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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad

Mar 2, 2025 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 1 Comment

307 shares
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Diet: Gluten Free / High Protein / Low Carb / Low Fat
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Cottage cheese chicken salad with a text overlay title.
Cottage cheese chicken salad with a text overlay title.

This high protein chicken salad with cottage cheese is a quick and easy lunch option that uses leftover chicken breast - it has a whopping 30 grams of protein per serving. Great for weekly meal prep, this cottage cheese chicken salad is also a delicious way to use cottage cheese, especially if you don't usually like the texture, as it's blended into a sauce. Serve this on salad, in a sandwich or with crackers.

A plate of creamy chicken salad and crackers next to a striped towel.

There is just SO much that you can do with leftover chicken. We always cook some chicken breasts up on a Sunday and shred them to add to meals through the week. Traditional chicken salad is usually made with mayonnaise, but we have lightened it up and made a healthy chicken salad with cottage cheese.

This healthy chicken salad is a mixture of shredded chicken, cottage cheese blended with some mustard and lemon juice and then some onions and herb. If you are using leftover chicken, then this high protein chicken salad takes just 5 minutes to make.

The cottage cheese is blended up to make a dressing, so don't be put off by this if you don't usually like the texture of cottage cheese. You honestly can't taste it, but it adds so much extra protein.

Looking for some more high protein recipes? Why not try our quick Turkey and Bean Salad, delicious Healthy Millionaire Shortbread, easy Steak and Rice Bowl or simple Greek Yogurt Pancakes?

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • High Protein Tip
  • How To Make Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad - Step by Step
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Chicken Salad Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed to make this recipe, each with a text overlay label.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Chicken - We used leftover shredded chicken breast to make this quick and easy. But if you don't have leftover chicken breast, then make our Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe or Slow Cooker Chicken Breast and use that. You could also use rotisserie chicken too.
  • Cottage cheese - We used fat free to keep it lighter, but you can use full fat which would be creamier. Use the best quality cottage cheese you can though, as the cheaper brands tend to be watery. We love Longley Farm cottage cheese. You could use Greek yogurt instead if you prefer.
  • Lemon - A little lemon juice really lightens it up. You can add some lemon zest as well for a stronger lemon flavor.
  • Herbs - We used dill, but chives or fresh parsley work well too.
  • Onion - Some diced green onions/scallions (spring onions) add some crunch and color. You could use shallots or red onion too.
  • Mustard - This adds so much flavor. We used Dijon mustard, but you could use wholegrain.
  • Salt and Pepper - Generously season. You could swap the salt and pepper for our Everything Bagel Seasoning instead.

Variations

There are so many different salad ingredients that you can mix into this chicken salad to add some extra crunch, as well as give it a nutrient boost. Here are some of the other mix-ins that we love:

  • Celery
  • Bell peppers
  • Dried cranberries
  • Grapes
  • Flaked almonds or walnuts
  • Chopped apples
  • Pickles
  • Jalapenos
  • Avocado
  • Nuts

High Protein Tip

To make this high protein chicken salad even higher in protein, why not chop up some boiled eggs and add into the mixture?

How To Make Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad - Step by Step

Cottage cheese, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a blender jug.
  1. Step 1: In a blender, add the cottage cheese, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
Shredded cooked chicken, green onions and chopped dill in a mixing bowl.
  1. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, add the chicken, onions and dill.
Blended cottage cheese poured into the bowl of chicken.
  1. Step 3: Pour the cottage cheese mixture into the bowl.
Everything mixed together in the bowl.
  1. Step 4: Mix well to coat everything in the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

This chicken salad using cottage cheese is always part of our weekly meal prep, because there are so many different ways to use it - it's so versatile.

We love loading this into a sandwich or wrap or even in a toasted panini. You can scoop it on top of a big green salad as the protein option or make a lettuce wrap with it.

Or you can do what we have done and serve these with some sourdough crackers to load the healthy chicken salad on top. Why not try our Homemade Cracker Recipe too?

Of course this is also a delicious addition to a Picky Plate or in an Adult Lunchable.

A plate of creamy chicken salad and some sourdough crackers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store leftovers

Leftover cottage cheese chicken salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. We wouldn't recommend freezing this.

Do I have to blend the cottage cheese?

No, you don't have to. If you prefer a chunkier texture, then you can just mix it in as it is. Not blending it makes this recipe even quicker.

Shredded chicken, green onions and dill in a creamy sauce.

More Chicken Salad Recipes

  • A chicken protein bowl next to a checkered towel.
    Chicken Protein Bowl
  • Green Goddess chicken salad on a blue plate with some crackers.
    Healthy Green Goddess Chicken Salad (High Protein)
  • Chicken Pasta Salad in a large round bowl surrounded by lemon, cheese and basil leaves
    Chicken Pasta Salad
  • Greek chicken bowl containing chicken, salad, tzatziki and feta.
    Greek Chicken Bowls with Tzatziki

If you’ve tried this Healthy Chicken Salad recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Cottage cheese chicken salad on a plate with some crackers.

Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad

By: Dannii Martin
Make meal prep easy with this cottage cheese chicken salad. A delicious way to use leftover chicken, it's protein packed, low carb and ready in 5 minutes.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
A circular logo saying HP.
High Protein
The words low carb in a white circle.
Low Carb
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
5 from 1 vote
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: British
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Servings: 2
Calories: 173kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
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Meat
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Mustard

Ingredients

  • 120 g (0.5 cups) Fat free cottage cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
  • 1 pinch Sea salt
  • 1 pinch Ground black pepper
  • 150 g (5.25 oz) Cooked chicken breast - shredded
  • 2 Spring onions (Scallions) - diced
  • 2 g (0.25 cups) Fresh dill

Instructions

  • In a blender, add 120 g Fat free cottage cheese, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Lemon juice, 1 pinch Sea salt and 1 pinch Ground black pepper. Blend until smooth.
  • In a mixing bowl, add 150 g Cooked chicken breast, 2 Spring onions (Scallions) and 2 g Fresh dill.
  • Pour the cottage cheese mixture into the bowl.
  • Mix well to coat everything in the sauce.

Recipe Tips

  • To make this high protein chicken salad even higher in protein, why not chop up some boiled eggs and add into the mixture?

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 322mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 220IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Rachel says

    June 26, 2025 at 1:49 pm

    5 stars
    Picked up a reduced whole chicken and roasted it, so gave this salad a go. Super easy and SO tasty, with very few ingredients which I like. I had it for lunch on rice cakes.

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

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