This creamy cucumber chicken cottage cheese salad is fresh, protein-packed, and incredibly easy to prepare. It combines crisp cucumber slices, tender shredded chicken, creamy cottage cheese, olive oil, and simple seasonings in one satisfying bowl.
The reel does not display exact measurements, so the quantities below are a practical reconstruction based on the visible ingredient proportions and preparation sequence.
The finished salad is creamy without being heavy, crunchy from the cucumber, and filling enough for lunch, meal prep, or a quick low-carb dinner.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 10 minutes
- High in protein
- Naturally low in carbohydrates
- Uses simple everyday ingredients
- No cooking required when using cooked chicken
- Fresh, creamy, and crunchy
- Easy to customize
- Suitable for meal prep
Ingredients
- 3 small Persian cucumbers or 1 large English cucumber3 cups cooked shredded chicken2 cups cottage cheese1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon onion powder, optional1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or dill1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, optional
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder, optional
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or dill
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, optional
Ingredient Notes
Cucumber
The reel appears to use small cucumbers sliced into fairly thick rounds.
Persian cucumbers are ideal because they are crisp, have thin skin, and contain fewer watery seeds. An English cucumber also works well.
Chicken
Use cooked chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, poached chicken, grilled chicken, or leftover roasted chicken.
The chicken shown in the reel appears to be shredded into medium-sized pieces rather than finely chopped.
Cottage cheese
Full-fat cottage cheese gives the creamiest texture, but low-fat cottage cheese also works.
Small-curd cottage cheese blends more evenly into the salad, while large-curd cottage cheese gives it more texture.
Olive oil
A small drizzle of olive oil makes the cottage cheese smoother and adds richness.
Do not add too much, or the salad may become oily.
How to Make Cucumber Chicken Cottage Cheese Salad
1. Slice the cucumber
Wash and dry the cucumbers.
Cut them into rounds approximately ¼ inch thick.
Place the cucumber slices in a large mixing bowl.
If using a large cucumber with watery seeds, scoop out the centre before slicing.
2. Add the shredded chicken
Add the cooked shredded chicken directly over the cucumber.
Break apart any very large pieces with your fingers or two forks.
The chicken should remain chunky enough to give the salad texture.
3. Add the cottage cheese
Spoon the cottage cheese over the chicken and cucumbers.
Spread it across the bowl so it will mix more evenly.
4. Season the salad
Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
Start with a small amount of salt because cottage cheese may already contain a significant amount of sodium.
5. Add the olive oil
Drizzle the olive oil over the cottage cheese and chicken.
Add lemon juice if you prefer a brighter, slightly tangy flavour.
6. Mix
Use a large spoon or fork to gently combine all the ingredients.
Mix until the cucumber and chicken are evenly coated with cottage cheese.
Avoid stirring too aggressively, as this can crush the cucumber and make the chicken mushy.
7. Add fresh herbs
Fold in chopped parsley, dill, chives, or green onion.
Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, lemon juice, or olive oil as needed.
Serve immediately or refrigerate briefly before serving.
What the Final Texture Should Be Like
The finished salad should be:
- creamy but not watery;
- crunchy from the cucumber;
- chunky from the shredded chicken;
- lightly seasoned;
- fresh rather than heavy;
- thick enough to eat with a fork.
Important Mistakes to Avoid
Using wet cucumber
Cucumber releases water after slicing.
Dry the cucumber thoroughly before adding it to the bowl. For meal prep, remove the watery centre of large cucumbers.
Adding too much olive oil
The cottage cheese already provides moisture.
Add only a small drizzle of olive oil, then increase it gradually if needed.
Overmixing
Overmixing can break down the cottage cheese, crush the cucumber, and shred the chicken too finely.
Fold the ingredients together gently.
Adding too much salt immediately
Cottage cheese and rotisserie chicken can both be salty.
Taste the finished mixture before adding additional salt.
Using warm chicken
Allow cooked chicken to cool before adding it.
Warm chicken can soften the cucumber and make the cottage cheese mixture loose.
Cutting the cucumber too thinly
Very thin cucumber slices lose their crunch quickly.
Cut them into medium-thick rounds similar to those shown in the reel.
