Description

This Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad with Banana Peppers offers a healthy, protein-rich twist on classic chicken salad. Creamy blended low-fat cottage cheese replaces traditional mayo, giving the salad a smooth texture with fewer calories. The addition of diced banana peppers adds a subtle tangy heat that complements the savory chicken chunks, while red onion, celery, and green onion provide a fresh crunch. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, this salad can be served on its own, in sandwiches, or with crackers.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

1 cup rotisserie chicken, chopped into small chunks
¼ cup jarred banana peppers (mild or spicy), diced
¼ cup red onion, diced
¼ cup celery, diced
2 tablespoon green onion, thinly sliced

Dressing

½ cup low-fat (2% milkfat) cottage cheese, blended smooth
½ teaspoon Dijon or spicy mustard
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Blend cottage cheese dressing: In a food processor, pulse the low-fat cottage cheese together with Dijon or spicy mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until the mixture is smooth and creamy, forming the dressing base.
Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped rotisserie chicken, diced banana peppers, red onion, celery, and sliced green onion. Mix them gently to distribute evenly.
Mix dressing with salad: Pour the blended cottage cheese dressing over the combined chicken and vegetables. Stir thoroughly until everything is well coated with the dressing.
Adjust seasonings and serve: Taste the salad and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve immediately fresh or refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to enjoy, preferably within 1-2 days for best freshness.

Notes

For a spicier salad, use spicy banana peppers and spicy mustard.
You can substitute rotisserie chicken with cooked shredded chicken or leftover grilled chicken.
This salad can be served on whole grain bread, in lettuce wraps, or with crackers as a snack.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Blending the cottage cheese creates a creamy texture without the need for mayonnaise, making it a lighter alternative.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Blending
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad, Healthy Chicken Salad, Low Fat Chicken Salad, Banana Peppers Chicken Salad, Protein Packed Salad, Quick Chicken Salad