Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (2024)

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Lighten up lunch with this no-mayo Dijon chicken salad recipe. Fresh asparagus and tomatoes add flavor and plenty of nutrients!
Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (1)

Dijon Chicken Salad with Asparagus

When I was a kid, my mum had a multitude of chicken salad recipes up her sleeve. Sometimes with curry powder sprinkled in, other times with chopped sweet pickles and occasionally with fresh herbs and tomatoes. No matter the flavors, it always struck a traditional tone with a mayonnaise dressing. Honestly, I don't think it occurred to us to make chicken salad any other way and we all enjoyed it, so we stayed firmly on the mayo train.

Fast forward many years and I morphed into a fan of Dijon chicken salad, tossed in a light vinaigrette and bulked up with asparagus, tomatoes and basil. Fresh, healthy and flavorful! And with spring vegetables coming into season, asparagus recipes are on my mind at every turn.

Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (2)

How to make chicken salad:

  • Or specifically, how to make a healthy chicken salad recipe. There are a few options when you're steering away from the traditional mayonnaise-based chicken salads.
  • First, load up on veggies! Chopped vegetables, such as celery, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber and asparagus are a great way to add flavor and moisture to your salad. Not to mention nutrients!
  • Second, switch up the dressing. If you really like mayo-based salads, try substituting half of the mayo with Greek yogurt. Or go 100% yogurt and mix in some herbs, such as this recipe. A third option is tossing the ingredients with a light dressing, like in this chicken Dijon salad recipe (scroll to the bottom for the recipe).
  • This chicken asparagus salad recipe happens to be made with white meat, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with mixing in some thigh meat for added flavor and moisture!

Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (3)

Ideas for serving Dijon chicken salad

  • Serve it on whole wheat bread, open faced-style, or on light crackers like the ones in this recipe or on my favorite lunchtime crackers (affiliate link).
  • Serve it over a spring lettuce mix, spinach or chopped kale.
  • Serve it over cauliflower rice that's been sautéed with olive oil and garlic.
  • Serve it in lettuce cups, like in this recipe.

Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (4)

Other chicken salad recipes

Thai Chicken Salad
Updated Waldorf Salad Cups
Low Fat Greek Chicken Salad Wrap

Printable Recipe

Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (5)

Dijon Chicken Salad with Asparagus

Lighten up lunch with this no-mayo Dijon chicken salad recipe. Fresh asparagus and tomatoes add flavor and plenty of nutrients!

4.17 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees, Salads

Cuisine: French

Keyword: Clean Eating, Gluten Free

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 178.9kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • ½ pounds asparagus trimmed & cut into 1-inch pieces, stalks & tips separated
  • 2 ½ cups diced cooked chicken breast
  • cup chopped tomato
  • 4 leaves basil thinly sliced
  • spring lettuce mix if desired

The Dressing:

Instructions

  • Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Prepare a bowl filled with ice water.

  • Add the asparagus spear pieces to the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Add the asparagus tips and cook for 1 additional minute. Drain the asparagus into a sieve and immediately transfer to the bowl of ice water to stop the asparagus from cooking further.

  • In a medium bowl, stir together the chicken, asparagus and tomato.

  • Toss with the dressing and basil. Serve over lettuce mix, if desired

The Dressing:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, shallots, mustard, salt and pepper.

  • While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Whisk until combined.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 2 (Freestyle SmartPoints), 3 (Old SmartPoints), 4 (Points+)

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 178.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 19.3g | Fat: 9.3g | Saturated Fat: 1.6g | Cholesterol: 48.3mg | Sodium: 251.1mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 1.2g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe with Asparagus - No-Mayo Chicken Salad (2024)

FAQs

Does chicken salad contain mayo? ›

Classic Chicken Salad Ingredients

Mayonnaise: I use light mayo to reduce the calories, but feel free to use your favorite mayo. Celery: Chop celery for some crunch and veggies. Red Onion: Swap red onion for scallions or chives. Chicken Broth: If the chicken salad is a little dry, stir in two tablespoons of broth.

Why does my homemade chicken salad get watery? ›

To prevent your homemade chicken salad from becoming watery, ensure the chicken is fully cooled and consider roasting or grilling instead of boiling to reduce moisture content. Lightly salt watery vegetables like cucumbers and let them sit before adding to the salad to draw out excess water.

