Easy Chicken Salad Pitas to Love
Whoopie!! Pita pockets with all the things we love inside. These healthy chicken salad pita pockets are absolutely delicious!
We love to make things that can last for several meals throughout the week or weekend. Chicken salad is a great make-ahead to enjoy. Not only does it make great chicken salad pitas, but there are so many other uses for it.
Healthier Chicken Salad Pitas
This recipe is a healthier version because it substitutes yogurt with less calories and additives, plus more nutrients and probiotics. However, if you’re a mayonnaise fan and not concerned about the calories and all, then feel free to swap out the yogurt with mayo.
Chicken Salad Ideas
You’ll probably want to make extra chicken salad to use in other ways. We’re big on leveraging the time it takes to make one recipe. We also almost always double (or more) each recipe, so that it will last and can be used in multiple ways.
Beyond chicken salad pitas, you can use chicken salad in many ways and recipes.
Uses for Chicken Salad
- Sandwiches on bread, including gluten free bread
- regular or open face sandwich with melted cheese
- Mediterranean with feta and Herbs de Provence
- Green salads
- Quesadilla
- Chicken salad nachos
- Tacos – (just add a Tbsp. of Mexican Seasoning into the salad)
- Omelettes
- Just plain chicken salad
Your Favorite Way to Cook Chicken
You can cook the chicken any way you prefer. Some like it crispy, and others prefer baked, which is the healthier of the two. To each his own.
The yogurt in these replaces the typical mayonnaise or sour cream which has more calories, fat and preservatives. Plus, once you get used to the yogurt, you may find that it’s a lot more tasty. The hint of tart goes well with the chicken.
Tips for Chicken Salad Pita Pockets
My kids liked these in their school lunches. But for freshness, I packed the veggies and the condiments in separate containers. The pocket and the chicken were also separated. This prevented the pocket from getting soggy. All went well.
When you come home from work feeling exhausted and dread having to cook a meal, this is a family pleaser that takes only a few minutes to prepare and usually satisfies all those pangs of hunger. And ummmm! So yummy!
I’ve eaten pita pockets for many years and never tire of them. Some have had different fillings, but they are always so good.
Related: Grilled vegetable sandwich
Pita Pockets
You can get a variety of pita pockets ranging from whole wheat to poppy seed and even gluten free pita bread. And of course, you can add more goodies and make it your specialty. For instance, you can turn it into taco salad filling by simply adding taco seasoning to the recipe, along with your favorite taco stuffings.
Several years ago, some friends and I went to a restaurant, or should I say – a small “hole in the wall” diner. They called it the “Garden of Eatin’ .” This restaurant featured all kinds of very healthy selections. One item on the menu was a salad in a pita pocket. It was filled with goodies almost identical to this recipe.
The waitress stressed that it was their most ordered customer choice.
So, when you get burnt out from regular sandwiches, tortillas or muffins, you need to try these salad pita pockets. They are nutritious and delicious, and you can go for seconds guilt free because it’s healthier and lower in calories too!
Healthy Chicken Salad Pockets
Ingredients
- 12 oz cooked shredded chicken
- 2/3 cup fat-free or low-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup celery finely chopped
- 1.5 tbsp sweet relish
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 scallion thinly sliced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 4 leaves lettuce
- 20 cherry tomatoes
- 4 pita breads
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix all ingredients except for the pita, tomatoes, and lettuce.
- Portion the chicken salad into 4 containers (storage or serving bowls
- Lay the lettuce on top of the chicken salad and add the tomatoes.
- Refrigerate up to 4 days.
- Serve inside a pita. (You can also toast your pita first for an added touch!)