Your New Favorite WW Lunch
Do you miss that comforting, creamy, deli-style chicken salad? If you’re following the Weight Watchers plan, you know that creamy dressings and high-fat ingredients can quickly blow through your daily SmartPoints (or PersonalPoints). That’s why we created this brilliant SmartPoints-friendly chicken salad recipe!
We’ve swapped traditional mayonnaise for a blend of nonfat Greek yogurt and just a touch of light mayo to keep the points low while dramatically boosting the protein. This switch makes the filling incredibly satisfying and keeps you full for hours—the perfect strategy for weight loss meals. The result is a vibrant, crunchy, and absolutely delicious sandwich that fits perfectly into your plan. This recipe promises a quick, protein-rich, and macro-friendly meal that tastes like a cheat day but keeps you on track!
Look at the Recipe
- Sensory Appeal: The fantastic textural contrast of a flaky croissant (choose a lighter option!) against the super creamy, yet lean, chicken salad filling.
- Flavor Highlight: A bright, balanced flavor profile with zesty lemon, savory chicken, and pops of sweetness from grapes and crunch from celery.
- Key WW Benefit: Utilizes ZeroPoint foods (lean chicken breast, nonfat Greek yogurt in many plans, celery) to build a high-volume, high-protein filling for maximum satiety on fewer points.
Ingredients Needed
For the ZeroPoint-Heavy Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or diced, skin removed – a ZeroPoint food on most plans)
- $1/2$ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt (ZeroPoint in many plans)
- 2 Tbsp light mayonnaise (or a light, reduced-fat dressing)
- $1/4$ cup finely chopped red onion
- $1/2$ cup chopped celery
- $1/2$ cup red or green grapes, halved (high-volume ingredient)
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- $1/2$ tsp dried dill (or 1 Tbsp fresh)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Assembly
- 4 small croissants (look for smaller, portion-controlled sizes to minimize points)
- 4 pieces of Butter Lettuce or watercress (high-volume, ZeroPoint greens)
How to Make Our SmartPoints Chicken Salad
- Prepare the Base: Ensure your healthy chicken breast is cooled and shredded or diced evenly. Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl. This is a great easy meal prep idea to do on Sunday.
- Add Volume & Crunch: Finely chop the celery and red onion; halve the grapes. Add these high-volume, low-point ingredients into the bowl with the chicken.
- Mix the Light Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the nonfat Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and dill. Season well with salt and black pepper. The yogurt keeps this a macro-friendly meal.
- Combine Gently: Pour the lightened dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Fold everything together until the chicken is completely and evenly coated.
- Chill for Flavor: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling time is essential for the flavors to deepen and the salad to set up.
- Assemble the WW Sandwich: To assemble, slice your croissant open. Layer with a piece of crisp lettuce (a great ZeroPoint addition) and spoon a portion of the chilled low-point chicken salad onto the bottom half. Enjoy immediately!
Storage & Serving Suggestions
- Storing: The WW chicken salad filling is best stored separately in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: This is a cold recipe and should not be reheated.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended, as the Greek yogurt base will change texture when thawed.
- Serving Pairings (WW-Approved): To keep the points low, serve alongside a huge cup of raw, chopped vegetables (ZeroPoint on most plans), a bowl of air-popped popcorn, or a simple side salad with a fat-free dressing.
Tips & FAQs
Q: How can I reduce the SmartPoints further if croissants are too high?
A: Skip the croissant entirely! Serve this delicious healthy chicken salad over a large bed of mixed greens, on top of cucumber slices, or stuffed into large bell pepper halves. Focus on using your ZeroPoint foods as the vehicle.
Q: What if I don’t like grapes in my chicken salad?
A: You can swap the grapes for $1/2$ cup of chopped apple for a similar sweetness and crunch, or use pickles/relish for a more savory flavor profile. Both are clean eating additions that keep the points low.
Q: Is using rotisserie chicken okay on WW?
A: Yes, as long as you meticulously remove all the skin and any visible fat, the lean breast meat is fine. However, boiling or baking your own chicken breast ensures the lowest possible points for this weight loss meal.
Q: Can I add nuts for crunch?
A: You can, but nuts (like pecans or almonds) are high in points. If you need the crunch, measure them carefully (e.g., 1 Tbsp, chopped fine) and make sure to account for the added points in your tracker.