Quick and Easy Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad : A Delicious Weeknight Meal

This creamy and flavorful Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad comes together in about 15 minutes and requires no cooking for a quick and easy meal that your family will love! Switch up the ingredients to suit your tastes or use it as a ‘clean out the fridge’ meal to get rid of leftovers and odd bits hanging out in your kitchen! Seriously, this dish is a game changer for busy weeknights.

Ingredients Breakdown

• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs (optional, e.g., dill or parsley)

How to Make Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad

1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cottage cheese, celery, and red onion. Mix them together until well combined!

2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper until nice and smooth, about 30 seconds should do!

3. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir until well combined. You want everything to be coated evenly.

4. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if needed, as well as any fresh herbs if you’re using them.

5. Serve immediately or refrigerate until you’re ready to enjoy, this salad keeps well in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep!

Why I Love This Recipe

This is my go-to recipe when I need something quick and comforting as the week rolls on. I’m a real sucker for chicken salad, and this version is not only creamy and loaded with flavor but also feels like a hug on a plate! And the best part is, you can use whatever you’ve got on hand. It’s fantastic for cleaning out the fridge, and it always comes out delicious!

If you loved this Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad, be sure to check out my Easy Southern Potato Salad, my Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad, or my Cucumber Carrot Salad for more delicious ideas!

Why This Recipe Works

Quick & Easy

This dish comes together in under 15 minutes, making it a no-brainer on busy weeknights when you just can’t even.

Minimal Cleanup Required

You’ll only need a couple bowls, so cleaning up is a breeze! Less time washing dishes means more time enjoying your delicious meal.

Comfort Food

Loaded with tons of flavor, this chicken salad is creamy, comforting, and absolutely satisfying. It’s perfect for those days when you need a little pick-me-up.

Customizable

You can totally tailor this to your preferences. Like I mentioned earlier, if you’re not a fan of certain ingredients, switch them out! My mom used to throw in whatever leftover veggies she had, and it always tasted amazing.

Make-Ahead Friendly

Perfect for meal prep, this chicken salad actually gets better after sitting in the fridge for a bit, allowing all the flavors to meld together beautifully!

Serving and Storage Tips

How to Serve This Chicken Salad

This Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad is fantastic on its own or served over a bed of greens for a light lunch. Pair it with some whole grain crackers, sliced baguette, or even in a wrap for a filling meal.

Storage

This chicken salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh!

Reheating Instructions

No need to reheat, enjoy it cold! But if you want to warm it slightly, microwave it in 15-second increments until just warm, but I really wouldn’t recommend it. The cold ingredients are just so refreshing!

Freezer Friendly

I don’t typically recommend freezing it because the texture of the cottage cheese can change once thawed, becoming a bit grainy. Better to enjoy it fresh!

So there you have it! A quick and easy Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad recipe that is sure to become a family favorite. I hope you give it a try soon, and don’t forget, switch up those ingredients and make it your own! What are your favorite add-ins? Follow us on Pinterest for daily meal inspiration!

Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad

This creamy and flavorful Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad comes together in about 15 minutes and requires no cooking for a quick and easy meal that your family will love.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American

Calories: 350

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded Use leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience.
• 1 cup cottage cheese Can substitute with Greek yogurt or silken tofu.
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped Fresh celery adds crunch; can replace with bell peppers or cucumbers.
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped Use green onions or shallots for a milder flavor.
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt Can substitute with sour cream or mayo.
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Yellow mustard can be used as a substitute.
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice Fresh is best, but bottled works too.
• to taste salt and pepper Adjust seasoning to your taste.
• optional fresh herbs (e.g., dill or parsley) Use any herbs you have on hand.

Method

 

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cottage cheese, celery, and red onion. Mix them together until well combined.
2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper until nice and smooth—about 30 seconds should do.
3. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir until well combined, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if needed, as well as any fresh herbs if you’re using them.
5. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.

Notes

This chicken salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s great on its own or over greens. Avoid reheating if possible; it’s best enjoyed cold.