Transform plain cooked chicken into a fresh and lively salad perfect for a picnic, brown-bag lunch, elegant luncheon, or light dinner. Find recipes for chicken salad sandwiches with the sweet crunch of grapes and celery, Asian chicken salads with sweet soy or cilantro dressing, curried chicken salads in light yogurt dressing, chicken Caesar and Cobb salads, and many more.

Make a perfect lunch for one by combining diced chicken with minced red onion, celery, and parsley in a dressing of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. Serve the chicken salad on whole-grain bread or on a bed of greens topped with halved red grapes.

Chunks of baked chicken, crumbled bacon, and chopped tomato and red onion mingle with light mayonnaise and white-wine vinegar in this deconstructed club sandwich. Pile the chicken salad on lettuce leaves or toasted sourdough bread. Prepare the components for this satisfying main-course salad ahead of time and arrange just before serving.

A creamy, tangy mixture of low-fat buttermilk, lemon juice, crushed garlic, and grated Parmesan serves double duty as marinade and dressing for this lighter version of chicken Caesar salad. Toss the buttermilk dressing with romaine lettuce, radicchio, broiled chicken, and homemade multigrain croutons.

Whip up this crowd-pleasing quick Asian chicken salad in just 10 minutes. Toss together shredded chicken breast, iceberg lettuce, yellow bell pepper, and fresh cilantro with a quick sesame-ginger dressing. Top the salad with crunchy chow mein noodles just before serving.

With brown rice, black beans, and sliced tomatoes, this hearty Southwestern chicken salad makes a complete meal. Toss with jalapeno-cumin vinaigrette for the perfect finishing touch.

Dried apricots, fresh basil, and slivered almonds make this chicken salad worthy of an elegant shower luncheon or a pretty picnic basket. Combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, paprika, minced garlic, and champagne vinegar to make the tangy and flavorful dressing.

To make these Mexican-inspired chicken salads, melt Monterey Jack cheese on oven-crisped corn tortillas before topping with a chili powder-seasoned chicken and red onion mixture. Top each chicken tostada salad with your choice of garnishes, such as diced avocado, chopped tomato, fresh cilantro, or salsa. Use store-bought rotisserie chicken to prepare this quick dinner, ready in just 25 minutes.

Poach chicken breasts, then shred the cooled meat to make this sweet-and-savory chicken salad. Mix mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice with slivered almonds, canned mandarin orange segments, and celery with the shredded chicken, and stuff in the mixture in pita pockets with lettuce leaves.

Lime zest and juice, minced habanero chiles, honey, and chopped pineapple make a spicy, exotic dressing for this chicken salad. Drizzle the dressing over watercress, spinach, toasted cashews, and shredded chicken breasts just before serving.

Substitute plain low-fat yogurt for the usual mayonnaise to make this light and flavorful chicken salad. Mix in chopped celery, scallions, and basil, and serve on fresh rolls or salad greens.

Sour cream, goat cheese, chives, and white-wine vinegar make a marvelous dressing for this elegant spring chicken salad. Arrange slices of pan-seared chicken, halved fresh Bing cherries, and walnuts over a bed of Boston lettuce and serve with the goat cheese dressing on the side.

Orange slices, feta cheese, and toasted pistachios bring a riot of flavor and texture to this chicken salad. Seasoning chicken cutlets with ground coriander before cooking gives them a rich, nutty flavor.

Marinate sliced white button or cremini mushrooms in a warm mixture of soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, and sesame oil to make the delectable dressing for this quick Asian chicken salad. Toss the dressing with shredded leftover cooked or rotisserie chicken, napa cabbage, radishes, carrot, celery, scallion, and mint leaves.

This Indian-inspired chicken salad courtesy of cookbook author Padma Lakshmi features yogurt-marinated chicken breasts seasoned with garam masala, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and jalapeno. Toss the sauteed chicken with iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, plum tomatoes, radishes, cucumber, scallions, jicama, and cilantro, then dress the salad with lemon juice and the chicken pan juices.

Buttermilk, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and hot sauce create the creamy, zesty dressing for this light version of classic chicken salad. Stir the dressing into chopped celery, onion, parsley, and shredded poached chicken.

Toss chickpeas, sliced English cucumber, celery, and shredded chicken breasts in homemade or purchased basil pesto to make this hearty chicken salad. Chopped tomatoes and bell peppers would also be wonderful additions.

