healthy filipino chicken salad recipe — Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad with Calamansi Dressing is my answer to those days when you want something light, but you still want it to taste like home. You know that feeling when the table is packed with rich holiday food and you suddenly crave something fresh and crunchy? This salad is exactly that, with tender chicken, crisp veggies, and a bright calamansi kick that wakes everything up. I make it for meal prep, potlucks, and yes, even for Christmas gatherings when I need a reset plate. It is simple, affordable, and it disappears fast. 
Highlighting Filipino Christmas and Noche Buena Appetizers
Let us talk about the holiday table for a second. In my family, Noche Buena is never just one main dish. It is a whole lineup, and people snack while waiting for the big foods to land. That is where this Delicious Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad with Zesty Calamansi Dressing fits in. It is a cold, refreshing appetizer that gives everyone a break from all the heavy, creamy, and saucy classics.
Why this chicken salad works as a starter
It is bright and tangy, and it makes you want to keep eating. The calamansi dressing cuts through rich food, and the chicken makes it feel satisfying. I like serving it in a big bowl with lettuce cups on the side, so people can scoop and wrap. It is also pretty on the table, especially if you add colorful veggies like red bell pepper and purple cabbage.
Here is what I usually prep for the salad base:
- Cooked chicken (shredded or chopped, breast or thigh both work)
- Romaine or napa cabbage for crunch
- Carrots, julienned or grated
- Cucumber, sliced thin
- Red onion, sliced very thin
- Optional: mango cubes, toasted cashews, or a little toasted sesame
And here is my quick dressing that makes it feel special:
- Calamansi juice (fresh is best)
- A little olive oil or any neutral oil
- Honey or a pinch of sugar
- Fish sauce (just a small splash)
- Black pepper
- Optional: grated garlic if you like it punchy
If you are already planning a healthier spread, I keep a bunch of ideas bookmarked from this collection: healthy Filipino recipes. It is nice when you want balance on a holiday table without feeling like you are missing out.
Key Filipino Main Dishes for Celebrations
Even though this post is all about salad, I know how it goes. Somebody will ask, “Okay, but what do we pair it with?” This is where I think of the usual celebration mains, the ones that make the house smell amazing and pull everyone into the kitchen.
My Delicious Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad with Zesty Calamansi Dressing is best next to saucy or coconut based dishes because the tangy calamansi acts like a palate cleanser. If your menu includes chicken mains, you can keep the chicken theme going without repeating flavors.
For example, if you are doing a creamy dish for the main event, this one is a favorite in my rotation: creamy Filipino chicken curry with coconut milk. The curry is rich, the salad is bright, and together they make sense.
Or if you are more of a tomato stew person for parties, afritada is always welcome. The salad on the side keeps things from feeling too heavy: classic chicken afritada.
One practical note from my own kitchen: if you are cooking multiple chicken dishes, just cook extra plain chicken first. Set some aside unseasoned for the salad, then continue seasoning the rest for your main dish. It saves time and keeps the salad flavor clean and fresh.
“I brought this chicken salad to our family Christmas lunch and my titas kept asking for the dressing recipe. The calamansi taste made it feel so Filipino, but still light.”
Traditional Noodle Dishes for Holiday Feasts
No Filipino celebration feels complete without noodles, right? Pancit is basically our edible good luck charm, and it is also just really good party food. When noodles are on the table, people tend to load their plates with a little bit of everything. This is another moment where a fresh salad can help balance the bite after bite of savory noodles.
I like serving this chicken salad in smaller portions when there are noodles around, almost like a crunchy side topping. Sometimes I even pile a little salad next to pancit so the calamansi dressing mixes with everything. That tangy citrus note is so good with garlicky noodles.
If you want another cozy chicken option for the holidays, especially when the weather is cooler or rainy, I also love serving soup alongside noodles or bread. This one is classic comfort: chicken sopas.
Quick tip: if you are making noodles and salad on the same day, squeeze your calamansi ahead of time and chill it. Cold calamansi juice makes the dressing taste extra refreshing.
Essential Side Dishes for a Filipino Christmas Table
This is where I get excited because sides are the secret to a good handaan. People remember the lechon and ham, sure, but they also remember the sides that made the plate feel complete. This is exactly why I keep coming back to the Delicious Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad with Zesty Calamansi Dressing. It is one of those sides that feels like you are doing something good for yourself while still enjoying the party.
