This green goddess chicken salad is a quick, high-protein lunch made with rotisserie chicken, crisp green cabbage, and a creamy homemade green goddess dressing that blends Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and fresh herbs. It comes together in about 11 minutes, holds up well in the fridge for meal prep, and makes an easy lunch or snack.
Quick Look: Green Goddess Chicken Salad
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 11 minutes
- 🍳 Cook Time: No cook
- 🕒 Total Time: 11 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 6
- 📊 Calories: ~301 kcal per serving (estimate)
- 🔥 Cook Method: No cooking required
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Creamy, herby, and high-protein
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy — great for sandwiches, bowls, or meal prep
Why You’ll Love This Green Goddess Chicken Salad Recipe
This version of chicken salad combines classic textures with bright, herb-forward green goddess flavors. The dressing, made from cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, becomes luxuriously smooth when blended and adds protein as well as creaminess without heaviness. Because the dressing contributes protein, the salad is more filling than typical mayo-only recipes.
Using green cabbage instead of lettuce helps the salad stay crisp for longer, making it ideal for leftovers or meal prep. Avocado softens the crunch without becoming mushy, and fresh herbs keep the overall taste bright. The dressing can be made ahead and stored separately until ready to serve for best texture.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Green Goddess Chicken Salad
- Rotisserie chicken: Shredded or chopped for a fast, no-cook protein base.
- Green cabbage: Thinly sliced so it mixes evenly and stays crisp longer than lettuce.
- Cucumber: Adds fresh crunch; pat dry if very watery.
- Avocado: Soft and creamy to balance the cabbage.
- Green onions: Mild onion flavor that blends with the dressing.
High Protein Green Goddess Dressing
- Mayo: Adds richness and helps the dressing coat the salad.
- Plain non-fat Greek yogurt: Adds protein and a light tang.
- Cottage cheese: Blends smooth and boosts protein.
- Basil leaves: Classic green goddess herb.
- Raw spinach: Adds color and a mild green base.
- Fresh dill: Bright, slightly tangy herb.
- Fresh chives: Gentle onion note to tie flavors together.
- Fresh lemon juice: Balances and brightens the dressing.
- Dijon mustard: Helps emulsify and adds subtle sharpness.
- Minced garlic: Adds savory depth.
- Coconut aminos: A touch of sweetness to round flavors.
- Sea salt & black pepper: To taste.
- Water: To thin the dressing as needed.
Recipe Substitutions
- If you don’t have cottage cheese, increase the Greek yogurt — the dressing will be lighter and slightly less protein-dense.
- Fresh herbs are best, but dried herbs can work in a pinch (use less and expect a milder flavor).
- For a dairy-free option, substitute a dairy-free yogurt and omit cottage cheese; texture and protein will change.
How to Make Green Goddess Chicken Salad
Step 1: Combine all dressing ingredients except water in a high-speed blender. Blend on high for about 30 seconds until completely smooth. If needed, add water 1 tablespoon at a time to reach a pourable consistency.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the chicken, thinly sliced cabbage, diced cucumber, avocado, and green onions.
Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve with your favorite gluten-free chips or crackers, or enjoy on its own.
Recipe Tips
- Blend the dressing until completely smooth; stop only when the cottage cheese has no texture left.
- Add water slowly when thinning — the dressing should coat ingredients without pooling.
- Slice the cabbage thin for a cohesive texture that’s easy to scoop.
- Taste after tossing; cabbage and chicken can mute seasoning, so add a touch more salt, pepper, or lemon if needed.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- When prepping ahead, add avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
- Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. For best texture, keep dressing separate and mix before serving.
- If the dressing thickens after chilling, stir in a splash of water or lemon juice to loosen it.
Recipe FAQs
No. Blending makes the cottage cheese completely smooth so it adds creaminess without a distinguishable curd flavor.
Add water one tablespoon at a time until it reaches a pourable consistency. It may thicken slightly after chilling.
Yes — use a dairy-free yogurt and omit cottage cheese. Texture and protein will differ; you can also use extra mayo to increase richness.
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Love this green goddess chicken salad? Please leave a rating and review if you try it.
High Protein Green Goddess Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, chopped
- 2.5 cups green cabbage, chopped
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 avocado, diced
- ⅓ cup green onions, diced
Green Goddess Dressing
- ¼ cup mayo
- ⅓ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- ⅓ cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup basil leaves, packed
- ¾ cup raw spinach
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives
- Juice from ½ lemon
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tsp coconut aminos
- ¾ tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp water, only as needed
Instructions
- Combine the dressing ingredients except water in a high-speed blender and blend on high for 30 seconds until creamy. Add 1 tbsp water at a time if you need to thin it.
- Add the chicken, cabbage, cucumber, avocado, and green onions to a large bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with gluten-free tortilla chips or crackers, or enjoy as a bowl.
Notes
- Blend the dressing until completely smooth. If you still see texture from the cottage cheese, blend a bit longer.
- Add water slowly when thinning the dressing so it coats the salad without pooling.
- Slice the cabbage thin for a cohesive texture.
- Taste after mixing and adjust salt or lemon if needed.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Keep dressing separate for best texture.
- If the dressing thickens after chilling, stir in a splash of water or lemon juice to loosen.
- Add avocado just before serving when making ahead to prevent browning.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.75 cup | Calories: 301 kcal | Carbohydrates: 8 g | Protein: 26 g | Fat: 19 g | Fiber: 4 g
All nutrition facts are estimates. For the most accurate results, weigh ingredients and divide by the number of servings.