Refreshing Chicken Salads

With the warm weather coming our minds begin turning towards dinners that are lighter and less fattening. After all, many of us want to look good in those shorts or swimsuit that everyone will be wearing.

During the spring and summer I find myself eating more salads. They are refreshing, they generally don't heat the body up the way a hot meal does. They also are lighter while still filling. You don't feel as bloated after eating a big bowl of salad as you do a big plate of meat and potatoes. And the best part is there are so many different types of salads, the sky is the limit.

You can make a salad out of most anything. And the extra added bonus is that salads are generally healthy, containing less fat and calories. I decided to get together recipes of salads containing chicken. I am going to share some of my favorite recipes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

One of my very favorite recipes for salads containing chicken is a Cobb salad. This is a great recipe.

Ingredients:

1 bag of salad greens

3 to 4 cups leftover chicken, chopped

4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 avocados, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup white onion, chopped

1/4 pound blue cheese, crumbled

6 bacon slices, crumbled

1 clove garlic, finely diced

balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Directions:

On a large platter, make a bed of lettuce using bag of pre cut salad greens.

On top of lettuce bed arrange chicken, eggs, tomatoes, and avocado in rows in order of your choice.

Sprinkle garlic, onion and bacon on top of rows.

Pour balsamic dressing over top.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

2 cups leftover chicken, chopped

2 cups leftover brown rice

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup cabbage, shredded

1/4 cup carrot, shredded

1/4 cup celery, thinly sliced

1/4 cup white onion, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, finely diced

1 to 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

balsamic vinaigrette, to taste

Directions:

In a large bowl toss together thawed peas, rice, cabbage, carrot, onion, celery, garlic, Parmesan cheese and dressing. Serve cold. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

2 cups leftover chicken

1/4 cup white onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup celery, finely chopped

2 tbsp pimento, finely chopped

1/4 cup low fat mayonnaise

1 tbsp low fat ranch dressing

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients. Spread on whole wheat or rye bread. Makes a great tasting, low calorie, low fat sandwich.

Ingredients:

1 bag of pre-cut salad greens, of your choice

2 cups leftover cut up chicken

2 large tomatoes, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

2 scallions chopped

1 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

3 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic

Directions:

Crush 1 clove of garlic and rub inside of large bowl to season.

Mix together all ingredients, except Parmesan cheese.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Add dressing of your choice.

Note: I call this my Kitchen Sink Chicken Salad because you throw just about everything but the kitchen sink into it.