Green Goddess Chicken Salad (43g Protein & Stays Green All Week!)

Name: Green Goddess Chicken Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 700 g chicken breast (sliced into thin strips); 1 tsp garlic granules; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1 cucumber (diced); 1 sweetheart cabbage (chopped); Bunch of spring onions (thinly sliced); 200 g giant couscous; 400 g 0% fat natural yogurt; Bunch of fresh basil; Bunch of fresh chives; Juice of half a lemon; 1 tsp coarse salt; 1 tsp coarsely ground pepper

If you’ve been wondering what to do with green goddess dressing beyond a simple side salad, this is the recipe you’ve been waiting for. This green goddess chicken salad is part of my Salads That Last series bright, summery, dishes that are built for meal prep, and coming in at 43g of protein per bowl for around £2 a serve. Unlike every other version out there, the dressing stays vivid green all week (no avocado involved), and if you’re already obsessed with the flavour combination, my green goddess chicken sandwich uses the same dressing and is just as good.

Green goddess chicken salad in a meal prep container with vivid green dressing

Recipe Summary: Green Goddess Chicken Salad

✅ Recipe Name: Green Goddess Chicken Salad
🕦 Ready in: 25 minutes
🤝 Serves: 5
🍴 Calories: 371 kcal
🧑‍🍳 Main ingredients: chicken breast, sweetheart cabbage, fresh herbs
✨ Summary: This green goddess chicken salad is meal-prep gold – 43g protein, £2 a serve, and a dressing that stays bright green all week.

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Why you’ll love this recipe

Vibrant green dressing: Every other green goddess chicken salad recipe out there uses avocado, and don’t get me wrong, I love it, but it oxidises quickly and by day two you’re left with a grey, sad situation instead of the gorgeous green you started with. My dressing is yogurt and blanched fresh herb-based, which means it holds that vivid colour all week.
43g of protein per bowl: This green chicken salad is a balanced meal rather than a sad desk lunch. If you love hitting your macros without eating boring food, there’s plenty more inspiration over on my High Protein Recipes page.
A complete meal in one container: Giant couscous is the move here. Most green goddess salad with chicken recipes are protein-only, which means you’re hungry an hour later. Adding couscous means you’ve got protein and carbs sorted in your lunch, leaving you energised throughout the day.
£2 a serve: Searing fresh chicken breast yourself rather than relying on a rotisserie chicken / prepped meats keeps the cost right down.
Super green and seriously fresh: Sweetheart cabbage, cucumber, spring onion, and a vivid herb dressing. Every bite is crunchy, bright, and tastes like summer in a bowl, exactly what the Salads That Last series is all about.

Looking for more meal prep salad recipes? Then you may also love: Mexican chicken salad, Kebab Shop Salad, Rainbow Noodles

Table of Contents

Ingredients For Green Goddess Chicken Salad

The key ingredients that make this green goddess chicken salad a meal prep winner:

Chicken breast: Sliced into thin strips and seared over a high heat for maximum browning and flavour.
0% fat natural yogurt: Forms the creamy, thick base of the dressing without any added fat. It contributes a serious amount of protein to the bowl without you even noticing, and because it doesn’t oxidise the way avocado does, it’s what keeps the dressing beautifully green.
Giant couscous: What elevates this from side salad to well balanced meal. Cook it a couple of minutes beyond the packet time, rinse in cold water until fully cooled, and it holds its texture brilliantly once dressed and chilled. It can be more annoying to find in the supermarket, so if you struggle with that you can opt for orzo instead!
Fresh basil and chives: they’re responsible for that signature deep green colour and herby flavour. You can switch out with your favourite fresh herbs but I recommend basil as a must. Blanching them briefly before blending locks in both the colour and freshness.

See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.

Variations/ Adaptations

Switch the grain: Giant couscous is my pick for texture and ease, but orzo, bulgur wheat, cold cooked quinoa, or brown rice all work well as a base. Just make sure whatever you use is fully cooled before adding it to the bowl.
Change up the greens: Sweetheart cabbage is brilliant here because it holds its crunch even after a few days dressed, but any firm vegetable like thinly sliced kale would work too. If you love a big crunchy salad situation, my kebab shop salad is another one from the Salads That Last series that I think you’ll love.
Protein swaps: Chicken breast is the leanest option and what gives you 43g protein with minimal calories, but chicken thighs work brilliantly if you prefer. Leftover roast chicken is also great, just make sure it’s fully cold before you mix everything together.

