mallory’s favorite waldorf chicken

This light, bright, refreshing chicken salad will keep you happily satiated with stable blood sugar and 40g of protein per serving!  

The combination of crunchy fiber-rich apple, pecans, grapes, parsley, celery and juicy rosemary chicken is so satisfying! It all comes together with a creamy probiotic lemony aioli. Bonus: it contains all the fiber you need for the whole day to help your microbiome thrive! And, rosemary and garlic are anti-inflammatory and anti-viral powerhouses.

I love to make a huge batch to last all week.

Double efficiency: make extra shredded chicken and use it for a second meal with a totally different flavor profile, like tossing it with salsa, lime, cilantro and black beans or using it in a soup.

Onto the waldorf!

Waldorf Chicken Salad

Serves 4

2 lbs boneless chicken thighs

2 bay leaves

3-4 cups of water, just enough to barely cover chicken

Lots of salt 

Lots of pepper

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Juice and zest of 1 big lemon

1 bunch of rosemary, finely chopped (roughly 2 Tablespoons)

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup fresh homemade aioli or avocado oil mayo

2-3 Tablespoons Greek yogurt (full-fat please! I love Straus brand)

4 ribs of celery, finely diced

1.5 cups of red grapes, sliced in half

2 small apples, one red and one green, sliced into matchsticks

½ bunch parsley, leaves only, chopped

Salt

Pepper

1 cup pecans, lightly toasted (keep separate until serving so they stay crunchy)

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Place chicken thighs, water, bay leaves, lots of salt and pepper into Instant Pot.* Pressure cook for 20 mins and let the steam naturally release for a few minutes.

Let the chicken cool for a few minutes in the broth while you prep the other ingredients.

In a large bowl, mix together lemon juice and zest, rosemary, olive oil, garlic, aioli/mayo, and yogurt. Add chicken straight from the instant pot broth** immediately while it’s still warm. Gently shred the chicken into big pieces. Add a bit of salt and pepper.

Next add the celery, grapes, apple, parsley, and more salt and pepper. Taste and adjust and add more lemon or rosemary or greek yogurt, etc, if needed!

When you’re ready to serve, add pecans!

*if you don’t have an Instant Pot, GET ONE! In the meantime, you can use rotisserie chicken or even better, freshly poached chicken breasts.

**save that instant pot broth for a soup recipe! it is liquid gold
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