Optavia Chicken Salad Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide

By Dr. Leah Alexander | Published on June 12, 2023 | Last Updated on March 13, 2024

If you are on a diet for weight loss, you have to try the Optavia chicken salad. This dish is a great way to get your protein intake for the day, as well as all of the essential vitamins and minerals that come with eating lean poultry. 

The curry powder gives it an exotic flavor, while the peanuts add a crunchy texture. It’s also very easy to make, so it’s great for busy days when you don’t have a lot of time.

Here, I will be sharing the Optavia chicken salad recipe with you all. This dish is easy to make and tastes delicious, so let’s get started.

What Is Optavia Chicken Salad?

Optavia chicken salad is a quick and easy meal that combines lean poultry with yogurt and spices for flavor. This salad is by the health & wellness community Optavia. It is loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. 

The crunchy peanuts add a nice texture that pairs perfectly with the creamy yogurt, while the curry powder gives it an exotic flavor. A great meal option for weight loss. This dish is great for lunch or dinner and can also be served on its own as a light snack.

Where Did I First Try Optavia chicken salad?

The Optavia diet is getting popular these days, so it was natural that I would be curious to try it. About two months back, while browsing through the internet to find some diet plans and recipes, I came across the Optavia chicken salad recipe. 

It sounded very delicious and nutritious, so I decided to try it out. Since then, this has become one of my favorite meals. Even though this dish is inspired by the Optavia diet, you don’t have to be on the diet in order to enjoy this recipe.

This meal is perfect for anyone who wants a quick and healthy dinner or lunch that is packed with flavor. I love it because it can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, so I can make it in advance and have a delicious meal ready to go when I need it.

When you will have this food, you will get the flavor of sweet, savory, and crunchy. Together with the yogurt dressing, this chicken salad will make your taste buds happy.

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Ingredients

• Canned Chicken Breast: Some high-quality chicken breasts are essential for this dish. I recommend using organic, free-range chicken breasts that are antibiotic and hormone-free.
• Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt adds a creamy texture to the salad and helps to bind all the ingredients together. I prefer full-fat yogurt, but you can use nonfat or low-fat if you prefer.
• Lettuce: Use any type of lettuce that you like. I usually opt for romaine lettuce, but iceberg, butter lettuce, and spinach are all great options as well.
• Celery: Celery adds a nice crunch to the salad and helps to balance out the flavors of the other ingredients.
• Curry Powder: Curry powder adds an exotic flavor to the dish. It can be found in most grocery stores.
• Parsley: Parsley adds a nice freshness to the dish and helps to balance out the flavors of all the other ingredients.
• Peanuts: Peanuts are what give this salad its crunchy texture and nutty flavor. They also add healthy fats, protein, and fiber.
• Salt & Pepper: A bit of salt and pepper is all you need to season the dish.

Cooking Directions

Step 1

Grab a bowl and combine the chicken, yogurt, celery, curry powder, parsley, salt, and pepper until everything is evenly mixed.

Step 2

Place a lettuce leaf on an even surface and spoon the chicken salad, mix into the center of it.

Step 3

Sprinkle some peanuts onto the top of the mix, ready to be served!

Tips

• You should use the freshest chicken possible and make sure it is cooked through before adding it to the salad.
• You can also add other ingredients to the salad such as tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, or hard-boiled eggs.
• You can use any type of yogurt you like. Greek yogurt, buttermilk, or even sour cream can be used as the base for the dressing.
• If you prefer a less spicy salad, omit the curry powder and add other seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano to give it flavor.

What Ingredients Can I Replace or Substitute While Making It?

• If you are unable to find chicken breasts or want to make a vegetarian version, you can replace the chicken with other proteins. Grilled tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas all make great substitutes.
• You can also use any type of lettuce that you like instead of romaine lettuce and add in other crunchy vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, or radishes for an added layer of flavor. 
• If you don’t like curry powder or are unable to find it in your grocery store, you can substitute it with other herbs and spices such as cumin powder, paprika, or turmeric.
• Finally, peanuts can be replaced with any type of nut or seed you prefer. Almonds, walnuts, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds all make substitutes.

Nutrition Information

Each serving provides about,

• Calories: 279 kcal
• Fat: 10.2 g,
• Carbohydrates: 11.7 g,
• Protein: 32.9 g,
• Fiber: 3.5 g, and
• Sodium: 540 mg.

How to Store Leftover Optavia chicken salad?

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator. The salad will keep for up to 4 days. Reheat it gently before serving if desired.

This dish can also be frozen, but I recommend thawing it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating or eating it cold.

FAQs

Wrapping Up

As you have seen making this Optavia Chicken Salad is a breeze! All you need to do is gather the ingredients, mix everything together and you are good to go. 

The addition of curry powder and Greek yogurt gives the dish its signature flavor while crunchy peanuts make it more interesting. This delicious salad is perfect for lunch or dinner, thanks to its nutritious content of proteins, fiber, and vitamins.

Please share this recipe if you enjoyed it and feel free to with different ingredients to make the dish your own. Thanks for reading.

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