Easy Chicken Salad Recipe with Vegan Ranch Dressing

Salads are one of my favorite go-to meals, no matter what time of year! My Easy Chicken Salad Recipe is a light, refreshing dish. It features juicy shredded chicken, crisp vegetables, and a flavorful vegan ranch dressing.

Chicken is an excellent protein to keep on hand as it’s filling and cost-effective. I always like to choose a pasture-raised organic option..local is always best! Cooking chicken ahead of time makes meal prep a breeze.

A Customizable Lunch

This recipe is simple, but you can customize it in many ways. Here are some of my favorite salad additions.

• Include whatever vegetables you have on hand! Cucumbers, radishes, broccoli, and carrots are all great additions.
• Are you crazy about cheese? My favorite cheesy topping is my Vegan Parmesan. You can also top your salad with a handful of dairy-free cheddar or mozzarella-style shreds.
• Use leftover chicken from the night before, or throw a few chicken breasts on the grill!
• For a Tex-Mex twist, flavor your chicken with my Taco Seasoning before adding it to the salad.
• Not a fan of ranch dressing? Try my Homemade French Dressing.
• Add some organic curry powder to your shredded chicken for a kick!
• Enjoy this salad in wrap form by mixing the shredded chicken with the vegan ranch and placing it in a brown rice or veggie wrap. Add some vegetables to get the same superfood benefits!
• Make gluten-free croutons! Cube gluten-free bread and spritz with olive-oil cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until crisp. You can also use leftover breadsticks to make croutons that have an Italian twist!
• Add some Sweet and Spicy Nuts. Yum!
• Need a hint of sweetness? Top your salad with sugar-free dried cranberries or freshly diced apples.

What Lettuce Should I Choose?

Most people add their favorite lettuce to their shopping carts, not knowing that all greens aren’t the same. There are so many beautiful greens to choose from! Each has its own unique set of health benefits. Here are a few of my top choices.

Kale

Kale is part of the cruciferous family, and it’s among the most nutritionally rich greens! This vegetable has compounds in it that fight cancer. (1) It also increases your glutathione levels, which helps your immune system stay strong.

Cruciferous vegetables are unique in that their benefits are activated by chopping or chewing. God is so creative! Kale is a wonderful, hearty choice for salads. If you prefer, you can mix it with a milder green.

Arugula

Arugula is another cruciferous vegetable that makes salads extraordinary. Part of what makes these veggies so great is their low-calorie content which contains so many nutrients.

Not only is arugula anti-cancer, but it’s also anti-viral and anti-bacterial. (2) One to two servings of arugula a week is enough to give your body these benefits.

Romaine Lettuce

If your plate is usually filled with iceberg lettuce, let me encourage you to try romaine! Romaine lettuce has a milder flavor, which blends well with any ingredient.

Romaine lettuce isn’t a cruciferous vegetable, but it still packs a punch! It’s full of vitamins A, C, K, magnesium, iron, and calcium. (3) Another mild option is butter lettuce.

Healthy Salad Ingredients 101

This salad uses simple, whole ingredients to create a delicious meal. You probably have most of these components in your kitchen! Here’s what you need.

Chicken: Keep it easy and use leftover chicken! This incredible hack allows you to get two meals out of one. When purchasing chicken, look for organic, free-range birds. These birds aren’t fed GMO-based grain and hormones, and their meat is leaner.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes add a lot of juiciness to this salad. They contain a lycopene carotenoid that fights inflammation caused by oxidative stress. (4) Tomatoes may be red, but they can protect your skin against sun damage. (5)

You can use any tomato you have on hand, but heirloom tomatoes are my all-time favorite.

Hard-Boiled Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs give this salad added protein and texture. When purchasing eggs, grab organic, free-range eggs. If you’re egg-free, omit this ingredient.

Mama Z Pro Tip: To make fast work of cutting up hard-boiled eggs, use an egg or strawberry cutting tool. Cut one way and then switch directions. I can cut three eggs in less than a minute this way!

Vegan Mayonnaise: We try to avoid soybean and canola oil at all costs. One way to do this is by using soy-free Veganaise or your preferred avocado-oil or grapeseed oil vegan mayonnaise. As consumers learn more about their bodies, these products are in higher demand. You can probably find them at your local grocery store! If you’re having trouble finding vegan mayo, you can always find it online.

Spices: This vegan ranch dressing uses a decadent blend of spices to create that typical ranch flavor we all know and love. Garlic, chives, and dill are a classic combination that tastes amazing.

Instead of Italian seasoning, I prefer using Herbes de Provence. This tasty mixture of oregano, thyme, rosemary, and tarragon adds a lovely flavor to any dish. You’ll notice it doesn’t contain sage, which is intentional. Studies show that sage can negatively affect breast milk production. (6)

Sea Salt: Traditional table salt undergoes a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of trace minerals. We recommend using Colima sea salt because it’s hand-harvested. This process leaves the good stuff intact.

It tastes fantastic and adds a gourmet flair to any recipe. If you don’t have sea salt on hand, you can always use pink Himalayan salt.

Make My Easy Chicken Salad Recipe

This recipe comes together in minutes, and it serves one. If you’re feeding a crowd, adjust the amount of ingredients. You can also prep this salad ahead of time by layering it in a mason jar or glass container.

Step One: Create Your Salad Base

Place your lettuce of choice in a large bowl. Add tomatoes and any additional vegetables.

Step Two: Add Chicken

Sprinkle the chicken evenly over the lettuce and add hard-boiled eggs.

Step Three: Add Garnishes

Top your salad with any of these suggestions: sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, shredded carrots, or mushrooms. Dress the Easy Chicken Salad Recipe with vegan ranch. Enjoy!

Vegan Ranch Dressing

If you’ve never had homemade ranch before, you’re in for a treat. This salad dressing comes together in minutes. It’s so much better than any store-bought variety!

Step One: Blend the Dressing

Place the vegan mayonnaise, garlic, chives, herbes de Provence, dill, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, water, and sea salt in a large blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

Step Two: Dress the Easy Chicken Salad

Pour the desired amount of dressing over the salad. You can also use this vegan ranch dressing as a dip!

Store any leftovers in a glass jar in the fridge.

Swapping unhealthy dressings for nourishing versions is just the tip of the iceberg! Want to create a healthier menu? Download Mama Z’s Recipe Makeover to find our best tips for simple swaps that make a world of difference in your health.

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