Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Printable View)
Vibrant tropical mix of chicken, pineapple, celery and macadamia in a creamy lime-honey dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ 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
→ 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
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Place chicken breast, diced pineapple, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, grapes, and macadamia nuts in a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, and season with salt and black pepper until the mixture is smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the assembled salad ingredients and gently toss until all components are evenly coated.
04 - Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
05 - Arrange butter lettuce leaves on plates, spoon the chilled salad over the leaves, and finish with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro or parsley.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get big tropical energy without needing an ocean view or plane ticket.
- The sweet, savory mix is so satisfying, friends always ask for seconds & the recipe.
02 -
- If you skip chilling, the flavors just won’t come together—it’s worth the (very short) wait.
- Toasted nuts add a game-changing crunch—just don’t burn them like I did my first try.
03 -
- Toasting nuts low and slow in a dry skillet keeps them from burning & brings out their buttery aroma.
- Use a serrated knife for pineapple to avoid slipping and to get beautiful cubes every time.