There are many myths and misconceptions about food and nutrition during pregnancy. One question I’m often asked, especially during the summer, is, “Is chicken salad safe to eat during pregnancy?” Understandably so! Chicken salad is an easy lunch often enjoyed at cookouts and parties.
The good news is that chicken salad can safely be consumed during pregnancy. However, there are a few food safety best practices to remember before enjoying this delicious dish. So today, we will dive into the question, “Is chicken salad safe during pregnancy?” We will look at some key food safety points to remember, and then I will share one of my favorite homemade chicken salad recipes.
Is Chicken Salad Safe During Pregnancy?
The first thing to clarify is what we mean by chicken salad. In this context, we aren’t talking about a leafy green salad with chicken on top. We are discussing the cold, creamy chicken salad commonly made with ingredients such as mayonnaise, cooked chicken, celery, onion, spices, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs and grapes! Now that this is clear, let’s talk about the safety of this dish for pregnancy!
Chicken salad can definitely be safe to eat during pregnancy. However, there are a few caveats. The best food safety practice is making your own homemade chicken salad since you control the ingredients, food handling, and storage.
The reason in-store premade chicken salad often comes up on avoid lists is that they can carry a greater risk of potential to cause foodborne illness. Premade foods like this have been linked to foodborne illness in the past. This does not mean they WILL make you sick, they simply carry a slightly higher risk.
The degree of risk also really depends on the place and its food safety practices and storage.
Questions like these are all valid to consider:
- Did they cook the chicken to temperature?
- How long has it been in the fridge?
- Is it a sealed tub of chicken salad or freshly made in-store?
- How long were all the ingredients sitting out while it was being prepared?
- Is the fridge set to the appropriate temperature?
- Were any vegetables (like celery) or fruit added, and were they washed?
It’s important to know there is a difference between chicken salad made in-store and commercially made store-bought chicken salad, where it’s been sealed and is less likely to be contaminated.
It’s ultimately up to you and your comfort level, but generally, commercially made store-bought options and homemade ones are fine. As with any food, keep food safety in mind—store leftovers in the fridge, eat within a few days of opening it, and don’t leave them sitting out on the counter for prolonged periods.
The recipe below is pregnancy-safe and delicious. It will taste just as good as store-bought chicken salad, if not better.
Chicken Salad Safe Recipe For Pregnancy
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ½ cucumber (diced)
- ¼ cup of red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp fresh dill (chopped)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the chicken.
Cook your diced chicken breast by boiling, grilling, or baking until fully cooked. Remember, it’s essential to cook meat and poultry fully. Undercooked meat can be dangerous for your unborn baby because of things like salmonella. Chicken should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 F.
Step 2: Assemble the salad.
Combine the cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, mayo, mustard, and dill in a large bowl. Depending on your taste and preferences, you can add more or less of any ingredient.
Step 3: Season to taste.
Now that your salad ingredients are in, it’s time to season to taste. Add in some salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Mix.
Gently mix all ingredients together until well combined.
Step 5: Serve.
Once mixed, serve your delicious, pregnancy-safe homemade chicken salad.
Your chicken salad can be served in a variety of ways. For example, it can be served:
- On top of a green salad
- As a sandwich on wheat bread with your favorite sandwich toppings
- On a croissant with lettuce
- With crackers and fruit
- As a main dish, with sides such as green salad, potatoes, corn, fruits, etc.
- In pita bread
- With carrots and celery as dippables
Tip: Be sure to cook chicken well and avoid unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Enjoy homemade chicken salad during pregnancy with this recipe!
There you have it– a pregnancy-safe homemade chicken salad. When we make a dish like this at home, we control more variables of the food safety process. For example, ensuring produce is thoroughly washed. And this recipe never lets me down. It’s delicious, nutritious, and oh-so-easy to make!
If chicken salad isn’t your favorite, try my summer salad recipe. If you’re searching for more meals and snacks for pregnancy, download my FREE one-week meal plan for pregnant mamas just like you! This meal plan will help you nourish yourself and your baby. It will ease your mind with the simple meals planned for you!
Be sure to sign up for The Prenatal Nutrition Library app, where you’ll gain access to countless pregnancy nutrition resources and education. We cover topics like vitamins, minerals, common myths, specific foods, supplements, and what you should avoid eating. We answer all your frequently asked questions and MORE! You’ll even get access to ask prenatal RD’s your questions — see you inside!
