Chicken salad is a light, delicious option for spring and summer lunches. These days, if you decide to purchase your chicken salad from the grocery store, you run the risk of ingesting artificial additives, low-quality meat, and other unhealthy ingredients. But we’ve got the secret for making the best chicken salad ever.

What’s the secret? This recipe substitutes zesty, gut-healthy lemon Greek yogurt for fatty mayonnaise common in chicken salad. Greek yogurt is one of the best sources of protein and live active cultures, which are chock-full of probiotics, which in turn regulate gut health by preventing digestive issues.1

This time of year, serve up this healthy, protein-rich chicken salad with flaky croissants, crackers, or enjoy it on its own—your stomach will thank you.

Yummy + Share: Zesty Lemon Chicken Salad

Adapted from Love and Zest
Serves: 6
Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups of shredded, cooked chicken
½ cup diced celery
½ cup diced bell peppers
½ cup sliced scallions
½ cup sliced grapes
½ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
7 ounces lemon Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon agave nectar
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix together until everything is well-coated with the yogurt. If the mixture seems dry, add more Greek yogurt or a drizzle of olive oil.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Serve with a croissant, crackers, or on its own. Enjoy!

Reference
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17151594