This Apple & Roasted Chicken Salad Pita is herby, creamy, and satisfyingly savory! Crunchy apples and bright dill upgrade your standard chicken salad. The perfect lunch!
I Love Sandwiches
A statement I’ve touted time and time again, but particularly as of late. See, I go through phases with sandwiches. First it will be a week’s worth of seedy whole grain open face sammies, then I’ll go through a lettuce wrap phase, then on to low-carb wraps. At the core though, one thing is for sure: I love a handheld meal.
And as much as I love the one-handed, multi-tasking enabling convenience of a sandwich, really it’s about the variety that comes with sandwiches:
- Roasted chicken, thinly sliced turkey, salty prosciutto, crispy bacon, or no meat at all
- Grainy mustards, creamy aiolis, zippy spreads, or herby dips
- Crunchy veg, soft veg, potent veg, juicy veg, ALL. THE. VEG!
- Crunchy things, spicy things, salty things, unexpected things
And while all the the things inside the sandwich make it stand out, the exterior is equally important.
Why Is Chicken Salad So Good?
Chicken salad screams nostalgia to me. It reminds me of lunch spreads, second helpings, and feeling taken care of. Regardless of where I’ve had it (though my mom’s is still the best) I truly can say there isn’t a chicken salad out there that I’ve met and haven’t liked. It has all the good stuff: tender, lean chicken, creamy dressing, crunchy celery, and more times than not: poultry season or celery seeds. So many distinct flavors that come together in chicken salad utopia.
Pitas For Life
For some reason, pitas always seem so “special” to me. Yes, special! Growing up, when pitas were in the house, that meant something special and very intentional was about to be made. They were not an every day (albeit every week) commodity. Oh no. Which is why I probably am so enamored with them as an adult.
I’m going to let you in on little secret to ensure your pita doesn’t fall to pieces when you try to take that first bit because let’s be real you probably overstuffed it.
Step 1: Slice off 1/2-1 inch from the side of one of your pitas.
Step 2: Flip that piece around, so both pieces are now “facing the same way”.
Step 3: Tuck the smaller pita piece INSIDE the larger one!
Final result: a reinforced pita that will withstand your overstuffing tendencies!
Handy little trick, right? Let’s put it to use: let’s make these Apple & Roasted Chicken Salad Pitas.
Is your mouth watering yet?!
Just look at her: tender chicken breast, a lightened up creamy dressing, crisp and sweet cubed apple, distinctly crunchy celery, flavorful green onion, and some dried herbs to bring the fancy (and clear out the pantry).
Salad is in the bag. Or rather, in the pita.
Tried this Apple & Roasted Chicken Salad Pita recipe and loved it? Use the hashtag #sohappyyoulikedit and tag @sohappyyoulikedit on social media so I can see your creations!
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Apple & Roasted Chicken Salad Pitas
Ingredients
- 3 cups pulled chicken, see notes
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp Parsley
- 1 cup apple, chopped
- 1/4 cup green onion, chopped
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and freshly craked pepper, to taste
- 4 whole wheat pitas
- Favorite greens for serving, optional
Instructions
- Combine chicken, greek yogurt, parsley, apple, green onion, dill, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to your taste, starting with less (you can always add more!).
- Cut about a 1/2 inch from one side of your pita. Invert the cut piece in the pita so it reinforces the base.
- Tuck lettuce in to pita, followed by chicken salad.
Notes
- I like to use leftover roasted chicken in this recipe, as I find it more flavorful and juicy. Whether you roast your own or purchase a rotisserie chicken - that's up to you! You can also use poached or roasted chicken. Both work nicely here!
Tags: Apple, Apple and Chicken Salad, chicken, Chicken Salad, featured, Healthy Chicken Salad, Lunch, Pita Sandwich