Chicken Salad Cups
What’s cooking: Make these ultra-simple chicken salad cups for a bite-sized take on a classic favorite that’ll please a crowd — or just one.
These quick and easy chicken salad appetizers are sure to be the first ones off the plate — whether it’s for game day finger food, a family dinner, or an on-the-go snack.
They’re small, easy to hold, and there’s no juggling a plate or trying to keep everything from falling apart. Just grab one and go.
The filling keeps things simple, too. Rotisserie chicken takes away the hassle of cooking, freeing up even more of your time. Plus, creamy cottage cheese, crisp celery, and sweet grapes add familiar flavor with just enough texture to keep every bite interesting.
Why these chicken salad cups are the perfect healthy snack
These little bites hit the sweet spot of being satisfying, flavorful, and convenient to work into your day.
- High in protein: Between the rotisserie chicken and cottage cheese, these mini chicken salad bites aren’t just a snack,they’re something that will hold you over
- Balanced and interesting: This recipe offers flavor and crunch from celery and grapes, so it feels satisfying while staying light
- Cottage cheese adds more than you think: It blends right into the mix, making everything extra creamy while quietly boosting protein
- Makes snack time a breeze: Serve them for an after-school snack for the kids, pack a few for lunch, or snack on them between meetings.They’re easy, filling, and don’t need reheating
If you’re making these mini chicken salad bites for kids, you can keep it straightforward. Skip the extras or lean into what they like. Add nuts, go lighter on the onions, or include mix-ins depending what your kids prefer.
And because they’re built into little cups, they feel more like a snack than a salad, which is a huge help when dealing with picky eaters.
They’re easy to eat, easy to customize, and one of those rare snacks that works for both kids and adults.
HOW TO SERVE, STORE, AND CUSTOMIZE THIS RECIPE
SERVING
- Serve chilled or slightly cool so the chicken salad stays creamy
- Arrange on a platter for easy grab-and-go—no utensils needed
- Perfect for parties, snacks, lunches, or any thing that requires eating on the move
STORAGE
- If making ahead, prep everything and fill just before serving
- Store chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days
- Keep lettuce cups separate and assemble right before serving to prevent sogginess
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Swap all or part of the cottage cheese with Greek yogurt
- If you want to make the cups sturdier, replace the lettuce with phyllo or wonton wrappers for easy chicken salad phyllo cups or chicken salad wonton cups
- Adjust mix-ins depending on preference—add cranberries for sweetness, or sunflower seeds or pecans if you want a more savory crunch
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Butter lettuce leaves
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup grapes, halved
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- ¼ red onion, diced
METHOD
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Step One:
Blend ingredients
Combine cottage cheese, salt, and pepper into a small blender cup and pulse until smooth. Set aside.
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Step Two:
Prepare lettuce
Carefully separate lettuce leaves from the core. Using a damp paper towel, gently wipe down each lettuce leaf and place onto a tray.
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Step Three:
Refrigerate and serve
In a large bowl, combine all remaining salad ingredients and toss together with pureed cottage cheese. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before scooping into lettuce cups and serving.