Ultimate Curry Chicken Salad (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken with crisp vegetables, sweet fruit, and creamy curry dressing
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Salad Base
05 - ¾ cup celery, finely diced
06 - ½ cup red onion, finely diced
07 - 1 medium apple, cored and diced
08 - ½ cup seedless red grapes, halved
09 - ⅓ cup toasted cashews or almonds, roughly chopped
10 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
→ Curry Dressing
11 - ½ cup mayonnaise
12 - ¼ cup Greek yogurt
13 - 2 tablespoons mango chutney
14 - 1½ teaspoons curry powder
15 - ½ teaspoon turmeric
16 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
17 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
18 - 1 teaspoon honey
19 - ½ teaspoon salt
20 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 7 to 8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and juices run clear. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes, then dice or shred into bite-sized pieces.
02 - In a large bowl, combine diced chicken, celery, red onion, apple, grapes, nuts, and cilantro or parsley.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, mango chutney, curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, lemon juice, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well blended.
04 - Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
06 - Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Serve chilled as a salad, in sandwiches, wraps, or on a bed of greens.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy curry dressing clings to every bite, making each mouthful perfectly balanced without being overwhelming
- You can prep it ahead and it actually tastes better the next day, making it ideal for busy weeks
02 -
- The salad needs that chill time in the fridge, so do not rush it or you will miss out on the flavor magic
- Your curry powder blend determines the overall flavor profile, so taste as you go and adjust accordingly
03 -
- Toasting your nuts in a dry pan for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant is the step that elevates this from good to absolutely incredible
- Making this the day before serving allows the curry flavor to develop even more deeply, so it is perfect for parties