High Protein Salad (with warm lentils + chicken)

This High Protein Salad is everything you need in your life for a hearty, healthy lunch or easy summer dinner. Getting enough protein in your diet is an important part of keeping you full, and helping you build and repair muscles and bones. The truth is, you’re probably not getting enough protein in your diet, so looking for ways to add protein-packed meals in throughout your day or meal-prepping recipes like this High Protein Salad will help you reach those protein goals.

❤️ Why You’ll Love High Protein Salad

• Quick: Make this High Protein Salad in only 15 minutes. Great for even the busiest of people
• Healthy: This salad is made with healthy, wholesome, easy-to-find ingredients that will fuel your body
• Protein-Packed: There is no surprise here that the lentils and chicken really make this salad full of protein. Who knew salads could be so satisfying?

🍲 Ingredients

Brown Lentils – Brown lentils are bigger than other lentil types which means they hold their shape well when cooking. These are perfect for salads to really maintain the best consistency for your dish. Lentils are also rich in nutrients like fiber, iron, folate, and of course, protein

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Cooked Chicken – You can use chicken breast, thigh, or even ground chicken here. You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken or whatever you have leftover in the fridge. Chicken is a lean, healthy protein that I love to add to salads and bowls to make them a more well-rounded, filling meal

👩‍🍳 How to Make High Protein Salad

1. To a large salad bowl add lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, red wine vinegar, and pressed garlic and whisk together to combine. Add the chicken, parsley, mint, green onion, and shallot and toss with the dressing. Set aside.
2. To a medium frying pan add 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Once warm, turn to medium-low and add the lentils, salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warm.
3. Transfer the warmed lentils and any olive oil from the pan to the large salad bowl and toss with all the other ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve and enjoy.

🪄 Tips and Tricks

• Meal Prep: While this salad is meant to be served warm, you can prepare your salad as meal prep instead and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days
• Protein: For an easy way to add more protein into your diet, meal prep things like lentils, or chicken on Sunday to easily have on hand to toss into a salad or eat on the side of your dish to boost protein

🗒 Substitutions

• Herbs: Use whatever fresh herbs you prefer or that you are trying to use up
• Dressing: I used a simple dressing for this with oil, lemon, and vinegar, but you can use whatever dressing you prefer, or even use a storebought dressing

🗒 Other Salads to Make

• Greek Lentil Salad
• Healthy Chicken Salad
• Simple Vegan Salad

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. You can serve this salad warm or cold. It’s great both ways!

🤔 Common Questions

High Protein Salad (with warm lentils + chicken)

5 from 1 vote

This High Protein Salad is made with warm lentils and chicken. It's easy-to-make in only 15 minutes and is a great recipe for meal prep.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine Greek-Inspired

Servings 3 -4 as a side salad

Calories 284 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 2 14-15 oz cans brown lentils, drained and rinsed
• 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped mint
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup diced shallots
• 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• juice of half a lemon
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• optional toppings: 1x avocado diced or 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

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Instructions

 

• To a large salad bowl add lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, red wine vinegar, pressed garlic and whisk together to combine. Add the chicken, parsley, mint, green onion, shallot and toss with the dressing. Set aside.
• To a medium frying pan add 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Once warm, turn to medium-low and add the lentils, salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warm.
• Transfer the warmed lentils and any olive oil from the pan to the large salad bowl and toss with all the other ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve and enjoy.

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Notes

• While this salad is meat to be served warm, you can prepare your salad as meal prep instead and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. 
• If you like this salad try our Greek Lentil Salad or Warm Butter Beans Recipe

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 29.9g | Protein: 11.8g | Fat: 14.6g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10.1g | Sodium: 588.7mg | Fiber: 10.5g | Sugar: 4g

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