Pureed chicken salad is one of the recipes I recommend most often to my weight loss surgery patients. This is my favorite recipe!
One of the most important duties I have as a bariatric dietitian is teaching pre-operative patients about the post-surgery diet. Inevitably when I get to the pureed stage I hear groaning. I get it. What adult wants to eat pureed food?
I know the idea of eating baby food or pureeing food is not appealing to most adults. I generally do not recommend baby food. Let's face it, babies spit baby food out. I usually suggest pureeing common foods, but patients don't usually jump on that idea either. When I explain that a commonly consumed adult food like chicken salad would work patients feel a bit better about this stage.
One concern often expressed is regarding mayonnaise. Patients assume they can't eat mayonnaise. Mayo is a source of fat, however lighter varieties are fine to include. Most patients can only handle about 2 oz of chicken, so there won't be much mayonnaise per serving in this pureed chicken salad.
To lighten up the pureed chicken salad you can reduce the amount of mayonnaise and add non-fat Greek-style yogurt. You want the chicken salad creamy and pretty smooth. I don't advise adding anything fancy like celery or onion. These veggies won't puree smooth enough.
One chicken breast will yield about 4 ¼ cups servings. I always tell my patients that they would not need a lot of food. Just a few choices rotated through the stage will work.
How to make pureed chicken salad:
Pureed Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast cooked
- 2 Tablespoons plain Greek style yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons Light Mayonnaise
- ⅛ teaspoon celery salt
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Place chicken breast into a food processor.
- Grind chicken until it is a fine consistency.
- Stir in yogurt, mayonnaise, celery salt, onion powder, and pepper.
Nutrition
Additional pureed recipes:
Billy D says
Hi, I noticed in the photo of the chicken salad that you have tomatoes with it. I didn't think tomatoes were OK because of the skin, did you have any problems with the skin? I love tomatoes and chicken salad and want to try this. I still got a few weeks left to that stage. Have you tried the Hellmans Olive oil mayo....it is delicious and as good as regular with almost half the fat and half the calories. I tried them all and this was the only "light" mayo that tastes good. Your recipe sounds good but I'd leave out the yogurt on mine as I hate it. I do like Kefir and I like buttermilk they are both tart. I take a cup of 1% milk and add a tablespoon of buttermilk to it and let it sit out for a day or longer....it thickens up to the same texture as Greek Yogurt and I think it tastes better...it's basically creme fraiche without the fat and has a lot of protein. I bet it would be good with the Hellman's Olive Oil mayonnaise.for this recipe. Thanks!
Erica says
I am at the stage where I can eat meat. This will be the first thing I try but I will add egg to it. This has been such a great journey to have barbaric surgery. I really wish I had done this sooner. I feel great!
Debbie Early says
I am fixing to be 3 weeks pre op and I keep gagging every time I drink anything how did you feel after 3 weeks of your surgery? How long did it take you to start feeling good? I am very week to.
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
Hi Debbie! Congrats on your new journey. I am not a patient, but a dietitian who has worked with weight loss surgery patients for over 10 years. I can't comment on how you should normally feel although I will say that you should be in contact with your surgeon and definitely let your team know how you are feeling.
Pamela says
I will be 6 months out on Sept. 26th and I still can't drink anything that doesn't make me nauseous. Having a balloon dilation of my esophagus tomorrow morning. Hopefully it will help!
Jennifer Pullman says
Good luck to you!
Kara says
I am also 3 weeks post-op and I’m very weak as well. Drinking doesn’t make me gag if I do small sips. I feel great otherwise. Starting meats today. Had scrambled eggs chewed extremely well for breakfast. So far so good.
Anonymous says
Not barbaric! Lol
Melissa says
HOW do I cook the chicken? Boil?
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
I usually boil chicken in chicken broth, however, you could use baked chicken or even a rotisserie chicken.
