Description
These Best Chicken Salad Cucumber Roll Ups are a fresh, healthy, and low-carb lunch or appetizer option featuring a creamy, high-protein chicken salad wrapped in crisp English cucumber slices. Perfect for meal prep, packed lunches, or light meals, these roll ups combine tender shredded chicken, creamy cottage cheese, avocado, and zesty lime dressing, all wrapped in refreshing cucumber for a crunchy texture and vibrant flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Salad:
- 2 cups water
- 1 lb shredded cooked chicken (from about 4 chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken)
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 5 tbsp small curd cottage cheese
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 3 fl oz lime juice (from about 2–3 limes)
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise (Hellmann’s preferred)
- 1 avocado, mashed
For the Roll-ups and Topping:
- 1 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
- 2 tbsp whipped cream cheese
- 1 tbsp chipotle hot sauce
- 1 large English cucumber, sliced lengthwise into thin strips
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Onion: Begin by shredding 1 lb of cooked chicken using two forks or finely dicing. Finely dice 1/2 a red onion, then soak it in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor. Drain the onion well after soaking.
- Mix the Salad Components: Combine the shredded chicken and drained red onion in a large bowl. Add chopped fresh cilantro and the cubed avocado, gently tossing to mix.
- Make the Dressing: In a blender or bowl, blend 5 tablespoons of cottage cheese, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon onion powder, the juice of 3 limes, cilantro, salt, and pepper until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir to coat evenly.
- Prepare the Cucumber Wrap: Using a peeler or mandoline, thinly slice one large English cucumber lengthwise into strips approximately 1/8 inch thick. Lay the slices out on parchment paper with about one-third overlap. Pat dry with paper towels to remove extra moisture.
- Assemble the Cucumber Roll: Spread 2 tablespoons of whipped cream cheese evenly over the cucumber slices. Add 4 ounces of the chicken salad mixture to the bottom edge of the cucumber strips, leaving space on sides. Optionally, add extra onion and avocado slices on top.
- Roll and Serve: Carefully roll up the cucumber slices from the bottom, folding over the filling tightly with gentle pressure to hold the shape. Slice into pieces with a sharp knife. Top with everything bagel seasoning and drizzle with chipotle hot sauce. Serve as a refreshing appetizer or light meal.
Notes
- Use English cucumbers for best results as they have thin skin and fewer seeds. Persian cucumber is an alternative but adjust quantity and seed removal accordingly.
- Pat the shredded chicken dry with paper towels to reduce moisture and prevent sogginess.
- Drain cottage cheese for 30 minutes before use to avoid a watery filling.
- Avoid cutting cucumber slices too thin (about 1/8 inch is ideal) to prevent breaking during rolling.
- Chill the chicken salad mixture for at least 30 minutes before assembling to help filling firm up and ease rolling.
- Store assembled roll ups in an airtight container lined with paper towels and consume within 24 hours to maintain crispness.
- For packed lunches, keep cucumber and chicken salad separate and assemble just before eating to prevent sogginess.
- Customize with substitutions like mashed chickpeas for vegetarian option or Greek yogurt for cottage cheese.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chicken salad cucumber roll ups, low carb lunch, healthy chicken salad, cucumber wraps, make-ahead lunch, creamy chicken roll ups, refreshing appetizers