How to make green goddess chicken salad

A hand sprinkles dried herbs from a jar onto pieces of raw and partially cooked chicken in a skillet on a stovetop, with kitchen items and fresh lettuce visible in the background.

Step 1: Cook your chicken with the seasonings.

Blanched leafy greens rest on a slotted ladle over a metal bowl filled with ice water, set on a wooden surface.

Step 2: Blanch your fresh herbs in boiling water, then plunge into an ice bath.

Giant couscous being rinsed under cold water after cooking

Step 3: Cook the giant couscous in salted boiling water for 2 minutes beyond the packet time. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water until fully cooled.

Chicken breast strips searing in a hot pan with golden colour

Step 4: Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a blender.

Shredded cabbage, cucumber, spring onion, couscous and chicken in a large mixing bowl

Step 5: Combine all of the fresh ingredients, cold chicken & green goddess dressing.

Green goddess dressing being poured over the salad and tossed to coat

Step 6: Mix until well combined, then add into meal prep containers.

Some of my other recent recipes include: Pan-Seared Sea Bass Recipe, Rainbow Noodles, Baked Chicken Wings.

Tips for the best result

Fry the chicken over a very high heat and don’t touch it for the first few minutes, this is what gets you that golden browning and maximum flavour on the outside.
Let the chicken rest and cool completely before slicing it into smaller chunks. Cutting into it while it’s still hot releases the juices and you’ll end up with drier chicken in your meal prep boxes.
Overcook the giant couscous by a couple of minutes beyond the packet time. Once rinsed in cold water and dressed, it firms up significantly, so starting it a little softer means it lands at the perfect texture once chilled.
Season the finished salad with extra salt and pepper once everything is combined. The dressing is seasoned, but cold food often needs a little extra adjustment, taste before portioning into containers.

Close-up of green goddess chicken salad showing the vivid green dressing coating

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator: Store assembled in airtight meal prep containers for up to 4 days. Because the dressing is yogurt-based and contains no avocado, it holds its colour and texture throughout, no need to keep the dressing separate.

Freezer: Not suitable for freezing. The yogurt dressing and dressed couscous don’t hold up well once frozen and thawed.

Reheat: This green goddess chicken salad is designed to be eaten cold, straight from the fridge. No reheating needed.

Green Goddess Chicken Salad FAQs

Why does my green goddess chicken salad dressing turn grey?

Almost always because the dressing contains avocado, which oxidises quickly once blended and exposed to air. This green goddess chicken salad recipe doesn’t use avocado at all — the dressing is yogurt and fresh herb-based, so it stays that vivid green colour all week. It’s genuinely one of the main reasons I developed this version.

What can I do with green goddess dressing?

So much! It works as a dip for crudités, a spread in a wrap, a drizzle over roasted veg, or poured over another salad entirely. My green goddess chicken sandwich uses almost the same dressing and is one of the best ways to use any you have left over — don’t let it go to waste.

Is green goddess chicken salad high in protein?

This version is seriously high in protein — 43g per bowl, which is impressive for a salad. The combination of seared chicken breast and 0% fat yogurt in the dressing does the heavy lifting, giving you a complete macro-friendly meal without loading up on extra calories.

Can I swap the giant couscous for something else?

Yes, easily. Regular couscous, bulgur wheat, quinoa, or cold cooked rice all work well in this green goddess chicken salad recipe. Just make sure whatever you use is fully cooled before adding it to the bowl, otherwise the dressing warms up and the textures suffer.

How long does green goddess chicken salad last in the fridge?

Up to 4 days in an airtight container — which makes it the perfect Monday meal prep to carry you through to Thursday. Because there’s no avocado in the dressing, it doesn’t brown or discolour, so this green goddess chicken salad recipe genuinely holds up better than most versions you’ll find online.