Sara says
Also, don't forget to save that chicken broth after using! It can be used as a thinning liquid in another recipe, or freeze it for cooking later anytime your recipe calls for chicken broth or water.
Jennifer Pullman says
Great tip!
Liz says
I marinated in some sugar free sweet and sour sauce, then cooked it in my air fryer. Came out so good!!
Andrea says
Is it possible to use the canned chicken and if so how much would you use
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
You can certainly use canned chicken. One chicken breast makes about 1 cup, so I would use 1 cup of canned chicken.
mozelle says
how much can you eat
Jennifer Pullman says
The serving size is in the recipe.
Heather Wilson says
I was diagnosed after 3 years with Achalasia. I had Heller myotomy surgery with a fundoplication .
I am 2 weeks post op and and about to go in to a puréed foods diet . Looking for ideas . This one sounds good . I'm trying hard to eat like I'm supposed to but hoping to gain weight soon . As I'm now down to 85lbs do to my Achalasia. Do you have any other recipe idea ? I can't have tomato sauce either. I've been doing shakes thus far now looking for puréed idea . Will definitely try the chicken salad.
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
So sorry to hear you are struggling to keep weight on. I am still working on some other pureed food recipes, but they aren't ready yet. You can make a similar recipe to the chicken with either tuna or turkey. How about eggs? I would try to add extra calories by using whole milk in your shakes. Maybe eating mashed potatoes with extra butter and or sour cream. Full-pudding and yogurts would work too.
Trudy Mowell says
Does this freeze well?
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
Hi Trudy! I have never tried to freeze the chicken salad. I'm not sure how the mayo and greek yogurt would stand up to freezing. I would try freezing just the chicken and then add the dressing and spices when you are ready to eat.
Helly says
Can I apply this recipe to tuna? Just want an opinion on whether you think other ingredients should come into play. (I'm clearly not a good cook ?)
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
You can certainly use tuna.
Joanie Hall says
I am almost three weeks post op and I’m definitely going to try this. What are some other puréed foods can I do. I would rather make my own food. Do you have one for tuna. I’m excited to continue my new journey and learning to cook new ways
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
I am working on other recipes. You can certainly substitute tuna in this recipes. Look for some other recipes in the next few weeks.
Stephanie Monroe says
I am not a fan of Greek yogurt at all. It won't hurt omit it from the recipes that call for it or change the nutritional value much will it?
Thanks.
Stephanie
Jennifer Pullman says
You can leave out the Greek yogurt and just use mayo. The nutritional content will change a bit: less protein, more fat, and calories, but shouldn't be too much.
Joanne Barbour says
I am 5 week post-op & have been having several issues.. I am so glad to see this for I will be trying it with the chicken & some tuna. I stay dehydrated for I can’t get enough fluids in or calories or protein.. I hope this works..
Thanks
Christale Harris agubata okpara says
I agree with I'm 2 weeks post OP and end up in the hospital for dehydration so hoping this chicken salad work i made something similar tonight
Jennifer Pullman says
I hope you are feeling better. Remember to keep sipping liquids.
Tiesha says
Hello I’m week 2 into the gastric sleeve I go actually on Monday to my doc I’m sure I’ll be entering another stage like this purey foods what else is a good option beside chicken and tuna salad? Can we have avocado ? And or other types of foods ? I’m going to ask when I go but just wanted to see if u had any other options ?
Jennifer Pullman says
Generally, patients are told to concentrate on protein only during the pureed phase. You can puree fruit and veggies, but you need to get your protein in. You could have peanut butter (not chunky), mashed beans, hummus, or tofu. Cottage cheese and yogurt are ok as well.
Monica says
My dietary post op guidelines says I’m at full liquids, but it includes baby foods, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and sugar free pudding. Would this be to heavy/thick yet?
Jennifer Pullman says
I have seen pudding and yogurt on a full liquid diet, however, baby food and cottage cheese are generally on pureed lists. Always follow your doctor's directions.
