Dill Pickle Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups (Printable Version)

Tangy chicken salad with dill pickles served in crisp lettuce cups. Light, protein-packed, and ready in just 25 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Salad Components

02 - 1 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
03 - 1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
04 - 1/4 cup celery, finely diced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

→ Dressing

06 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
07 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
08 - 1 tablespoon pickle juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - Salt to taste

→ To Serve

13 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, dill pickles, red onion, celery, and fresh dill.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, pickle juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss until evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Arrange the lettuce leaves on a platter and spoon the chicken salad evenly into each leaf.
05 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to fully develop before assembling.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pickle juice in the dressing creates this bright pop that makes every bite exciting
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes with almost zero cooking involved
  • Serving it in lettuce cups makes you feel fancy even when you are just clearing out the fridge
02 -
  • The salad needs at least an hour in the refrigerator for the flavors to really meld together
  • Lettuce cups get soggy quickly, so assemble them right before serving
  • If you want to make it ahead, keep the salad separate from the lettuce cups until the last minute
03 -
  • Use a knife to chop the pickles rather than a food processor so you maintain some texture
  • Let the salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors marry properly
  • Romaine hearts work as a sturdier alternative to butter lettuce if you want something with more crunch
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