Chicken Salad with Poppy Seeds and Lemon

A No Mayo Chicken Salad

When I was a kid, my mom used to make poppy seed chicken casserole. It was creamy and delicious, with the pop of the seeds and the softness of the chicken. She always topped the casserole with crushed butter crackers – that buttery crunch took that comforting casserole to the next level.

This chicken salad recipe with poppy seeds and lemon is inspired by my mom’s casserole. This is a no mayo chicken salad, and instead uses olive oil in the dressing to add a comforting creamy mouth feel. The pop of the seeds is still there, and you get a wonderful crunch – not from butter crackers but from fresh carrots and celery. I added lemon juice and lemon zest to brighten the flavors of the chicken salad.

Once made, you can enjoy your chicken salad over crunchy lettuce greens, nestled between whole grain bread, or atop crispy whole grain crackers. Yum!

Here’s how to make chicken salad with poppy seeds and lemon:

Ingredients for chicken salad:

Chicken salad with poppy seeds:
• 2 cups of roasted, chopped chicken
• Zest of one lemon
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 stalk celery
• 1/2 c carrots

Lemon dressing:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Juice of one lemon- about 1.5 tbsp
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, chopped
• Cracked pepper

Recipe for chicken salad:

1. Chop celery and carrots into thin slices.
2. Combine, in a medium bowl, all salad ingredients.
3. In a measuring cup, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, chopped rosemary, and cracked pepper

4. Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Voila! Your salad is ready.

Like this chicken salad with lemon and poppy seeds, what recipes from your childhood inspire you? Let us know in the comments!

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