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apple date chicken salad

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The perfect chicken salad to prep and store in the fridge for quick lunches.

Apple Date Chicken Salad (High Protein + Perfect for Meal Prep)

If you’re looking for the ultimate sweet and savory lunch prep, this Apple Date Chicken Salad is what I’m making on repeat this week. It’s creamy, crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfectly balanced with bright lemon and Dijon. The flavor combination is next-level — juicy apples, naturally sweet dates, crunchy celery, toasted almonds, and tender shredded chicken all folded into a high-protein creamy dressing.

This is one of those meal prep recipes that actually gets better as it sits. The flavors meld together beautifully, making it perfect to store in the fridge for quick grab-and-go lunches. Eat it straight from the container, scoop it onto crackers, stuff it into a wrap or sandwich, or keep it light in crisp lettuce cups.

If you love easy high-protein lunch ideas, healthy chicken salad recipes, or meal prep salads that don’t get boring — this apple date chicken salad is for you. It’s also a great recipe to bring for a lunch potluck. Everyone will love the added crunchy and sweet ingredients and will be asking you for the recipe.

When it comes to meal planning, I always think about how to fit in both PROTEIN and FIBRE which will leave you feeling full and good. The apple and celery along with the chicken combo make the perfect balanced meal!

Why You’ll Love This Apple Date Chicken Salad

  • High in protein

  • Perfect sweet + savory balance

  • Meal prep friendly (stores up to 4 days in the fridge)

  • No cooking required if using rotisserie chicken

  • Versatile for wraps, sandwiches, crackers, or lettuce cups

This Apple Date Chicken Salad is proof that healthy meal prep lunches don’t have to be boring. The sweet bites of date paired with crunchy apple and savory chicken create the most satisfying flavor combination. It’s fresh, filling, and guaranteed to make your weekday lunches something to look forward to.

How to Make this apple date chicken salad

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, Dijon, salt, and pepper.
  2. Fold in shredded chicken, celery, apple, onion, almonds, and dates.
  3. Mix until evenly coated.
  4. Taste and adjust salt or lemon as needed.
  5. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.
  6. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to Serve

  • With crackers for a snack-style lunch

  • In a whole wheat wrap

  • On toasted sourdough

  • In butter lettuce cups for a low-carb option

  • Over mixed greens as a protein-packed salad

How To Make apple date chicken salad

The Ingredients

• Shredded Chicken 
Use rotisserie chicken for convenience, or cook and shred chicken breasts or thighs. Canned chicken works in a pinch.

• Greek Yogurt 
Adds creaminess and protein. Substitute with full mayo for a richer salad, or use dairy-free yogurt if needed.

• Mayonnaise 
Balances tanginess from yogurt. Swap with avocado oil mayo or use all Greek yogurt to lighten it up.

• Lemon Juice
Brightens everything. Apple cider vinegar works as a substitute.

• Dijon Mustard
Adds depth and slight sharpness. Whole grain mustard is a great alternative.

• Salt & Pepper
Essential for bringing out the sweet and savory contrast.

• Celery
Adds crunch and freshness. Sub with finely diced cucumber for a softer crunch.

• Apple
Honeycrisp or Fuji work best for sweetness and crisp texture. Granny Smith adds more tartness.

• Green or Red Onion
Green onion is mild; red onion adds sharper bite.

• Shaved Almonds
Adds crunch and nutty flavor. Substitute with pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or omit for nut-free.

• Dates
Natural caramel-like sweetness. Swap with dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped dried apricots.

• Hot Honey (Optional)
Adds a subtle sweet heat drizzle on top before serving. Totally optional but highly recommended.

What You Need

The Steps

  • Shred chicken using a hand mixer (life hack!!) or using two forks (if you're cooking your own chicken, boil it for 25 minutes in a pot of water)
  • Dice celery, apple, onion and dates
  • Whisk together yogurt, mayo, Dijon, lemon juice, salt & pepper
  • Add apple, celery, almonds, onion & dates
  • Mix well, option to drizzle with hot honey for extra flavour
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days
  • Enjoy in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce wraps or as melts

Recipe Tips

  • If you want to feel a crunch with your almonds you can store them separately and then mix them in before serving. 
  • If you're dairy free you can swap out the greek yogurt and just use mayo instead. 
  • You can leave out the dates or swap them for raisins. 

 

apple date chicken salad

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 430

Ingredients

  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 celery stalks finely diced
  • 1 apple finely diced
  • ⅓ cup diced green onion or red onion
  • ⅓ cup shaved almonds
  • 6 pitted dates finely diced
  • Drizzle of hot honey optional

Instructions

  • Shred chicken using a hand mixer (life hack!!) or using two forks (if you're cooking your own chicken, boil it for 25 minutes in a pot of water)
  • Dice celery, apple, onion and dates
  • Whisk together yogurt, mayo, Dijon, lemon juice, salt & pepper
  • Add apple, celery, almonds, onion & dates
  • Mix well, option to drizzle with hot honey for extra flavour
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days
  • Enjoy in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce wraps or as melts

Notes

  • If you want to feel a crunch with your almonds you can store them separately and then mix them in before serving. 
  • If you're dairy free you can swap out the greek yogurt and just use mayo instead. 
  • You can leave out the dates or swap them for raisins. 

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 42gFat: 19gFiber: 4g

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Recipe creator, toddler mama & wellness enthusiast. Happy&Full is a blog all about quick and easy recipes for every day living! Eating well (and feeling well) doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

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