This Curry Chicken Salad takes the classic sandwich filler and turns it on its head. It is loaded with flavor, from spicy curry powder to apples, raisins, cashews, cilantro, and scallions. Carrots and celery add addictive texture.

curried chicken salad with apples, raisins, and cashews in a bowl with a plate of bread and lettuce

Curry chicken salad is a healthy lunch

This curry chicken salad is one of my favorite lunches. It’s easy to make and so flavorful. Scoop it into crisp lettuce leaves or use it to fill a sandwich or wrap. It has so many healthy ingredients, too!

Ingredients for curried chicken salad with apples, raisins, and cashews

I have to admit that I didn’t come up with this idea all by myself. It started with Trader Joe’s Curried Chicken Salad with Raisins and Cashews. The TJ’s salad is delicious, but I wanted one I could make myself to use up leftover roast chicken or turkey.

You can use leftover roasted chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Or just grill or steam a couple of chicken breast fillets.

curried chicken salad in a bowl shot from overhead

Add a little spice!

I love a dash of sesame chili oil for a little kick. You could use cayenne pepper or drizzle of hot sauce instead.

What’s so great about this salad is the contrast of flavors and textures—sweet apples and raisins, crunchy cashews, celery, and carrots, tender chicken, spicy curry powder, and creamy mayonnaise. I could eat this healthy combo every day.

Curry chicken salad in a bowl iwth bread, lettuce, and cherry tomatoes

And it’s versatile, too! You can switch out the apples in exchange for grapes, use red onion instead of scallions, and substitute almonds for cashews if you like. If you don’t have all of the ingredients, don’t stress it! Use something else or just leave it out.

More great chicken recipes you’ll love

Yield: Serves 4

Curry Chicken Salad with Apples, Raisins, and Cashews

Name: Curry Chicken Salad with Apples, Raisins, and Cashews
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 8 ounces cooked chicken, diced or shredded; ¼ cup mayonnaise; 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon curry powder (or to taste); 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro; Kosher salt; freshly ground black pepper; 1 stalk celery, finely chopped; 2 scallions, thinly sliced; 1 small carrot, peeled and grated; ¼ cup toasted cashews; ¼ cup raisins; Sesame-chili oil or cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)

This CurryChicken Salad takes the classic sandwich filler and turns it on its head. It is loaded with flavor, from spicy curry powder to apples, raisins, cashews, cilantro, and scallions. Carrots and celery add addictive texture.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

8 ounces cooked chicken, diced or shredded
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon curry powder (or to taste)
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 small carrot, peeled and grated
¼ cup toasted cashews
¼ cup raisins
Sesame-chili oil or cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl, toss all of the ingredients
together until well combined.
Serve immediately or store, covered, in the refrigerator for
up to 3 days.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 343Total Fat 25gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 19gCholesterol 59mgSodium 397mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 3gSugar 7gProtein 16g

Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

Spicy & Sweet Curry Chicken Salad