Hawaiian Chicken Salad (Printable)

Chicken, pineapple, grapes and toasted macadamia tossed in a creamy lime-honey dressing for a bright, tropical lunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Fruits & Vegetables

02 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced or canned and drained
03 - 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved
07 - 1/4 cup toasted macadamia nuts, chopped (optional)

→ Dressing

08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, or additional mayonnaise for dairy-free
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
11 - 2 teaspoons honey
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
15 - Butter lettuce leaves, for serving (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place diced chicken, pineapple, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, grapes, and chopped macadamia nuts in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small mixing bowl until emulsified and smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the bowl of salad ingredients and gently toss with a spatula until all components are evenly coated.
04 - Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 15 minutes to blend flavors.
05 - Arrange lettuce leaves on serving plates, mound the salad on top, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy-sweet dressing clings lovingly to every bite, making each forkful a little party.
  • Bringing this to a potluck guarantees your bowl is empty before you even get a chance for seconds.
02 -
  • Once, I rushed and served it warm—big mistake; chilling changes everything, letting the flavors properly dance.
  • Mixing the dressing separately stops the salad from getting too heavy or some bites too bland.
03 -
  • Letting the salad sit for at least 15 minutes is not optional; it’s the secret to a perfectly developed flavor.
  • A gentle folding motion when mixing keeps every bite pretty and prevents bruising the fruit.

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