"Non Mayo" Chicken Salad

I love chicken salad, and I love mayo...so the thought of separating them makes me really upset. However, I keep seeing this recipes on Pintrest using greek yogurt to replace mayo and always wonder if it is just as good (wishful thinking). So since I had some leftover roast chicken, I couldn't resist making this. Roast chicken is the best type to use in chicken salad, especially shredded because it is so moist, tender and not too chewy..nothing worst than dry and chewy chicken..WOOF...I digress...anyway, I found a recipe called "healthy chicken salad" on pintrest using greek yogurt..so in the words of Kel:

Ingredients
2 cups roast chicken (shredded)
1 cup green grapes sliced
1/3 cup craisins
1 green apple peeled/chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
1/2 red onion chopped
1 (5.3) oz of CIOBANI non-fat greek yogurt- plain
Your bread of choice (will effect the healthiness)

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and put it on bread. Boom- done.

As far as quality chicken salad goes, the greek yogurt does not even come close to mayo. But it was really different tasting and intriguing with the salt from the chicken and almonds really contrasting the sweetness of the grapes and apple. While I would rather have normal chicken salad with mayo, I understand how it could be a nice healthy alternative for folks. I am glad I gave it a try though because I would have always wondered..and now I can just use this new recipe and replace the greek yogurt with mayo.... I'm sorry healthy chicken salad recipe, do you feel used?

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with "Zesty" Avocado Spread

Another recipe from my healthy cookbook, hence the avocado. I think I've eaten more avocado in the last two weeks than I have in my entire life. Good thing its delicious.

This recipe caught my eye cuz I loooveeee me some BBQ. And it didn't look like it would taste TOO healthy...

What you need:
2 Chicken Breasts (or 4 breast tenderloins)
1 package of hamburger rolls (not the stupid cheap ones, pick something good)
1 Avocado (2 if you love avocado)
BBQ Sauce
1 TBSP red onion diced
1 lime
1 TBSP Green onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 slices of reduced fat sharp cheddar
Lettuce
Tomato
Cooking Spray
1 TBSP minced jalapeno pepper (if you like spice, which I don't- so I guess mine wasn't very "zesty")

Brush your chicken with BBQ sauce on both sides. Spray your grill pan with cooking spray and cook them on medium heat. Depending on thickness, they should cook 3-4 minutes on each side. About a minute before you take them off, put a slice of cheddar on each piece (if you do 4 tenderloins, use a half a piece on each).

 

To prepare your zesty avocado spread, mash up the avocado up in a bowl. Add the diced onion, lime (juiced), garlic, green onion and salt. Mix everything together and voila!

Build your sangy: On one half put your lettuce, tomato and bbq chicken (with melted cheese) and spread the avocado mixture on the other half.

 

And there you go! A super easy, and reasonably healthy meal under 20 minutes. My cookbook says these sandwiches come out to about 400 calories each. However, I literally doused my burger in that avocado spread, and then proceded to eat the leftovers out of the bowl with a spoon- so mine was probably a bit more. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Avacado Chicken Salad

I LOVE chicken salad sandwiches. Mostly because you can easily change it up by adding different toppings. Whether its cranberry walnut, or sun dried tomato- every combination of add-ons is delicious. My new fresh and fit cookbook had a recipe for Avocado Chicken Salad, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

What you need:
1 lb cooked chicken- cubed or shredded (I <3 shredded)
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1/4 cup light mayo
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 avocado- cubed
Tomato
Lettuce
Whole wheat bread- toasted

Mix together the first five ingredients. Carefully add the avocado and lightly toss. Place your tomato and lettuce on one half of your sandwich, and a scoop of the chicken deliciousness on the other half. voila! This recipe makes 4 sandwiches, try not to eat them all yourself.

Turkey Cobb Sandwiches

Made a really easy (and pretty healthy) recipe out of the new cookbook again. These sandwiches can be described with the 3 F's- Filling, Flavorful and Fresh!  Note: The quanities below are as if you were making a sandwich for yourself and a friend, so plan accordingly :)

What you need:
4 slices of wheat bread toasted
2 hard boiled eggs (sliced)
1 avacado- cut in slices
2 cooked strips of bacon
1 Tomato (sliced)
Lettuce
Light Mayo
6 slices of deli turkey

Spread 1 table spoon of mayo on 2 of your 4 slices of toasted bread. Layer each evenly with lettuce and then the remainder of your ingredients. Top with remaining 2 bread slices.

These were SOOOO good! And surprisingly, instead of my normal food coma, I had a lot of energy after eating! Will definetly be making these again!