Put a flavorful twist on the classic chicken salad by spicing it up with a sweet curry powder and the crunch of Wonderful Pistachios. The result? A delicious and satisfying Curried Pistachio Chicken Salad!

I received free samples of Wonderful Pistachios mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

February is American Heart Month so I decided to test out a few recipes that could be considered heart healthy. If you know me, you likely already know that I’ll never claim a “superfood” has the ability to prevent disease. The big picture of our diet as a whole is far more important. But there are always ways to boost the nutrition in a recipe. My favorite way to do that? Add something in, don’t take something out!

[Tweet “#ad Sometimes the best nourishment we get is by adding something in, not avoiding or eliminating foods. Check out my suggestions!”]

This twist on the classic chicken salad does exactly that. Instead of seasoning foods with lots of added salt (increasing the sodium in one’s diet) I like to turn to spices and herbs for seasoning. Bold flavors can make for a more interesting eating experience, which promotes mindfulness to enjoy our food and savor the flavors. I also wanted to boost the fiber for gut health and regularity. Because of that, you’ll see whole grain bread and this recipe’s featured ingredient, Wonderful Pistachios.

Heart Healthy Pistachios

Pistachios bring a lot to the table because of their nutrition profile. They are one of the highest protein and fiber snack nuts, so it’s no surprise they’re sometimes called The Fit Nut™. They’re also known as The Colorful Nut™ because they’re one option to snack more colorfully. Pistachios get their green, red, and purple hues from antioxidants that carry health benefits.

Pistachios add a satisfying crunch to meals and snacks, which is why I enjoy incorporating them into recipes like this one. You’ll also catch me adding them to salads and mixing them into grain-based side dishes. They are delicious crushed and mixed into oatmeal or a smoothie, too! I enjoy them as a stand alone snack too (pistachios are also called The Happy Nut™ because they help you snack happy!). The shelled version I received from Wonderful Pistachios was a real treat – I was able to enjoy pistachios much more easily on the go because I didn’t have to worry about where I was going to discard the empty shells!

[Tweet “#ad If you like to snack happy, you’ll love seeing what I made with shelled Wonderful Pistachios #getcrackin”]

Curried Chicken Salad Ingredients

I like to cut corners in the kitchen when I can, plus I like ingredients that serve dual purposes. That is why I use a rotisserie chicken for this recipe. It saves me a lot of time cooking the chicken, and then you have dark meat to use in something like tacos for an easy dinner. PLUS I was able to use the bones for some homemade chicken stock. Even though this was a more expensive purchase, it really paid off with the convenience and the stock I made for next to nothing is going to get me through a lot of future meals.

I played around with the seasonings and decided I wanted a little more heat and curry flavor. You can always adjust the seasonings to more closely match your tastes – that’s part of the fun of cooking!

Not feeling the sandwich vibes? This mixture would work well in a wrap (either a traditional sandwich wrap or lettuce/greens). It would also be delicious served up on a salad with even more of the leafy green stuff. I layered some extra shredded carrots on my sandwich too, so there’s room to really pump up the veggie content. Finally, I added a few extra pistachios before topping my sandwich to get even more of that satisfying crunch.

Here is the recipe for Curried Pistachio Chicken Salad:

Curried Pistachio Chicken Salad

4.63 from 8 votes

Step up your chicken salad with this version (inspired by a Trader Joe's favorite)!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

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Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped or shredded white meat chicken, cooked
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup Wonderful Pistachios, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
• 1 cup spring mix or baby spinach
• 8 slices whole grain sandwich bread

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, add the chicken, carrots, pistachios, apricots, and sliced green onions. Stir together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, curry powder, lemon zest, and red chili flakes. Combine well, then spoon over the chicken mixture in the larger bowl. Gently fold together until all ingredients are evenly coated and well distributed.
• Layer 1/4 of the leafy greens on top of one slice of whole grain sandwich bread. Spoon 1/4 of the chicken salad mixture on top, then place a second slice of sandwich bread on top. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to build four sandwiches. Slice in half and serve immediately, or wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days.

Notes

If cooking chicken breasts, allow additional time to fully cook the chicken and allow it to cool before shredding. If not eating immediately, consider storing the chicken salad mixture separately from the sandwich bread to avoid a soggy sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 491 kcal, Carbohydrates: 41 g, Protein: 33 g, Fat: 22 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 66 mg, Sodium: 455 mg, Potassium: 622 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 11 g, Vitamin A: 3270 IU, Vitamin C: 6 mg, Calcium: 136 mg, Iron: 4 mg

Course: Sandwich

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken Salad, Sandwich

And if you like the concept of some kind of salad on a sandwich, check out this version that uses smashed chickpeas and hummus!