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    You are here: Home » Meal Type » 30 Minute Meals » Whole30 Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

    Whole30 Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

    January 16, 2018 By Danielle Esposti 2 Comments

    May contain affiliate links.See our Privacy Policy and disclosure.

    Go to Recipe
    No mayo whole30 cherry chicken salad in a wood bowl.

    These Whole30 Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps are the perfect compliant “sandwich”! This quick and easy weekend prep recipe lasts all week, and gets better the longer it marinates. Elevate your packed lunch with this crunchy, tangy, sweet, and savory Whole30 chicken salad recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Whole30 Chicken Salad Recipe Notes
    • Recipe

    Hey, hey, hey Whole30 friends! Guess what day it is? No, it’s not cheat day. No…it’s not the end of the challenge. It’s Whole30 hump day! That’s right, today is the start of the second half of your January Whole30 journey. Huzzah! 

    The halfway point is critical. By now you’ve probably kissed the carb flu buh-bye (so real, so brutal). You may have dropped a few pounds, and your skin is probably dewey AF. You’re likely sleeping like a teenager, and waking up feeling all bright and shiny. And it only gets better from here.

    All that being said, you might still be feeling out some organizational strategies to make mealtimes less hectic. Two weeks is hardly habit-forming, so if you’re not really into a groove yet, that’s totally fine – and in fact pretty close to completely normal. Most experts say it takes up to six weeks to form new habits, so be patient with yourself and focus on getting a little bit better every day.

    Enter the practice of lunch prep. Setting aside a couple hours over the weekend to cook and prepare your lunches for the work week will make a huge difference in how you approach your midday meal:

    • You won’t fuss about what to pack for lunch each day. Say yes to less stress and more calm.
    • You’ll feel a sense of control and power over your midday meal choices.
    • You’ll save time and moolah during the week. No extra modifications to your take-out, no hodge-podging a compliant meal at the convenience or grocery store.

    These simple benefits are actually huge, and completely worth the effort.

    This dried cherry chicken salad is one of my favorite lunch prep recipes for January Whole30. It’s fast, easy on the eyes (and on the prep!), gets better as it marinates, and makes a super duper portable packed lunch. This no mayo chicken salad is loaded with vegetables (hello nutrients!) and the perfect balance of sweet, savory, crunchy and tangy.

    Pin it now! Click here to add this Whole30 Chicken Salad to Pinterest! 

    Whole30 Chicken Salad Recipe Notes

    A couple times a month I roast a whole chicken, usually on Sundays. Roasted chicken is my go-to comfort food, slathered with gravy and served with seasonal sides. We typically eat about half for dinner, and the remainder gets tossed into a no mayo chicken salad (I’m not a mayo fan) or a soup or stew. Then I cook down the carcass into a rich, nutritious bone broth in my slow cooker and stash that into the freezer.

    My chicken salads change with the seasons, based on what produce is available, but winter veggies are my favorite. Hearty winter produce like carrots, radishes, and fennel are the perfect companion to tender roasted chicken, sweet dried cherries, and an herby balsamic vinaigrette. I prefer a mix of fresh roasted white and dark meat for this Whole30 chicken salad, but use what you have. Grab a pre-roasted chicken from the grocery store, or poach a chicken breast or two. Make it easy for yourself!

    The base of this salad is lots and lots of fresh raw vegetables – carrots, celery, fennel, radishes, and green onions. Slice or julienne your vegetables thinly for diversified texture and a hit of each flavor in every bite. If you have a mandoline slicer, it’s terrifically useful here and makes the prep a snap. I thinly slice the fennel, celery, and green onions, and go for a julienne with the carrots and radishes. Do whatever’s fast and easy for YOU. Just remember – the thinner the better.

    Toss all the veggies into a bowl along with the roasted chicken (either shredded or diced), some slivered almonds, and dried cherries.

    For the dressing, I punch up my basic balsamic vinaigrette with a little balsamic reduction and some chopped parsley. It’s slightly sweet and pairs so well with the dried cherries and chicken, but still tangy and bright.

    At this point you can serve it as is, but I like to stuff my chicken salad into lettuce wraps. I go totally non-seasonal here and get some bib lettuce from the co-op – they’re the perfect Whole30 compliant “wrap”. Just spoon the chicken salad into the lettuce cups and you’re done!

    These make a nice little presentation for a family style meal or party platter. They’re also perfect little “sandwiches” to pack into your lunchbox. Bonus – you don’t need to pack utensils to eat these cute and tidy Whole30 chicken salad wraps. These glass snapware containers fit two snuggly, the perfect portion size. These keep in the fridge for up to 4 days as assembled lettuce wraps (the bibb lettuce gets a little soggy after that), and the chicken salad by itself keeps for up to a week.

    An overhead view of a glass lunchbox container filled with two paleo and whole30 chicken salad wraps.

    Did you make these Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups? I’d love to know how they turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

    While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.

    Recipe

    Whole30 Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups

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    Author: Danielle Esposti
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    Elevate your packed lunch game with this cherry chicken salad recipe. These no mayo Whole30 chicken salad lettuce wraps are lunch prep perfection!
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 5 mins
    Total Time: 25 mins
    Servings : 6
    Calories: 333

    Recommended Equipment

    • Mandoline
    • Large Mixing Bowl

    Ingredients

    Whole30 Chicken Salad

    • 1 head bibb lettuce, leaves separated, 12 total
    • 2 c. shredded roasted chicken, about 8 oz.
    • 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
    • 1 medium carrot, julienned or thinly sliced
    • 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced
    • 4 radishes, julienned or thinly sliced
    • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
    • ½ c. dried cherries, coarsely chopped
    • ½ c sliced almonds

    Balsamic Vinaigrette

    • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tsp balsamic reduction
    • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
    • ½ tsp kosher or sea salt
    • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
    • ½ c extra virgin olive oil

    Instructions

    • Line a baking sheet or your kitchen counter with a cotton towel or paper towels. Carefully remove each whole bibb lettuce piece, starting from the outside and working your way in. Rinse each piece of lettuce under cool running water to remove any dirt or grit. Shake off excess water and place on the towels to air dry while you prepare the chicken salad.
    • Shred the chicken and place in a large salad or mixing bowl. Thinly sliced the celery, carrot, fennel, radish, and green onion using a mandoline slicer or very sharp knife and add them to the chicken, along with the dried cherries and almonds.
    • In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, balsamic reduction, parsley, salt, and pepper and whisk until combined. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified.
    • Pour the balsamic vinaigrette over the chicken salad and toss until combined. 
    • Spoon 1/12th of the chicken salad in 12 individual lettuce cups. Pack two cups in a sealed container and store in the fridge for up to four days, or arrange on a platter and serve immediately. Alternatively, store the chicken salad and lettuce cups in separate sealed containers to keep in the fridge for up to a week. This chicken salad can be enjoyed immediately, but the flavor gets better after marinating for at least an hour. 

    Notes

    A portion sized represents two lettuce wraps, each stuffed with 1/12 of the cherry chickens salad. 
    “Cooking time” represents assembly time to mix the chicken salad and fill the lettuce wraps. 

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 333kcal (17%)
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @oursaltykitchen or tag #oursaltykitchen!

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love! 

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    2 Comments
    Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Appetizers, Fall Recipes, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Main Dishes, Paleo, Salads, Whole30 Recipes, Winter Recipes

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    1. Healthy Chicken Salad (No Mayo, Paleo, Gluten Free) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      December 7, 2019 at 6:09 pm

      […] Cherry Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps […]

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    2. Rainbow Glass Noodle Salad (Paleo, Gluten Free) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      January 24, 2020 at 10:21 am

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