Pina Colada Chicken Salad

June 24, 2014
With its tasty combination of pineapple and coconut, Pina Colada Chicken Salad delivers up fabulous tropical flavor that's sweet, but not too sweet.  It's just the perfect chicken salad recipe for a summertime (or anytime) lunch!

Pina Colada Chicken Salad on Bed of Lettuce on a Plate Image

Oh, how I love to be in the tropics or at the beach, enjoying the surf and the sand, with a cold Pina Colada in my hand. And I'd venture to guess there are a lot of other people who share that love right along with me! But alas, most of us can't always be at the beach. -- Or even be sipping on Pina Coladas, for that matter. 

But you know what we can do? -- We can enjoy tropical flavors right at home! Like in this tasty tropical Pina Colada Chicken Salad.

With its tasty combination of pineapple and coconut, Pina Colada Chicken Salad delivers up fabulous tropical flavor that's sweet, but not too sweet.

While I can't honestly say Pina Colada Chicken Salad even comes close to comparing to a frosty Pina Colada at the beach, I can say it packs a wonderful pineapple-&-coconut flavor punch.

Which, is surprisingly good in a chicken salad.

Packed with crushed pineapple and sliced grapes, and dressed with Pina Colada-flavored yogurt, Pina Colada Chicken Salad delivers up a deliciously flavorful sweetness -- without being too  sweet. It's a flavor combination that's just perfect for a summertime (or anytime) lunch. -- No matter where that lunch happens to be.

Fork Bite of Pina Colada Chicken Salad Image

Pina Colada Chicken Salad Ingredients:

Pina Colada Chicken Salad is a tasty blend of savory and sweet ingredients. To whip up a batch, you'll need:

  • Cooked chicken - One pound of cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast forms the base of the chicken salad. (See our post "How to Make Shredded Chicken" for an easy pan-simmer method to cook chicken breasts.) Or, a fully-cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store works great for this recipe, too.

  • Crushed pineapple - Canned crushed pineapple brings the classic Pina Colada pineapple element to the chicken salad. An 8-ounce can is needed for this recipe. 

  • Pina Colada yogurt - Serves as the base of the chicken salad's dressing, and brings the classic Pina Colada coconut element to the chicken salad. Coconut yogurt (or even coconut-vanilla yogurt) works, if you can't find Pina Colada flavored yogurt.

  • Mayonnaise - Combines with the yogurt to create the salad's dressing, and adds a nice element of creaminess to it.

  • Dried sage, dried thyme, salt, & pepper - Season and bring savory flavors to the chicken salad.

  • Red seedless grapes - Bring a nice textural element and pop of sweetness to the chicken salad, pairing beautifully with the salad's Pina Colada flavors. 

  • Celery, green onions, and sliced almonds - Bring flavor and textural crunch to the salad. Chopped pecans could be used in place of the sliced almonds, if you'd like.

Pina Colada Chicken Salad Ingredients Image

How to Make Pina Colada Chicken Salad:

Whipping up a bowlful of Pina Colada Chicken Salad is pretty straightforward. -- Which means, it's also pretty easy. We love easy!

To make the salad's creamy dressing, simply stir together a container of Pina Colada yogurt, some mayonnaise, drained crushed pineapple, dried sage, dried thyme, a little salt, and some pepper in a large bowl. Add in fully-cooked chopped chicken, some halved red grapes, chopped celery, green onion, and some sliced almonds. Give everything a good stir to get it all well combined.

Bowl of Pina Colada Chicken Salad Image

Once mixed, pop the salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Then you're ready to serve up and enjoy the deliciousness! Use Pina Colada Chicken Salad as a filling for sandwiches, or serve it up on a bed of lettuce for a delicious summertime (or anytime) lunch.

Close-Up of Plate of Pina Colada Chicken Salad Image

So while Pina Colada Chicken Salad with grapes is certainly no frosty Pina Colada on the beach, with its tasty pineapple and coconut flavors, it can certainly help if you're in need of a little tropical fix.

Check out these other perfect-for-a-sandwich salads:

Pina Colada Chicken Salad with Red Grapes Image
Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

pina colada chicken salad, pina colada chicken salad recipe, chicken salad with pineapple recipe, chicken salad with grapes, chicken salad with coconut
Salads
American
Yield: about 6-8 servings
Pina Colada Chicken Salad

Pina Colada Chicken Salad

With its tasty combination of pineapple and coconut, Pina Colada Chicken Salad delivers up fabulous tropical flavor that's sweet, but not too sweet. It's just the perfect chicken salad recipe for a summertime (or anytime) lunch!
Prep time: 25 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Ingredients

  • 1 (6 oz.) container low-fat pina colada yogurt (or coconut yogurt, if you can't find pina colada)
  • 1/4 c. mayonnaise
  • 1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1/4 tsp. dried sage
  • 1/8 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked & chopped
  • 2/3 c. red seedless grapes, halved
  • 1/4 c. chopped celery
  • 1/4 c. chopped green onions
  • 1/2 c. sliced almonds

Instructions

  1. Combine yogurt, mayonnaise, crushed pineapple, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
  2. Add the chopped chicken, grapes, celery, green onion, and sliced almonds; stir to combine.
  3. Chill for about 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors meld.
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Pina Colada Chicken Salad ~ With its tasty combination of pineapple & coconut, Pina Colada Chicken Salad delivers up fabulous tropical flavor that's sweet, but not too sweet.  It's just the perfect chicken salad recipe for a summertime (or anytime) lunch!  www.thekitchenismyplayground.com


2 comments

  1. This chicken salad looks different and delicious! Perfect for a summer lunch!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

    ReplyDelete

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