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Tropical Chicken Salad

Tropical Chicken Salad is full of red grapes, pineapple, macadamia nuts, and shredded coconut for a tropical twist on chicken salad. Packed full of sweet and savory flavors, this is anything but a bland chicken salad.

Tropical Chicken Salad on a bed of lettuce.

How To Serve

Serve on a bed of lettuce, wrapped in a tortilla, or on a fresh roll for a spectacular summer lunch.

The chicken is first marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar and then grilled for maximum flavor.

A mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise flavored with ground ginger and curry powder makes Tropical Chicken Salad super creamy.

Chicken Salad on a bed of lettuce.

How To Customize Tropical Chicken Salad

This chicken salad recipe is easily customizable. Don’t like coconut? Leave it out. Switch the pineapple out for apples or mango. If you don’t have macadamia nuts, almonds or pecans are perfectly acceptable.

It is perfect for when you want a chicken salad that is a little out of the ordinary.

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Tropical Chicken Salad on a bed of lettuce.

More Chicken Salad Recipes

Tropical Chicken Salad

Tropical Chicken Salad is full of red grapes, pineapple, macadamia nuts, and shredded coconut for a tropical twist on chicken salad.
PREP: 45 minutes
COOK: 10 minutes
TOTAL: 55 minutes
SERVINGS: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice, from the 8-ounce can listed below
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 3/4 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup red grape halves
  • 1 (8-ounce) can pineapple chunks, juice reserved for marinade
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup toasted macadamia nuts
  • 1/4 cup toasted shredded unsweetened coconut, optional

Instructions

  • Place chicken in a large ziptop bag. Add pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. Shake to mix and coat the chicken. Let marinate 30 minutes.
  • Coat grill grates with oil and heat grill to medium-high heat.
  • Grill chicken on both sides until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
  • Let chicken cool 10 minutes and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • In a large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, curry powder, and ginger.
  • Fold in chicken, grapes, pineapple, and green onion. (Note: you may want to cut the pineapple into smaller pieces).
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Sprinkle macadamia nuts and coconut over the top.
  • For best flavor, refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcal
Author: Christin Mahrlig
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken

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Originally published July 12, 2015.

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16 thoughts on “Tropical Chicken Salad”

  1. Approximately what would the weight be for the three chicken breasts Christen, as I use precooked, shredded rotisserie chicken for these type of recipes- less time, less messy & very tasty! Can usually find in most grocery stores that sell the whole chickens.

    1. Christin
      Christin Mahrlig

      I would use about 3 cups of chicken Pat and maybe add in a little more if it doesn’t seem like enough.

  2. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    What an exotic chicken salad. I never would have thought that grapes would work with chicken – but clearly this combination is a delicious one!

  3. Ana Fernandez

    I would never had the idea of using grapes on salad but it sound delicious!! Great recipe

  4. Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven

    This is seriously the most creative chicken salad recipe I’ve ever seen, Christin! All that tropical goodness is just perfect for summer!

  5. What a fantastic twist on chicken salad! I love all the tropical flavors along with the ginger and curry in here! Coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts are the best together!

  6. Joshua Hampton

    What an interesting spin on chicken salad. There’s nothing boring with it, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

  7. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor

    I love macadamia nuts and pineapple in my chicken salad! And because I am obsessed with chicken salad, I know that I need to try this recipe soon.

  8. Arpita@The Gastronomic Bong

    Red grapes in salad sounds PERFECT!! Love the tropical spin on this chicken salad.. 🙂

  9. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    This salad looks perfect, Christin! I can’t get enough of red grapes in salads, especially in the summer. What a great lunch!

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