Curry chicken salad with apples is a quick way to a filling and nutritious meal. All you need are 10 minutes and one bowl and you’ve got a hearty yet refreshing salad that’s sure to appeal to any taste preferences. Spicy curry and sweet, crisp apples … you can’t go wrong!

We all know nutrition goals for the new year quickly become downright boring and difficult to stick to. Especially when you have kids at home. And let’s face it, salads aren’t usually their first mealtime pick.

Apple and Curry Chicken Salad is sponsored by Sage Fruit.

But don’t give up on salads just yet! Salads can actually be a great addition to your family meal plan.

Introducing The Produce Mom’s Curry Chicken Salad With Apples. It’s a great way to toss together nutritious ingredients and pack them full of flavor so your kids won’t even realize they’re actually eating … shhh … a salad. 

Between the layers of texture from the crisp apples, the creaminess of the yogurt, and crunchy celery – curry chicken salad is anything but boring. Our kids love it, and we’re sure yours will, too! 

And the best part? It’s

• ready in 10 minutes,
• uses one bowl, 
• and is loaded with flavor and nutritious ingredients.

Let’s double check your ingredient list before we get started.

Ingredients for Curry Chicken Salad With Apples

Besides the spices, you’ll need five ingredients. Most of them can be found in the produce section (the not-so-secret reason we’re excited about this recipe). The more fruits and veggies, the happier these mamas are, right? 

Here’s what you’ll need:

Greek Yogurt

This is the only ingredient you won’t find in the produce section. But it’s still packed with protein and calcium to keep everyone feeling full and developing strong bones and teeth. 

Packed with double the protein of regular yogurt, it’s also lower in carbs and sugars.¹ The thick consistency of Greek yogurt makes it perfect for coating all the produce in our curry chicken salad with apples. 

The cool, tangy flavor of Greek yogurt is a fantastic balance against the warm, spicy curry and the sweet, crisp apples in this curry chicken salad. You’ll need three cups of Greek yogurt, so look for the larger tub in the diary section. Any brand will work.

Chicken

We use shredded chicken just because it’s more palatable for our kids. But you could also use diced chicken if that’s what your family prefers. You’ll need two and a half cups (about two or three skinless, boneless chicken breasts) of cooked, shredded chicken for this recipe. A few simple ways to cook your chicken for this recipe are:

• Cook it in the Instapot
• Boil it in a large pot on the stove
• Shred a pre-made rotisserie chicken for a no-cook option

Look for the family pack of chicken in the fresh meat section or check with the butcher to see what they have that day. Just remember that when it comes to poultry, always take a peek at the weekly ad for the most affordable options.

Apples 

Many curry chicken salad recipes add grapes, but we decided to try this out with apples. And it turned out to be the best addition of sweetness!Cosmic Crisp® apples are our go to for this recipe because they have a higher level of acidity and sugar. That means they take longer to brown. And brown apple pieces are the last thing you want in your salad.

Cosmic Crisp® apples are both sweet and tart for a more flavorful taste in your curry chicken salad. And since these apples are available all year long, you can make this recipe whenever you get a craving for it. 

Look for Cosmic Crisp® apples in the produce section with the firework logo in the shape of an apple when you make your chicken curry salad with apples. It won’t disappoint!  

Cranberries

Tart, dry cranberries work best in this recipe. And they’re super easy to find at the grocery store. Just dump them into your mixing bowl and that’s all you need to do. 

Just remember … dried cranberries do have added sugars in them. So if you’re trying to keep an eye on your sugar intake, look for organically dried cranberries, which tend to have less sugar. 

Despite their sugar content, cranberries are known for having antioxidants. And did you know they can also help improve oral health? Cranberries have chemicals that prevent bacteria build up on your teeth.This helps stop acid from sticking to your pearly whites.² Cool, right?

Celery

Curry chicken salad with apples is a great way to use up any leftover celery lurking in your refrigerator’s veggie drawer. You can even toss in the chopped-up leaves from the top of the celery stalks. 

You’ll need a little less than a cup of diced celery, and you can make them as large or as small as you’d like. Big or small crunch, it’s completely up to you. 

And if you are trying to use up leftover celery stalks, be sure your celery is still green – not brown or yellowish in color. If brown spots have started to develop, you should probably get a fresh bunch.

Related: How to Select, Store, and Serve Celery

Spices

Spices are a crucial part of your curry chicken salad with apples. This is where you get all the flavor so that your whole family, including your kids, actually enjoys eating the salad. 

You’ll need curry and onion powder and salt and pepper. You can find all these in the spice aisle at any grocery store.

Never used curry powder? Try Sweet Potato Soup, Mushroom Bruschetta, or California Waldorf Salad!

How to Make Curry Chicken Salad with Apples

Step 1: Prep

Poach your chicken. Place the skinless, boneless chicken in cool water for more evenly cooked chicken. When the liquid starts to move, cover the pot and simmer the chicken for 10-12 minutes. 

While the chicken cooks, dice your apples and celery stalks with a knife. Set aside in a large salad bowl. 

When the chicken is no longer pink and has reached an internal temp of 165℉, use two forks or a stand mixer to shred the chicken.

Add the cooked chicken to the salad bowl with the apples and celery.

Add the cranberries and gently toss the ingredients.

Step 2: Dressing

Add the Greek yogurt and all the spices to a small mixing bowl. Whisk until the spices are well incorporated with the yogurt and then add to the salad bowl with the fresh ingredients.

Step 3: Toss

Use salad tongs to toss the salad in the Greek yogurt dressing until all the curry chicken salad with apples is coated. 

Step 4: Garnish

Top with chopped, fresh cilantro and then serve to your liking, such as:

• with crackers
• on toasted bread as a sandwich 
• on a bed of crisp lettuce greens

Or go ahead and dig right into the bowl with a fork. No judgment here!

How to Select Apples

Apples should have firm flesh with vibrant, red skin that’s smooth and free of bruises and knicks. Although apples should have a sweet smell, how they feel to the touch is the best way to pick the most ripe Cosmic Crisp® apple. Use your fingertips to gently press on the skin when checking for firmness and bruising.

How to Store Curry Chicken Salad

Your curry chicken salad with apples will stay fresh in an airtight container in the back of the fridge where it’s colder. It can last up to five days when stored properly. Make your curry chicken salad recipe ahead of time for an easy and filling weekday lunch or dinner. 

Why We Love Sage Fruit

Sage Fruit is a Washington-based company whose sole purpose is to deliver an “exceptional eating experience” for you and your family. They strive to grow worldwide, high-quality produce all year long. They grow trees in high density to make sure we all have access to the best apples, grown right in the U.S. 

We’re happy to partner with Sage Fruit so we can educate more people on where their produce comes from. Which means getting more tasty fruits on your family’s plate. Including, yes – even salad!

Related: What Makes Sage Fruit Special?

How to Serve Apples

• Chocolate and Caramel Apple Bites — sweet, salty, and gooey
• Apple Pecan Salad — flavor, texture, and color all on one plate
• Pear and Apple Nachos — nutritious afternoon snack that our kids love
• Air Fryer Apple Fritters — down-home breakfast or dessert pastry

Serve your delicious curry chicken salad with apples straight from the bowl, on toasted bread, with crackers, or on a bed of greens for a light, flavorful, and filling meal. Try it out with your family tonight! And don’t worry, we’ll keep the “salad” word under wraps. 😉