Description
Creamy Cottage Cheese Dill Pickle Chicken Salad — a high-protein, low-carb lunch that’s tangy, crunchy, and ready in minutes. Made with shredded chicken, protein-packed cottage cheese, chopped dill pickles, and savory ranch seasoning, this chicken salad is perfect for meal prep, sandwiches, lettuce cups, wraps, or bowls. Bright lemon juice and a hint of black pepper balance the flavors while optional add-ins like celery, red onion, or avocado add texture and freshness. Ideal for healthy lunches, post-workout meals, or gluten-free eating, this quick chicken salad swaps mayo for cottage cheese without sacrificing creaminess. Make a double batch for easy weekday meals!
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie or poached)
 - ½ cup small-curd cottage cheese
 - 2 tablespoons chopped dill pickles (plus extra slices for garnish)
 - 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
 - Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
 - Optional: 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt (for extra creaminess)
 - Optional: 2 tablespoons chopped celery for crunch
 - Optional: 1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion or chives
 - Optional: ½ ripe avocado, mashed (for avocado variation)
 
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cottage cheese, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
 - Fold in the shredded chicken until fully coated in the dressing.
 - Stir in chopped dill pickles and any optional add-ins such as celery or red onion.
 - Taste and adjust seasoning — add more lemon for brightness or ranch for flavor.
 - Cover and chill for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
 - Serve on toast, in lettuce wraps, or over greens. Garnish with pickle slices and dill if desired.
 - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
 
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for the fastest prep and best texture.
 - Blend cottage cheese briefly for a smoother consistency if desired.
 - Taste before salting since ranch seasoning and pickles are already salty.
 - Keep bread or lettuce separate until serving to avoid sogginess.
 - Make it dairy-free by swapping cottage cheese for blended silken tofu with lemon and olive oil.
 
- Prep Time: 10 mins
 - Cook Time: 0 mins
 - Category: Lunch
 - Method: Mixing
 - Cuisine: American
 
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
 - Calories: 275
 - Sugar: 2 g
 - Sodium: 480 mg
 - Fat: 10 g
 - Saturated Fat: 2 g
 - Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
 - Trans Fat: 0 g
 - Carbohydrates: 6 g
 - Fiber: 0 g
 - Protein: 38 g
 - Cholesterol: 70 mg
 
Keywords: cottage cheese chicken salad, dill pickle chicken salad, high protein lunch, low carb chicken salad, healthy chicken salad recipe, meal prep chicken salad