Lemon Chicken Salad with Apples is an easy homemade chicken salad recipe with a light, creamy dressing. Serve over fresh greens, in a sandwich or in wraps.
Lemon chicken salad with apples is our favorite chicken salad recipe. It’s made with baked chicken breasts and apples in a creamy dressing with a touch of lemon for extra flavor. If you want a change from traditional chicken salad, this easy recipe is for you!
I’ve been making this lemon chicken apple salad for awhile now. It started out as a way to use up leftover lemon chicken, but it changed over the years.
Now, I use my favorite oven baked chicken recipe whenever I need cooked chicken for chicken salad. I also started making the dressing lighter by using Greek yogurt.
It’s super simple, and the prep is minimal. There’s no celery, nuts or onions, so you don’t have a lot of chopping to do — just the apples.
Sometimes, I make this chicken salad with cranberries. And since the kids love grapes, I make this chicken salad recipe with grapes just for them.
How to make lemon chicken salad with apples
Start out by mixing the dressing ingredients in a large mixing bowl. It’s super simple — just a mix of Greek yogurt, mayo, a little bit of Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.
Then, throw in some chopped apples, lemon juice and zest. I used Granny Smith this time, but you can use any apple. Sometimes, I even do a combo of different apples.
The lemon juice adds flavor and keeps the apples from turning brown. The zest isn’t totally necessary, so if you don’t have a zester, it’s fine.
Mix in your chopped cooked chicken, and that’s it! You can also zest some lemon peel over the top and add fresh parsley for even more flavor.
What do you serve with chicken salad
This recipe makes the best chicken salad sandwiches, especially on a croissant! You can also serve chicken salad over fresh greens or make wraps using tortillas. My aunt once served chicken salad stuffed in tomatoes at a ladies’ lunch!
How long does chicken salad last in the fridge
Since this chicken salad has apples, it’s best to eat it within a day or two. Otherwise, the apples start to brown. Without the apples, chicken salad should last 3 days.
Easy lemon chicken salad recipe with apples
Lemon Chicken Salad with Apples
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 diced Granny Smith apples washed, cored and diced
- 3 small cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional
Instructions
- Add yogurt, mayo and mustard to a large bowl, and mix until well combined
- Stir in the sea salt and pepper
- Add the chicken, apples, lemon juice and zest (if using) and mix well. Cover and keep refrigerated until ready to eat
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this easy lemon chicken salad with apples as much as we do!
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
Such an amazing meal any night of the week!
Jacquelyn Hastert says
This is perfect for a lighter lunch. I love that you have added lemon and apples to this.
Melanie Bauer says
Looks fabulous! This is indeed one of our favorite, definitely having this on our table!
Dee says
Thanks, Melanie! It’s a favorite here, too. 🙂
Paula says
Love adding apples to my chicken salad. Haven’t tried lemon before. Super intrigued. Will have to give it a go : )
Dee says
I hope you get a chance to try it, Paula! 🙂
Chrissie Baker says
It’s big-time hard for me to resist a lemon chicken salad. Chicken salad is a favorite of mine!
Demeter says
Such a great way to use up leftovers! I love lemon and this sounds amazing.
Dee says
Thanks so much! It’s our favorite chicken salad. 🙂
Jen says
This is my husband’s favorite for lunch on the weekends. It has so much flavor without making you feel too full.
Dee says
This is exactly why we love this salad! 🙂
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Carole says
Dee, so glad you stopped by to add to the collection. If you would like me to send you a reminder about each new Food on Friday, just drop me a line on [email protected] . Cheers from Carole's Chatter
PS this is on my shortlist for a feature too!
Dee M says
Hi Carol. I would love to stop by for a visit! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks for the invite, Jebbica. I'll be sure to check it out! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks, Tina. The potato salad is one of my husband's faves. 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you like it as much as we did. 🙂
Carole says
Hi Dee, I do hope you'll come over to Food on Friday: Lemons & Limes to bring this to the party! Cheers from Carole's Chatter
Jebbica @Jebbica's World says
Love your blog title! That is too cute. Thanks for posting this recipe…I love chicken salad so much, but I am always looking for different variations!
I found you on Miz Helen's link party and wanted to invite you to my link party as well. It's called Food & Fitness Friday and happens every Friday! I hope you will stop by and share one of these yummy food posts!
[email protected] says
I'll be adding this version to my summer meals. I love adding pecans and grapes, too. I'm headed off to see the potato salad next. 😉
The adventures of Jolly and Happy says
I love this twist on a classic! I will definitely try this!!
Dee M says
If it were just me, I would go for grapes and pecans, but the kids aren't fans of nuts. I love the idea of adding pickles and onions too! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks! It's one of our favorite warm-weather meals. 🙂
bj says
We LUV chicken salad…my favorite way is with grapes and pecans…ummm
we also like it the "regular" way with pickles, onions and etc.
NOW, I have your recipe, too. Am going to make this soon.
Parsimonious Perfection says
This sounds absolutely lovely! Visiting you from Metamorphosis Monday
Dee M says
Aww, thank you SO much, Bevelry. You totally made my weekend! 🙂
Beverly Roderick says
Dee, this looks delicious. I love all of those flavors and I'm looking forward to trying this! Pinned. Also, I wanted to let you know I've included you in the Very Inspiring Bloggers Award. The post is up on my blog today.
Dee M says
Thanks, Jennifer. We practically live on salads during the summer! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks for hosting the party, Amy. 🙂
Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
Sounds yummy! Thanks for linking up with Best of the Weekend!
Jennifer Johnson says
Ooh what a wonderful summertime lunch salad!
Dee M says
There's a lot going on, but it really does taste good! 🙂
Dee M says
We eat so many meals like this in the summer. Thanks, Rue! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks, Michelle — everybody loved it! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks so much for visiting, Miz Helen. 🙂
Miz Helen says
What a great salad we will just love this combination. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Dee M says
There's some ranch dressing in this, but sometimes I add more, since the kids aren't fans of mayo either, so I think whatever you prefer would be fine. 🙂
Dee M says
That's exciting, Carol — I wish we had a lemon tree! 🙂
Michelle Nahom says
I love your twist on chicken salad…I have to try this!! It looks so delicious!
Trish Martin says
This salad looks so delicious. I don't like mayo…do you think salad dressing will work? The combination of the lemon and the apples sounds awesome.
Carol says
Yum! Yum! Yum! This sounds so good, Dee! I've been kind of in to lemons lately as well, probably because we have "producing" lemon trees this year for the first time!
Rue says
I love a cold salad for dinner when it's hot, so this is going right on my list of Summer meals. Thank you, Dee 🙂
The Chunky Chef says
I love the flavors in this chicken salad!!