Recipe Variations
Mediterranean Variation
Add:
- chopped tomatoes;
- Kalamata olives;
- red onion;
- parsley;
- lemon juice;
- oregano;
- crumbled feta.
Reduce the cottage cheese slightly if adding feta.
Spicy Variation
Add:
- chilli flakes;
- cayenne pepper;
- hot sauce;
- diced jalapeño;
- smoked paprika.
Ranch-Style Variation
Add:
- dried dill;
- garlic powder;
- onion powder;
- dried parsley;
- a splash of lemon juice.
Avocado Variation
Fold in one diced avocado just before serving.
Use less olive oil because avocado adds richness.
Extra-Crunchy Variation
Add:
- celery;
- radishes;
- red onion;
- bell pepper;
- chopped pickles.
High-Protein Variation
Use:
- 4 cups shredded chicken;
- 2 cups cottage cheese;
- 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs.
Creamier Variation
Mix the cottage cheese with 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt before adding it to the salad.
Blended Cottage Cheese Variation
Blend the cottage cheese until smooth before mixing it with the chicken and cucumber.
This creates a sauce-like texture without changing the protein content significantly.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this salad:
- on its own as a low-carb meal;
- in lettuce cups;
- inside a whole-wheat wrap;
- over mixed greens;
- with crackers;
- in a pita pocket;
- on toasted sourdough;
- inside cucumber boats;
- alongside roasted vegetables.
Meal-Prep Tips
This salad is best eaten fresh because cucumber releases moisture during storage.
For meal prep:
- Slice and dry the cucumber.
- Store the cucumber separately.
- Mix the chicken, cottage cheese, and seasoning.
- Add the cucumber shortly before serving.
This keeps the salad crisp and prevents excess liquid.
Storage
Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For the best texture, consume it within 1–2 days.
If liquid collects at the bottom, stir the salad gently before serving.
Do not freeze this salad because cucumber and cottage cheese can become watery after thawing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Rotisserie chicken is one of the easiest options.
Remove the skin and bones, then shred the meat before adding it.
Can I use canned chicken?
Yes, but drain it very thoroughly.
Canned chicken is usually softer and saltier, so use less salt and mix gently.
Can I blend the cottage cheese?
Yes.
Blended cottage cheese creates a smoother, creamier dressing that resembles yogurt or mayonnaise.
Can I make it dairy-free?
Replace the cottage cheese with a thick dairy-free yogurt or dairy-free cottage-cheese alternative.
The texture and protein content will vary.
Can I add mayonnaise?
Yes.
Add 1 tablespoon for a richer flavour, but the recipe is already creamy without it.
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese?
Yes.
Greek yogurt produces a smoother and tangier salad, although the texture will be less chunky.
Why did my salad become watery?
The most common reasons are:
- wet cucumber;
- watery cottage cheese;
- salting the cucumber too early;
- storing the salad for too long.
Is this recipe low-carb?
Yes, the main ingredients are chicken, cottage cheese, and cucumber, which are naturally low in carbohydrates.
Approximate Nutrition
The following estimate is for one of four servings:
- Calories: 315
- Protein: 43 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 5 g
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated fat: 4 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
Nutrition will vary according to the cottage cheese, chicken, and olive oil used.
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Creamy Cucumber Chicken Cottage Cheese Salad
Description
This creamy cucumber chicken cottage cheese salad combines crisp cucumber slices, tender shredded chicken, protein-rich cottage cheese, olive oil, and simple seasonings.
It is a fresh, satisfying, high-protein and low-carb meal that is ready in about 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly dry the cucumbers.
- Slice the cucumbers into rounds approximately 1/4 inch thick.
- Place the cucumber slices in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cooked shredded chicken over the cucumbers.
- Spoon the cottage cheese over the chicken and cucumber.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the mixture.
- Add the lemon juice if using.
- Gently fold the ingredients together until evenly coated.
- Add the chopped parsley or dill.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Notes
The exact quantities were not displayed in the reel and have been estimated from the visible ingredient proportions.
Dry the cucumber thoroughly before mixing to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
Use completely cooled cooked chicken.
Add salt gradually because cottage cheese and rotisserie chicken may already contain plenty of sodium.
For meal prep, store the cucumber separately and mix it in shortly before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