Christine says
I’d love to get a few more easy ideas for puréed foods. I’m one week out and will be adding non-clear liquids in a day, and the liquids stage is a bit monotonous. I need foods that pack a high amount of protein (I like the chicken salad idea!), and I also really miss my fruit and vegetables. Any recipes are welcome! They need to be simple and not require lots of dirty dishes/equipment Bc I have two young kids and I’m really busy with my master’s.
Also, for everyone else out there, follow the guidelines given but remember not everyone will tolerate the same foods or consistencies on the same timeline! When I move to purées, I’ll be starting with 1-2 tablespoons eaten very slowly, and if I don’t feel well, I’ll scale it back. If I feel great, I’ll continue as planned 🙂
Jennifer Pullman says
I will be working on more pureed recipes, but likely not in time for you.
Lisa says
Looks like a great recipe I will try I had sleeve surgery 9/4 I am wondering do you think it’s been enough time to try this of course going easy this pure liquid broth yogurt and pudding with added protein is getting nasty I am getting in 64oz of fluids with no problems
Jennifer Pullman says
I am a strong advocate of following your surgeon's guidelines. In general, most patients are on liquids for two weeks. You are only about a week out. We start pureed protein at week 3. Just because you can handle liquids does not mean you can handle chicken. The consistency is much different. You need to contact your surgeon to discuss this.
Belen G says
I had my gastric sleeve done 09/03 and yes please follow the guidelines as follows.. And im still in the pureed stage which will be moving into soft foods on Oct 2. Which im excited about but yes a lot of foods will not taste the same. Always eat protein first. Was not a fan of egg salad or deviled eggs since i was a kid, but now eggs our my best friend or i do baby oatmeal and add my protein powdered. Just looking for more ideas for soft stage..
Carlos Ramirez says
Thank you for sharing with us.
Is it ok to be chopped instead of purée. I’m on the stage of purée foods going into soft food?.
Thanks
Jennifer Pullman says
Chicken salad is great at any stage. If you are on soft food you likely don't have to puree, but I would make sure there are no big chucks of chicken.
Janita says
Hi Jen. I love your cookbook so much I purchased it. I had Bariatric sleeve surgery almost two weeks ago, and I’m still adjusting to my new stomach....one day at a time! 🙂
Jennifer Pullman says
Thanks so much, Janita! Let me know if you are willing to give a review of the cookbook that I can post on the website. You can email me [email protected]
Debbie says
I see a lot of these recipes call for Greek yogurt. What is the yogurt for and what does it do?
Jennifer Pullman says
Plain Greek Yogurt tastes very much like sour cream. Recipe creators use Greek Yogurt to decrease the fat content of a recipe, but also increase the protein content. You can easily swap it out and use all mayo.
Laura says
I just made this for my husband but added some Frank’s Hot Sauce to up the flavor a bit. I put a little light blue cheese dressing on the side to dip the spoon in to give it even more of a Buffalo wing experience. He’s generally not a fan of chicken salad of any kind but he said it was good. I actually think it would be really good as a spread in celery for me, too, although he can’t eat the celery just yet.
Jennifer Pullman says
Sounds great!
Vicky says
I'm 1 week pre-op and trying to prepare for life post-sleeve surgery. Before this journey began, I made my chicken salad with fat-free ranch dressing. It gives a little extra flavor and I'm not a big fan of mayo. I should still be ok to use that when I'm pureeing this recipe, right?
Jennifer Pullman says
Ranch dressing would be fine.
Chrystal says
I didn’t like this recipe 😫
Would be wayyyy better with canned chicken
Jennifer Pullman says
Chrystal, you can use whatever chicken you wish! I personally do not use canned chicken because it's higher in sodium and to me tastes like tuna not chicken.
Kayla says
Just made this! My first day of purées and this hit the spot. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We added tarragon, rosemary, and basil. Even my mother really likes it, and she is not on any kind of diet.