Mix nonfat Greek yogurt with curry powder, lemon juice, and just a touch of mayonnaise to make the light and spicy dressing for these open-faced chicken salad sandwiches. Stir in sliced almonds, cubed Granny Smith apple, and poached chicken breast, and serve on toasted whole-wheat pita breads.

Prepare the chicken for this colorful salad by seasoning cutlets with ground coriander and searing them in a hot skillet. Combine the chicken with red grapes, fresh corn kernels, shallot, and spinach, toss with a light Dijon dressing, and serve topped with avocado slices.

Dress shredded chicken, napa cabbage, plum tomatoes, scallions, and fresh pineapple in a tangy lime-Dijon vinaigrette. Because the enzymes in fresh pineapple will break down the texture of the chicken, the salad should be served immediately.

Blend two cups of fresh cilantro with lime juice and vegetable oil to make the bold, fresh dressing for this quick Asian chicken salad. Toss romaine lettuce with the cilantro dressing and pile rotisserie chicken, red bell pepper, scallions, red cabbage, and cashews on top.

Major Grey's mango chutney -- a compelling combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors -- adds zing to the sour cream-mayonnaise dressing for this easy chicken salad. Stir raisins and sliced scallions into the salad and serve it on toast or a bed of greens.

Arranged sliced, pan-seared chicken, blanched green beans, dried cherries, and sliced almonds on a bed of radicchio and arugula dressed in an apricot-Dijon vinaigrette. Make this a quick and easy dinner by preparing the chicken, green beans, and dressing a day in advance and assemble the salad just before serving.

Bake chicken breasts with a seasoning of lemon zest and dried tarragon to make this chicken salad's flavorful foundation. Toss the chicken with chopped tomatoes and sliced scallions in a bright lemon dressing and serve on a bed of mesclun greens.

It's quick and easy to make this sophisticated chicken salad when you start with a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Add toasted pecans, sliced celery and scallions, raisins, oregano, and chopped Fuji or lady apples, and coat with a tangy sour cream dressing. If you'd like to bring this chicken salad on a picnic, be sure to pack it in an airtight container and keep it fresh in a cooler.

Crumbled bacon, feta cheese, sliced tomato, and avocado make this chicken Cobb salad hearty and satisfying. Use leftover grilled chicken for this salad, or pick up a rotisserie chicken on your way home for a quick dinner.

This Asian-style chicken salad combines shredded poached chicken breasts with crisp iceberg lettuce, red bell pepper, scallions, and cucumber. Make a quick dressing in the blender with unsalted peanut, lime juice, rice-wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil.

Toss moist poached chicken-breast slices with chopped tomato, cucumber, fresh basil, and shredded romaine lettuce. Dress this chicken salad with a tangy lemon vinaigrette and serve as a light dinner or lunch.

To cook chicken breasts with no added fat, gently poach in simmering salted water. Shred the cooled chicken and combine with celery, fresh tarragon, white-wine vinegar, and olive oil to make this light and refreshing herbed chicken salad.

The Asian chicken salad tastes especially fresh with the addition of lots of fresh cilantro and mint leaves. Combine the herbs with shredded red cabbage, carrots, and chicken, and dress in a spicy soy-lime vinaigrette.

This Indian-inspired chicken salad combines shredded chicken and diced mango in a spicy yogurt dressing seasoned with Major Grey's mango chutney, lime juice, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and fresh cilantro. Serve the chicken salad on a bed of spinach, sprinkled with toasted coconut.

Diced fennel bulb, Granny Smith apple, celery, and red grapes add a wonderfully fresh, sweet crunch to chicken salad sandwiches. Dress the mixture in a light yogurt dressing and pile on slices of pumpernickel bread topped with watercress.

The light dressing for this salad takes its inspiration from Vietnamese nuoc cham sauce, a mixture of lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and hot pepper (cayenne, in this case). Toss sliced chicken breasts, snow peas, shallots, and mint in the dressing and serve with blanched baby bok choy.

Zucchini, red onion, toasted almonds, and fresh parsley make this romaine and chicken salad distinctly satisfying. Complete the presentation with homemade croutons and a quick lemon vinaigrette.

Thinly sliced carrots, baby turnips, fennel, and apple add a fresh crunch to this chicken salad. Combine the vegetables with poached chicken and Boston lettuce, and dress in a light tarragon vinaigrette.