Lemony White Bean Chicken Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Protein-packed Mediterranean bowl with chicken, white beans, and fresh herbs in zesty lemon dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 celery stalks, finely diced
04 - 1/4 red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Fresh Herbs

06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

08 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the cooked chicken, white beans, celery, red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and dill in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sample the salad and adjust salt or pepper as needed.
05 - Let the salad rest for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon vinaigrette cuts through the creamy beans and rich chicken making every bite feel like sunshine
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes even better the next day which means lunch is already made
02 -
  • Do not skip the 10 minute resting period it allows the beans to absorb some of the dressing and the flavors to marry properly
  • The salad keeps beautifully for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and actually tastes better on day 2
03 -
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the garlic so it disappears into the dressing without any harsh raw bites
  • Let your chicken come to room temperature before combining it with the other ingredients so the dressing coats everything evenly
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