Here are my go to serving suggestions, depending on who is coming over:
- As lettuce wraps: Serve the salad with crisp lettuce leaves so guests can scoop and wrap.
- As a side for grilled food: It pairs well with inihaw style flavors because of the citrus dressing.
- As a sandwich filling: Put it in pandesal with a few cucumber slices. So good.
- As meal prep: Keep the dressing separate until you are ready to eat so the veggies stay crunchy.
Storage notes, because this always comes up. If you toss everything together, it is best eaten within 24 hours. If you store the dressing separately, the chopped veggies and chicken can last about 3 days in the fridge. I keep the calamansi dressing in a small jar and shake it right before using.
Also, do not be afraid of adjusting the dressing. Calamansi can be more sour or more mild depending on the season. Start with less juice, taste, then add more. I know it sounds basic, but this is what makes the salad taste right every time.
And yes, I am repeating it because it matters: Delicious Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad with Zesty Calamansi Dressing is not meant to be drowned in dressing. Add a little, toss, taste, then add more if needed. You want the crunch and the chicken to still stand out.
Delicious Desserts to Conclude Your Feast
After something fresh like salad, dessert hits even better. Filipino desserts are usually sweet, comforting, and a little nostalgic. I like ending a meal with something warm and familiar, especially during Christmas when everyone is already in that cozy mood.
If you want an easy dessert that feels very Pinoy and very party friendly, turon is always a win. Crunchy outside, soft banana inside, and that caramel vibe everybody loves: classic Filipino turon.
If you are serving the salad as part of a bigger spread, dessert does not need to be complicated. Even sliced mangoes, a little leche flan, or a scoop of ice cream can do the job. The key is to keep it fun and easy, especially if you already cooked a bunch of dishes.
Common Questions
1) Can I use bottled calamansi juice?
You can, especially if fresh calamansi is hard to find. Just taste as you go because bottled juice can be more sharp or slightly bitter. If it tastes too intense, add a bit more honey and oil to round it out.
2) What is the best chicken to use?
I like chicken thigh for juiciness, but chicken breast works great if you want it leaner. Rotisserie chicken is also fine when you are short on time, just remove the skin and keep the seasoning in mind.
3) How do I keep the salad from getting watery?
Salt the cucumbers lightly and let them sit for a few minutes, then pat them dry. Also, keep the dressing separate until serving.
4) Can I make it spicy?
Yes. Add chopped red chili, chili flakes, or a tiny spoon of chili garlic sauce. Spicy calamansi dressing is honestly addictive.
5) Is this kid friendly?
Usually yes. For kids, I reduce the onion and fish sauce a bit, then add a little more honey so it tastes lightly sweet and tangy.
One last push to try it this week
If you have been craving something fresh that still feels Filipino, this salad is a solid place to start. It is light, practical, and it holds its own on a holiday table next to the heavy hitters. If you want to explore more salad inspiration, I also enjoy this Chopped Thai-Inspired Chicken Salad Recipe – Pinch of Yum when I am in the mood for another crunchy chicken situation. Try my Delicious Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad with Zesty Calamansi Dressing once, adjust the tang and sweetness to your taste, and I promise it will end up in your regular rotation. Let me know how you serve it, and do not be surprised if someone asks for the dressing recipe right away. 
Healthy Filipino Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Salad Base
- 2 cups Cooked chicken, shredded or chopped Use breast or thigh.
- 2 cups Romaine or napa cabbage, chopped Provides crunch.
- 1 large Carrots, julienned or grated
- 1 large Cucumber, sliced thin
- 1 medium Red onion, sliced very thin
- 1 cup Optional: mango cubes or toasted cashews Add for sweetness or crunch.
- 0.5 cup Optional: toasted sesame seeds
Dressing
- 0.5 cup Calamansi juice Fresh is best.
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil or neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon Honey or a pinch of sugar
- 1 teaspoon Fish sauce Just a small splash.
- to taste Black pepper
- 1 clove Optional: grated garlic Add if a punchy flavor is desired.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, and red onion.
- If using, add the mango cubes and toasted cashews to the salad mixture.
Dressing
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the calamansi juice, olive oil, honey, fish sauce, and black pepper.
- Add grated garlic if desired, and mix until well combined.
Assembly
- Toss the salad ingredients with the dressing just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Serve in a bowl with lettuce leaves on the side for wrapping if desired.