🥗 Low Carb Blackberry Chicken Salad with Cottage Cheese
A creamy, crunchy, fruity twist on classic chicken salad!
📖 Description:
This Low Carb Blackberry Chicken Salad combines tender chicken breast, creamy cottage cheese, juicy blackberries, and crunchy nuts for a refreshing, protein-packed meal. Balanced with fresh herbs and a touch of lemon and mustard, it’s a light yet satisfying dish perfect for lunch, meal prep, or even a picnic. It’s low in carbs, high in protein, and full of textures and flavors.
🍗 Ingredients (Serves 3–4)
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup fresh blackberries, halved
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
- 2 cups mixed greens (for serving)
👨🍳 Instructions:
- Mix the base: In a medium bowl, stir together cottage cheese, mayonnaise or yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Add chicken: Fold in the shredded or diced cooked chicken.
- Add the extras: Gently fold in blackberries, chopped nuts, and fresh herbs.
- Serve: Spoon the chicken salad over a bed of mixed greens or into lettuce cups.
- Optional: Drizzle with olive oil or a splash of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor.
📝 Notes & Tips:
- For meal prep, store the salad (without greens) in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a fast and flavorful option.
- Toast the nuts lightly for added crunch and a richer flavor.
- Chop the blackberries in half gently to avoid crushing them and turning the salad purple.
- Add sliced avocado or a sprinkle of feta for extra creaminess and richness.
- If you prefer it tangier, increase the lemon juice or mustard to taste.
🍴 Servings:
Makes 3–4 servings as a main dish, or 5–6 as a side.
🧮 Nutritional Info (Per Serving – Approximate):
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Protein: 26g
- Fat: 17g
- Carbs: 5g
- Fiber: 2g
- Net Carbs: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
- Gluten-Free: ✅
- Keto-Friendly: ✅
- Low Carb: ✅
(Values may vary based on exact brands and ingredients used.)
✅ Health Benefits:
- High in Protein: Chicken and cottage cheese provide muscle-building protein.
- Low in Carbs: Suitable for low-carb, keto, or diabetic-friendly diets.
- Healthy Fats: Nuts and mayo/Greek yogurt support heart and brain health.
- Rich in Antioxidants: Blackberries are full of vitamin C and polyphenols.
- Probiotic Support: Cottage cheese (especially cultured varieties) and Greek yogurt contain gut-friendly bacteria.
❓ Q&A:
Q: Can I make this dairy-free?
A: Yes! Use a dairy-free mayo and swap cottage cheese for mashed avocado or a dairy-free yogurt alternative.
Q: Can I use other berries?
A: Absolutely. Blueberries or raspberries work well, but blackberries offer the best balance of tartness and texture.
Q: What kind of chicken works best?
A: Grilled, poached, baked, or rotisserie chicken breast works well. Just avoid overly seasoned or saucy chicken.
Q: How do I keep the salad from getting watery?
A: If using Greek yogurt, choose a thick, full-fat version. Also, gently blot blackberries dry after washing.
Q: Can I serve this warm?
A: It’s best cold or room temperature, but the chicken can be slightly warm when mixed, just not hot (to avoid melting the dairy).