Cucumber Chicken Salad
A classic and refreshing dish, this chicken salad adds plenty of fresh veggies for flavor and crunch. Tossed in a light and tangy dressing, this salad is perfect for a quick lunch or a healthy dinner.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Chilling time30 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: Cucumbers, Summer
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 275kcal
For the Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Salad:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or cubed)
- 1 whole large cucumber (diced)
- ½ cup red bell pepper (finely diced)
- ¼ cup red onion (finely diced)
Make the dressing. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, garlic, salt, and black pepper until it's smooth.
Combine the ingredients. Add the cooked chicken to a large mixing bowl and pour the dressing over it. Then, gently fold the diced cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion until evenly coated.
Chill. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Garnish and serve. If you like, you can add some fresh herbs like parsley or dill, or put a lemon wedge on the side. It's good with a croissant, on top of lettuce, or just by itself.
If cucumbers aren’t firm, your salad won’t be crispy. Choose cucumbers that are solid with smooth skins. If you’re picking your own, make sure they’re still crunchy. Peeling them is an option if the skin feels rough.
After letting the salad cool in the fridge, taste it. The flavors might have softened, so you might need to add more salt, pepper, or a dash of lemon juice before serving it to make it taste better.
This salad works well with a lot of different additions. To enhance its taste, you can mix in things like avocado, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, or fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or cilantro. Just keep the flavors balanced—if you add something salty like feta cheese, you might need to tweak the seasoning a bit.
For extra texture, throw in some toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, or chopped pecans. It gives a nice crunch that complements the creamy dressing well.
Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 310mg | Potassium: 165mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 417IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg