High-Protein Chicken Egg Salad (Printable Version)

Protein-rich chicken and egg mix with fresh greens and tangy dressing for a hearty meal.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 oz)
02 - 6 large eggs

→ Salad Base

03 - 2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens (about 2 oz)
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (approximately 3.5 oz)
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt or mayonnaise (about 1.5 oz)
08 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (1 oz)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil (0.5 fl oz)
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice (0.5 fl oz)
11 - 1 teaspoon honey
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish (Optional)

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives or dill, chopped
14 - 1 avocado, sliced

# Directions:

01 - Place chicken breasts in a saucepan, cover with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until cooked through. Remove from water, cool, then shred or dice.
02 - Place eggs in a saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer immediately to an ice bath, peel, and chop.
03 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, chopped eggs, baby spinach or mixed greens, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
05 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture, tossing gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Top the salad with chopped fresh chives or dill and sliced avocado if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It keeps you full for hours without that heavy, sluggish feeling other lunch options leave behind.
  • The mustard dressing is bright and zippy, nothing like the bland mayo-heavy salads you might be picturing.
  • You can make it Sunday night and eat well all week without touching a stove again.
02 -
  • Overcooked chicken turns rubbery and dry, so pull it off the heat as soon as its opaque all the way through.
  • If you skip the ice bath for the eggs, the yolks will overcook and turn grayish green, which tastes fine but looks unappetizing.
  • Let the chicken cool completely before mixing, or it will wilt the greens and turn the salad soggy and sad.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken to cut the cooking time in half, just shred it and skip the poaching step entirely.
  • Taste the dressing before you toss it in, everyone has different preferences for tang and sweetness, so adjust until it makes you smile.
  • If the red onion feels too sharp, soak the slices in cold water for five minutes to mellow them out without losing the crunch.
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