High Protein Pepperoncini Chicken Salad (Printable)
Zesty, high-protein chicken salad with pepperoncini, crisp veggies and tangy yogurt-Dijon dressing—ready in 35 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup celery, diced
03 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 cup pepperoncini, sliced and drained
→ Dressing
06 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, nonfat or 2%
07 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, optional
08 - 2 tablespoons pepperoncini brine
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Add-Ins & Garnishes
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
15 - mixed greens or whole grain wraps, optional for serving
# How-To:
01 - In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken breast, diced celery, red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, and sliced pepperoncini until evenly distributed.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise if using, pepperoncini brine, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until fully blended.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well coated.
04 - Stir in fresh chopped parsley. Taste and adjust salt or black pepper according to preference.
05 - Refrigerate until chilled. Serve over mixed greens, in a wholegrain wrap, or use as a sandwich filling as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The pepperoncini’s brine gives a sneaky punch that keeps every bite interesting.
- It’s the easiest way I know to turn staple ingredients into something genuinely exciting.
02 -
- If you skip draining the pepperoncini well, your salad can turn out oddly soupy – not fun.
- Discovering that a splash of the brine replaces vinegar entirely makes the zing smoother and more integrated.
03 -
- Letting the salad chill for at least 30 minutes brings all those sharp flavors into balance.
- Finely chopping everything (especially the onions and pepperoncini) ensures you get the perfect mix in each bite.