Ingredients
½ cup blanched slivered almonds
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat
1 stalk celery, chopped
Instructions
1
Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.
2
Mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper in a medium bowl. Toss with chicken, toasted almonds, and celery.
Key Points About Ingredients:
- Slivered almonds add a satisfying crunch and a boost of healthy monounsaturated fats and vitamin E — toast them carefully over medium-high heat as they can go from golden to burnt very quickly.
- Mayonnaise serves as the creamy base of this dressing; using a high-quality full-fat mayo gives the richest flavor, though light mayo works as a lower-calorie substitute.
- Fresh lemon juice brightens the entire dish, cutting through the richness of the mayo and adding a subtle citrusy zing that elevates every forkful.
- Celery provides a refreshing crunch and natural hydration, and its mild flavor complements the savory chicken without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Using pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken makes this recipe incredibly fast — any leftover roasted or poached chicken works beautifully here.
Key Nutritional Insights:
- Each serving provides roughly 35g of protein, making this chicken salad an excellent high-protein lunch option to support muscle maintenance and satiety.
- The almonds and mayonnaise contribute healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which support heart health when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
- Chicken is a great source of selenium and B vitamins, particularly niacin (B3) and B6, which play key roles in energy metabolism and brain function.
- This recipe is naturally low in carbohydrates and contains no added sugars, making it suitable for low-carb and keto-friendly eating patterns.
- Lemon juice adds a small but meaningful dose of vitamin C, which also helps enhance iron absorption from the other ingredients in the salad.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size1
- Amount per serving
- Calories650
- Standard DV% Daily Value*
- Total Fat54 g72 g75%
- Saturated Fat8 g20 g40%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat18 g
- Monounsaturated Fat22 g
- Cholesterol115 mg300 mg38.33%
- Sodium420 mg2300 mg18.26%
- Total Carbohydrate6 g275 g2.18%
- Dietary Fiber2 g28 g7.14%
- Total Sugars2 g
- Added Sugars0 g50 g0%
- Sugar Alcohal0 g
- Protein35 g50 g70%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)4 mcg20 mcg20%
- Calcium80 mg1300 mg6.15%
- Iron2 mg18 mg11.11%
- Potassium480 mg4700 mg10.21%
- Vitamin A180 mcg900 mcg20%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)5 mg90 mg5.56%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)7 mg15 mg46.67%
- Vitamin K18 mcg120 mcg15%
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.15 mg1.2 mg12.5%
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.22 mg1.3 mg16.92%
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)12 mg16 mg75%
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.9 mg1.7 mg52.94%
- Folate28 mcg400 mcg7%
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.4 mcg2.4 mcg16.67%
- Biotin6 mcg30 mcg20%
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)1.4 mg5 mg28%
- Choline105 mg550 mg19.09%
- Phosphorus320 mg1250 mg25.6%
- Iodine8 mcg150 mcg5.33%
- Magnesium65 mg420 mg15.48%
- Zinc2.2 mg11 mg20%
- Selenium34 mcg55 mcg61.82%
- Copper0.22 mg0.9 mg24.44%
- Manganese0.6 mg2.3 mg26.09%
- Chromium4 mcg35 mcg11.43%
- Molybdenum12 mcg45 mcg26.67%
- Chloride380 mg2300 mg16.52%
