the richness of the cottage cheese.
- Red onion: Finely dice the onion for nice onion flavor throughout.
- Fresh dill: Fresh dill adds fresh, classic chicken salad flavor that works really well with the lemon and cottage cheese. If you don’t have fresh dill, you can substitute about 1 to 2 teaspoons dried dill.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad
- Blend the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until completely smooth and transfer to a medium mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing. Whisk the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper into the blended cottage cheese until smooth.
- Add the mix-ins. Stir in the chicken, celery, red onion, and dill until evenly coated.
- Taste and chill. Adjust seasoning as needed and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes before serving, if time allows.
Tips for the Best Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad
- For the best texture, be sure the cottage cheese is fully blended before mixing in the other ingredients.
- Finely dicing the onion keeps the flavor balanced and prevents it from overpowering the salad.
- Taste and adjust the salt at the end since cottage cheese varies in saltiness.
- Chill for 20 to 30 minutes before serving to allow time for the flavors to blend.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with crackers for an easy snack or light lunch.
- Spoon it over mixed greens and serve with a lemon wedge for a simple high-protein salad.
- Make a sandwich or wrap with whole grain bread or a tortilla.
- Spoon on tomato or cucumber slices.
- Fill lettuce cups for a lighter, low-carb option.
Storage
Make a batch of this healthy chicken salad at the beginning of the week for easy lunches. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just give it a stir before serving.
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Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese, whole or 2%
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped (I use rotisserie chicken)
- ⅓ cup finely diced celery
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
- 1½ to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Add the cottage cheese to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth.
- Transfer the blended cottage cheese to a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Add the chicken, celery, red onion, and dill. Fold gently until evenly coated.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Chill for 20 to 30 minutes before serving if time allows.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home. All information provided regarding nutrition on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Content related to nutrition is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before beginning any diet program, modifying your diet, or making changes to the diet of a child in your care, including following the nutrition information available on the website, you should seek advice from a licensed professional.
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