This Whole30 + Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken Salad is the perfect meal. It’s easy to prep + makes fantastic leftovers. Crisp celery, sliced almonds + the tangiest, freshest lemon mayonnaise dressing make this salad such a fun twist on the classic!

This Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken Salad is one of those dishes that takes you by surprise. I thought it sounded like a really fun twist on a classic recipe, but I had no idea how much we would love it. It’s fresh + bright, tangy + creamy. It’s full of flavours and textures, but it’s also packed with protein and healthy fat, making it a perfect choice for an easy lunch or dinner!

The other best part of this paleo lemon poppy seed chicken salad? You can totally make it in advance + it only gets better. The chicken and other fixings really soak up the dressing and get even juicier and more flavourful!

If you’re looking from something easy, quick, delicious and sure to be a winner, this Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken Salad is your dish!

Ingredients in this Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken Salad

The ingredients for this paleo lemon poppy seed chicken salad are super simple. They’re all real food, unrefined ingredients that you can feel really good about feeding to your entire family! To make this delicious dish, you’ll need:

Cooked chicken: you can totally use breast and thigh meat from a rotisserie chicken or you can poach some breasts specifically for this recipe, whatever you like! I’ve included some notes in the recipe.
Celery
Red Onion
Almonds: I’ve also made this recipe with other nuts like pecans or walnuts and they all work!
Avocado Oil Mayonnaise: I love using a high quality mayonnaise here, but just use your fav brand. You can also do 1/2 mayo + 1/2 greek yogurt if you aren’t worried about dairy!
Maple Syrup: It’s just two tablespoons, but it makes such a difference. You can totally use honey too if you wish.
Lemon Juice
Garlic Powder
Salt + Pepper
Poppy seeds

Putting the Chicken Salad together

Putting this chicken salad together couldn’t be easier. The hardest part is getting the cooked chicken together. You can make it super easy + start with a rotisserie chicken, or you can poach your own. Just be sure that its chopped into bite sized pieces.

You can dice the onion, celery + nuts into whatever sizes you like – that’s totally up to your personal preference!

The creamy, zingy dressing is what really makes this recipe what it is. It’s SO GOOD. To make it, all you need to do is to stir all of the ingredients together. It’s going to be a bit thinner than mayonnaise due to the lemon juice, but the chicken will really soak it all in.

Simply put everything together in a big bowl + mix! That’s it! Chicken salad, done.

Storing the Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken Salad leftovers

Once you mix this chicken salad together, you can serve it immediately or throw it into the fridge until you’re ready! It will keep in the cold for up to 5 days. And honestly? This salad just gets better the longer it sits.

It’s perfect for packed lunches, for a family picnic or for an easy meal when it’s just too dang hot to cook. Serve it up alongside of some almond flour crackers for dipping, on top of some lettuce or even with some crusty bread if that’s something you’re in to!

This Chicken Salad is going to become your new favourite version, I promise. We’ve made it countless times in the last month + I can’t see it slowing down any time soon.

If you do go ahead and make this recipe, which you SHOULD, it would be super helpful if you’d leave a rating/review down below with your thoughts. It means tons to me, but it also helps other people find my recipes to try them.

Oh, and last thing, I ADORE seeing your posts on instagram, so be sure to tag me in your creations or follow along at @jessicaeatsrealfood.

P.S. If you like this recipe, you might want to consider serving it with a delicious lemon dessert like my soft baked paleo lemon cookies? You’re welcome.

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