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This Apple Dill Chicken Salad Recipe is the perfect make-ahead Fall lunch. It’s is sweet, savory, and filling. Restaurant-worthy and great for the whole family, this chicken salad recipe with dill is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, Paleo, and Whole30-friendly!
The BEST Apple Dill Chicken Salad
I love a classic chicken salad recipe, especially for a quick meal prep option. However, when the weather starts to get a little cooler, this dill chicken salad recipe is my absolute go-to!
Made with fresh apples, dried dill, and red onions, it’s bursting with flavor and texture and is completely irresistible. Even better, all the ingredients combine in a single bowl in ten minutes or less. That means prep time is minimal and cleanup is a breeze!
I love to keep a large bowl on hand for quick, high-protein meals throughout the week. It also makes for easy lunches for both the office and school. Do meal prep options get any better than that?
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
*Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list!
- Cooked Chicken: I typically use leftover shredded chicken, but rotisserie chicken works well, too!
- Organic Mayonnaise: This forms the base of the dressing. I like avocado oil mayo, but any will work.
- Organic Apples: I prefer to use red, sweet apples like Gala or Fuji, but any brand you like best will work. Or, if you prefer a tart flavor, try using green Granny Smith apples instead.
- Dried Dill: This adds a bright, slightly sweet element to the chicken salad. If preferred, fresh dill will also work.
- Red Onion: Finely diced, this adds a nice crunch and a subtle tang.
- Coconut Sugar: Mixed with the mayonnaise, this offsets some of the tangy flavor for a sweet, well-rounded taste. If preferred, you can use honey instead, or omit it completely.
Where I Buy My Meat
- 100% Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Beef
- Free-Range Organic Chicken
- Humanely Raised Pork
- Wild-Caught Seafood
Delivered to your door! The latest ButcherBox deal can be found right here!
How to Make This Chicken Salad Recipe with Dill
- Prepare the chicken: If you don’t have pre-made chicken, cook chicken breasts as desired, and shred them into pieces. Then, set the protein aside to cool.
- Combine the ingredients: Transfer two cups of shredded chicken to a large mixing bowl. Then, add the mayonnaise, apples, dill, and red onion, and gently mix to combine and coat all the ingredients.
- Season: Adjust the seasonings to taste. Then, enjoy immediately, or transfer the mixture to the fridge to chill!
How To Cook Chicken
If you don’t have cooked chicken ready to use, you can quickly make shredded chicken in an Instant Pot, slow cooker, or on the stovetop. Season the chicken minimally using just salt and pepper.
When cooking, make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. Then, set it aside to cool, and shred the cooked chicken breasts with two forks.
Or, to keep things super simple, you can shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead!
Possible Flavor Variations
- Use another meat. You can swap the chicken out for shredded turkey.
- Add extra mix-ins. Bulk up your apple dill chicken salad with mix-ins like chopped almonds, walnuts, pecans, dried raisins, cranberries, or celery.
- Use Greek yogurt. If preferred, you can use plain Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise to add more protein to the dressing.
FAQs
Serve this healthy chicken salad recipe over greens as a salad or in lettuce wraps, tortillas, or on bread as an open-faced sandwich or regular sandwich. Don’t forget to add a dill pickle on the side for a classic diner feel! Or, use it as a dip with crackers, tortilla chips, pita bread, or veggies. No matter what, you can’t go wrong!
Stored in an airtight container, leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-5 days. If possible, I recommend making this chicken salad with dill a day or so in advance to really allow the flavors to soak in!
I don’t recommend it! The mayonnaise does not tend to thaw well, separating and altering the flavor of the chicken salad.
More Chicken Salad Recipes To Try
- Taco Chicken Salad
- Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Salad
- Smoky Chicken Salad Lettuce Boats
- Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
- Loaded Chicken Salad: Four Ways
- Pesto Chicken Salad
Watch the video:
Apple Dill Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 1/3 cup organic mayonnaise homemade or store-bought, add more as needed
- 2 organic apples finely diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried dill more to taste
- 1/2 red onion finely diced
- 2 teaspoon coconut sugar
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: How To: All-Purpose Shredded Crock Pot Chicken2 cups cooked chicken
- Allow chicken to cool and transfer 2 cups to a large mixing bowl.
- Add mayonnaise, apples, dill, red onion, and coconut sugar to the large mixing bowl.1/3 cup organic mayonnaise, 2 organic apples, 1 1/2 teaspoon dried dill, 1/2 red onion, 2 teaspoon coconut sugar
- Mix well to combine. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Made this with store bought shredded chicken for a workday lunch! Super quick and easy and delish! Will definitely be keeping this in my rotation!
This chicken salad is absolutely delicious! I’ve made it several times, it’s become my new favorite meal prep for lunch!
Is it necessary to add the coconut sugar and what can be subsituated in its place?
I think it balances out the taste, but you can try without.
Do you think honey would work in place of the coconut sugar?
Probably!
Hi there! This looks really yummy!
Do you think Greek yogurt would work here? I’m following a plan that keeps fats low when eating healthy carbs like fruit and grains.
Yes it will!
So amazing to meet you! It’s crazy that it was our first time meeting, I feel like I’ve known you for years! Consider yourself warned that I’ll be commenting on all future posts…get ready 😉
Mmmmmm. This looks yummy! I’ll have to whip it up for lunch one day soon!
Love Davida! What a small world! This apple salad is so pretty and I love the simplicity. Can’t wait to give it a try!