🥗 Chicken Cottage Cheese Salad
📖 Description
A creamy, protein-rich salad that’s both refreshing and filling. This version blends tender shredded chicken with cool cottage cheese, creamy Greek yogurt, crunchy onions, fresh herbs, and sweet golden raisins. Whether stuffed in lettuce cups, wrapped in tortillas, or served on toast, it’s perfect for meal-prep or light lunches.
📌 Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or poached)
- 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (or more cottage cheese)
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup celery or cucumber, finely chopped (optional crunch)
- 1–2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp golden raisins or dried cranberries
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper or paprika (optional, for heat)
👨🍳 Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients:
- Shred your chicken if not already prepped.
- Chop onions, celery, herbs, and gather the rest.
- Mix the Base:
- In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.
- Stir in garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional chili flakes or paprika.
- Add Chicken & Veggies:
- Fold in shredded chicken, red onion, celery, raisins, and herbs.
- Mix until well coated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Chill & Serve:
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve in lettuce cups, on whole grain bread, in a wrap, or with crackers.
👩🍳 Notes & Tips
- Customize It: Add chopped apple, grapes, or walnuts for a sweet & crunchy twist.
- Vegan Option: Swap chicken with chickpeas and cottage cheese with tofu + vegan yogurt.
- Texture Tip: Drain any excess whey from the cottage cheese before mixing if you want it thicker.
- Make Ahead: Stays fresh in the fridge for 3–4 days, great for lunches and snacks!
🍽️ Servings
- Makes approx. 3–4 servings
- Great as a light main or side
🥗 Nutritional Info (Per Serving, Approx.)
- Calories: ~250–300
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 8–10g
- Carbs: 7–10g (depending on raisins or add-ins)
- Fiber: ~1g
- Sugar: ~4g (from dairy & raisins)
Values vary slightly with ingredient brands and quantities used.
💪 Health Benefits
- High-Protein: Chicken, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt pack a muscle-boosting punch.
- Low-Carb: Great for keto or low-carb diets (just skip raisins).
- Probiotics: Greek yogurt supports gut health.
- Heart-Healthy Fats: Use full-fat cottage cheese for satiety and flavor.
❓ Q&A
Q: Can I use canned chicken?
A: Yes! Drain and shred well — a great quick option.
Q: Is this meal-prep friendly?
A: Totally. Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Stir before serving.
Q: Can I make this dairy-free?
A: Yes. Use dairy-free yogurt and tofu instead of cottage cheese.
Q: What’s the best way to eat this salad?
A: Lettuce wraps, sandwich filling, on rice cakes, in tortillas, or scooped with cucumber slices.
Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Freezing isn’t recommended due to the dairy. It may separate when thawed.
Want me to make a printable or Instagram-style card for this recipe? Just say the word! 🧾📸