Golden chicken and chickpea salad drizzled with homemade dressing in a round white bowl on a white platter with stainless steel forks and a small white bowl of dressing behind with a white towel in front all on a tan surface (with logo overlay)

Golden Chicken and Chickpea Salad

By combining a few healthy seasonings, you can poach chicken for a beautiful golden color. Toss that with some chickpeas and broccoli for an easy weeknight salad.

Jump to Recipe

For the new year, it’s great to start off on a healthy note. For me, that usually means salad, but I need something more to it than a plain salad. Adding golden chicken cooked in turmeric and other beneficial seasonings helps make the salad more filling. Throw in a can of chickpeas and you’ve got a healthy meal.

My favorite lettuce for a salad is a mixture of baby spinach and arugula. I can buy a package of it already mixed at the store. You can use whatever lettuce you prefer, but I suggest a dark leaf since it’s healthier and has the right flavor and consistency for the salad.

Golden Chicken and Chickpea Salad Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 lb chicken breast, boneless, skinless
  • 15 oz chickpeas, drained
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 oz spinach and arugula
  • 2 cups broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tbsp cilantro
Ingredients for golden chicken and chickpea salad in stainless steel bowls on a tan surface

Preparation

Whisk the milk, curry powder, turmeric, garlic, and 1 tsp salt in a large saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer, stirring occasionally.

Almond milk with seasonings aka golden milk in a saucepan on a tan surface

Add the chicken and chickpeas.

Chicken and chickpeas in golden milk in a saucepan on a tan surface

Cook, covered, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the chicken and chickpeas to a plate then pour the packing liquid through a mesh strainer into a mixing bowl.

Cooked chicken and chickpeas on a round white plate on a tan surface

Transfer 1/2 cup of the liquid to a mini food processor or blender (such as the Magic Bullet blender).

Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt and process until smooth.

Blended dressing in a stainless steel bowl on a tan surface

Shred the chicken and add the chicken, chickpeas, spinach and arugula, broccoli, and cilantro to a large bowl.

Shredded chicken, chickpeas, broccoli, and greens in a stainless steel bowl on a tan surface

Drizzle with the dressing and serve immediately.

Golden chicken and chickpea salad drizzled with homemade dressing in a round white bowl on a white platter with stainless steel forks and a small white bowl of dressing behind with a white towel in front all on a tan surface

Golden Chicken and Chickpea Salad Leftovers

Storage: Store leftover golden chicken and chickpea salad in the refrigerator. I suggest keeping the dressing separate from the rest of the salad so it doesn’t leave everything soggy.

Recipe

Originally Published On: January 3, 2022

Last Updated On: October 24, 2023

Golden chicken and chickpea salad drizzled with homemade dressing in a round white bowl on a white platter with stainless steel forks and a small white bowl of dressing behind with a white towel in front all on a tan surface

Golden Chicken & Chickpea Salad

By combining a few healthy seasonings, you can poach chicken for a beautiful golden color. Toss that with some chickpeas and broccoli for an easy weeknight salad.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
Diet
Gluten Free
Keyword:
arugula
|
chicken
|
chicken salad
|
chickpeas
|
salad
|
spinach
|
turmeric
Dietary Needs:
Dairy-Free
|
Egg-Free
|
Gluten-Free
Meat:
Chicken/Turkey
Cooking Method:
One-Pan Meals
Servings: 4 cups
5 from 9 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 lb chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
  • 15 oz chickpeas (drained)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 oz spinach and arugula
  • 2 cups broccoli (cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 tbsp cilantro

Instructions

  • Whisk the milk, curry powder, turmeric, garlic, and 1 tsp salt in a large saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer, stirring occasionally
  • Add the chicken and chickpeas
  • Cook, covered, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F, about 20 minutes
  • Transfer the chicken and chickpeas to a plate then pour the packing liquid through a mesh strainer into a mixing bowl
  • Transfer 1/2 cup of the liquid to a mini food processor or blender (such as the Magic Bullet blender)
  • Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt and process until smooth
  • Shred the chicken and add the chicken, chickpeas, spinach and arugula, broccoli, and cilantro to a large bowl
  • Drizzle with the dressing and serve immediately
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Nutrition Facts
Golden Chicken & Chickpea Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 483 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 73mg24%
Sodium 1211mg50%
Potassium 1099mg31%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Fiber 11g44%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 2381IU48%
Vitamin C 51mg62%
Calcium 280mg28%
Iron 7mg39%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Golden Chicken and Chickpea Salad FAQs

Do I have to use almond milk?

No, you can use any type of milk. We eat dairy-free as much as possible so use almond milk in all of our recipes.

Is red cooking wine the same as red wine vinegar?

No, they are not the same thing. Both are made from red grapes, but the vinegar is made from grapes that have had time to ferment while the cooking wine is made from fresh grapes.
More Info: https://www.livestrong.com/article/545780-can-you-use-red-wine-vinegar-instead-of-red-wine-in-cooking-a-roast/

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23 thoughts on “Golden Chicken and Chickpea Salad”

  1. 5 stars
    Not only do those spices give this dish a beautiful golden color but they give them a warm and delicious flavor too. What a perfect recipe to reset with for the New Year!

  2. 5 stars
    I doubt if there will be leftovers when I make this. It looks so good. too good and I think everyone will just eat all for dinner. Thanks for sharing

  3. This looks like a tasty combination! We are vegetarians but it would make a perfect dish with meatless chicken alternative. The yellow sauce sounds so delicious!

  4. 5 stars
    What a coincidence. I’ve been meaning to increase the amount of tumeric in my diet. This sounds like a delicious and light dish. Perfect for lunch or dinner.

  5. 5 stars
    I am not a salad person but honestly cant say no to this golden chicken and chickpeas salad. The recipe is quite easy and simply to create. Would love to try it out

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