Cottage Cheese Lemon Thyme Chicken Cups (Printable)
Refreshing chicken salad with lemon, cottage cheese, and fresh thyme in crisp lettuce cups.
# List of ingredients:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Salad Base
04 - 1 cup cottage cheese
05 - 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
06 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
07 - 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1 celery stalk, finely diced
09 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
10 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
11 - 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped (optional)
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
13 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Cups
14 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or little gem lettuce leaves
# Steps:
01 - Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place chicken in the hot pan and cook for 7 to 8 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes to retain juices. Dice into bite-sized pieces.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, fresh thyme, diced celery, red onion, cucumber, toasted walnuts if using, and chopped parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed and creamy consistency forms.
03 - Add the diced chicken pieces to the prepared salad base. Gently fold together using a spatula or spoon until the chicken is well incorporated. Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
04 - Carefully separate the butter lettuce leaves, keeping them intact. Rinse under cool water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.
05 - Spoon the chicken salad mixture evenly into each lettuce cup, filling them generously. Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately. Garnish with additional fresh thyme or parsley leaves if desired for presentation.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cottage cheese creates an incredibly creamy texture without being overly heavy like mayonnaise based salads
- Fresh thyme and lemon make this taste bright and sophisticated despite how simple it is to throw together
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest for those 5 minutes makes a huge difference in keeping it juicy
- The salad tastes even better after sitting for 30 minutes in the fridge so the flavors meld together
03 -
- Toasting the walnuts in a dry pan for 3 minutes brings out their natural oils and deepens their flavor
- Use a Microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest to avoid any bitter white pith