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.
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.
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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More Chicken Salad Recipes
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad– for people who love bold, spicy flavor.
- Strawberry Chicken Salad– a great chicken salad for spring!
- Avocado Sonoma Chicken Salad– full of avocado, toasted pecans, and red grapes.
- Golden Chicken Salad– celery, green onion, golden raisins, and toasted walnuts.
- Jalapeno Chicken Salad– spiced up with pickled jalapenos.
- Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Salad
Tropical Chicken Salad
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published July 12, 2015.
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!
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.
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.
Red grapes in salad sounds PERFECT!! Love the tropical spin on this chicken salad.. 🙂
It looks perfect to me! I wouldn’t change a thing 🙂
Love chicken salad, I must try it with grapes too, never had them before.
I love the tropical spin on this, Christin! I could eat a whole bowl!
Oh YUM! Talk about taking a chicken sandwich to a whole other level! YUM!
Love the grapes in here! So delicious 🙂
This salad looks perfect, Christin! I can’t get enough of red grapes in salads, especially in the summer. What a great lunch!