Curry Chicken Salad

Curry Chicken Salad is a quick and tasty alternative to traditional chicken salad, made with curry spices, sweet raisins, and crunchy almonds. The post Curry Chicken Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Mar 25, 2025 - 15:47

When I first posted this Curry Chicken Salad recipe 13 years ago, I never realized what a staple it would become in my meal-prep rotation. Tender pieces of chicken, crunchy almonds, sweet raisins, and crisp celery are wrapped up in a creamy, tangy, curry-spiced dressing. It’s texture heaven! Plus, this recipe is an absolute winner when it comes to convenience. Got leftover chicken? Perfect. Need an easy dish for a potluck, BBQ, or special occasion? This salad is it. I love it by the spoonful, but it’s also delicious stuffed in a pita or rolled up in a tortilla!

Overhead view of a bowl of chicken curry salad.

“I was looking for a no-heat lunch for work with protein and this one fit the bill. I ate it this week on toast or on crackers and it was excellent. I used craisins and pecans instead and these worked well. I’ve already meal-prepped a second batch for next week too!” Victoria

Out of all the recipes I’ve made with curry spices, this chicken curry salad might just be my favorite, which isn’t surprising given I’m obsessed with chicken salad in general. Something about the curry with the creamy mayo/yogurt dressing is just perfect! Not to mention the subtle sweetness of the raisins to balance the earthy spices and ALL THAT CRUNCH…Mmmm!

Shop the sales: Chicken is never really “cheap”, per se, but when you get it on sale, it approaches affordable. And then when you consider the fact that you can sometimes pay $10/lb. for pre-made chicken salad at the deli, this recipe is actually quite a steal!
Use what you’ve got: I use both mayonnaise and yogurt in the dressing for this curry chicken salad because they each have their own unique flavor qualities that they bring to the party. Yogurt is light and tangy and is a classic pairing with curry spices, while mayonnaise offers a deep creaminess. I’m telling you that the combination of the two is magic.