12 Recipes to Turn Extra Chicken into Healthy Main Dish Salads

Grilled Chicken Salad with Seasonal Fruit

Here's a delicious main dish salad that's easy to make and a healthy choice any time of year. In summer, enjoy it with fresh berries. In winter, try slices of orange or grapefruit or even dried fruit. Add leftover grilled chicken and top with toasted nuts.

Chicken Fiesta Salad

This is a great option for leftover fajita chicken. "This is an attractive and zesty all-in-one dish," says ANGL8277. "It's full of veggies and chicken, and loaded with flavor. A quick fix for a long day."

Farro Salad with Asparagus and Parmesan

"A light and delicious way to get your whole grains," says Duncan. Top it off with leftover baked or grilled chicken, and it's a complete, super-healthy meal.

• Check out our collection of Grain Salad Recipes.

BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad

A great choice for extra BBQ chicken or leftover fried chicken. "This healthy salad was adapted from one I ate at California Pizza Kitchen,' says Shanon. "The lime juice intensified by the jicama draws out the flavor of the vegetables, so an oil- or cream-based dressing is not necessary."

Chopped Power Salad

So much healthy stuff! This chopped salad combines cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and garlic with cilantro, parsley, pumpkin seeds, and golden raisins tossed in an olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing. Add extra chicken to create a healthy weeknight meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes.

Southwestern Cobb Salad

Chicken joins Cheddar cheese, avocado, bacon, and tomatoes for this Southwestern take on the classic Cobb salad, dressed up with a creamy avocado-ranch dressing. "Not your typical Cobb salad! Based on a salad I had at a popular chain restaurant," says ErinCC.

Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad

"This is low-carb, no-sweat, sizzling-hot grilled fajita salad on the table in less than 30 minutes," says Baking Nana. "Yes, it is possible! Garnish with lime wedges and finely chopped cilantro."

Easy Sesame Chicken Salad

Leftover chicken breast meat is a great choice for this sesame chicken recipe, featuring cherry tomatoes, mixed greens, red onions, and mandarin oranges, drizzled with a sweet ginger-soy dressing. "This sesame chicken salad is delicious, light, and perfect for lunch or dinner," says Mallory.

Chicken Chow Mein Salad

Combine leftover chicken with spinach, red cabbage, pecans, mandarin oranges, leeks, and dried cranberries. "This hearty, delicious super-easy green salad reminiscent of traditional chicken chow mein," says TheRecycleChef.

Chicken Berry Salad

"This recipe uses three kinds of fresh berries and your choice of mixed salad greens, all tossed together with grilled chicken and a special honey mustard dressing," says ATIE MINES.

Fruity Chicken Salad with Tarragon

This chicken salad has a lot going on. "It's sweet and juicy from the apples and grapes, a little savory from the tarragon, crunchy from the pecans and celery, and lightened up a bit with some yogurt," says lutzflcat.

Chicken, Avocado and Mango Salad

"This is a colorful and very tasty mix of chicken, mangos, and avocados in a spicy lime dressing," says GREENLIME.

• Explore our collection of Main Dish Salad Recipes.