What is Mediterranean chicken salad made of? ›

This super crispy chicken is served over greens with a combination of my favorite mediterranean salad ingredients, like tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, red onion, fresh dill and more. It's salad dinner gold! Anytime I make a salad for dinner, I compare it to something as good as this.

Why does my chicken salad have no taste? ›

Citrus juice and zest

Citrus juice does wonders to brighten the flavor of foods — including lackluster chicken salad. The acidity in citrus juice balances out the fat in the mayonnaise dressing while adding a tangy pop of flavor. The extra moisture from the juice can also help to make the salad tastier.

What enhances chicken flavor? ›

Brining your chicken is a foolproof way to not only add flavour to your roast but also to ensure you don't overcook the meat. Essentially a mix of salt, sugar and water, we love adding herbs, garlic or whole spices such as fennel and cumin to flavour the brine.

What is a good substitute for mayonnaise in salad? ›

7 Healthy Mayonnaise Substitutes
  • Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt is a great healthy substitute for mayonnaise. ...
  • Avocado. Avocados obviously don't have the same flavor as mayo, but the creaminess can replicate mayo in lots of dishes. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Sour Cream. ...
  • Tahini. ...
  • Mashed Tofu. ...
  • Cashew Cream.
Jul 17, 2023

What's the ingredients for chicken salad? ›

Image of What's the ingredients for chicken salad?
Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world. Owing to the relative ease and low cost of raising chickens—in comparison to mammals such as cattle or hogs—chicken meat and chicken eggs have become prevalent in numerous cuisines.
Wikipedia

Does chicken salad chick use onions? ›

The Kickin' Kay Lynne incorporates buffalo sauce, ranch, bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeños, & Sriracha for the ultimate flavor punch. Dixie Chick: Try this chicken salad if you LOVE onions. This chicken salad is the only one they sell with onions.

What not to do when preparing chicken salad? ›

To ensure that your chicken salad tastes the way that it should, you should avoid using overcooked or dry chicken in your recipe. Unfortunately, as we cook chicken, the moisture of the bird slowly evaporates.

What to do if you put too much mayo in chicken salad? ›

To offset the creaminess (and potentially wetness) of too much mayo, try adding in more of whatever crunchy element you were using. Celery and red onion are some of the most common ones, but you can also try chopped red peppers, bacon bits, carrots, cabbage, apples, chopped nuts, and more.

What makes chicken salad go bad? ›

Bad bacteria can grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone," a temperature range between 40°F and 140°F, so always transport and store chicken salad in the refrigerator or a well-chilled cooler or lunchbox.

Why is it called Israeli salad? ›

It was adopted by Jewish immigrants to the Levant in the late 19th century, who found the locally grown Kirby cucumbers and tomatoes in popular local salad. It was popularized in the kibbutzim, where the Jewish farmers had local fresh produce at hand. The name Israeli Salad is used mainly outside of Israel.

Why is it called Waldorf salad? ›

Waldorf salad is named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where it was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896.

What is a mayonnaise substitute for the Mediterranean diet? ›

A: Mayonnaise is processed food that contains inflammatory vegetable fats. So, mayo is not allowed on the Mediterranean diet. You can substitute Mayo with Greek yogurt or avocados to make your sandwich, which will be still tasty, but far healthier.

How can I make my salad more flavorful? ›

12 Easy Ways to Make Salad Taste Amazing – Seriously
  1. Make Your Salad a Spectacle. ...
  2. Mix and Match Leaves. ...
  3. Upgrade Your Salad Dressings. ...
  4. Massage Your Salad Greens. ...
  5. Toss in Cooked Veggies. ...
  6. Add Fresh Herbs. ...
  7. Sweeten with Fruit. ...
  8. Heat Your Salad Dressing.
Mar 9, 2022

How do you add taste to salad? ›

Use a vinaigrette: A simple vinaigrette made with oil, vinegar, and herbs can add a lot of flavor to your salad. Try different types of vinegar, such as balsamic, red wine, or apple cider vinegar, and experiment with adding different herbs or spices like garlic, mustard, or honey to create your desired flavor.

How do you make salad less bland? ›

Herbs, fruits, peppers, change your olive oil or try sesame, hazelnut or other traditional nut oils. Also try our variety of basils: Large Green, lemon-basil, spicy Thai, etc.

Why does my salad taste bland? ›

Season the greens & vegetables

Your dressing or vinaigrette may be perfectly seasoned but when added to unseasoned or raw vegetables, the overall taste of the salad may turn out bland.

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