While the chicken cooks, prepare all your ingredients so assembly is quick and seamless. Finely dice the celery into 1/4-inch pieces—this small size ensures it stays crisp and distributes evenly throughout the salad. Slice the grapes lengthwise into halves so they don't overwhelm each bite. Measure out all the dry seasonings (oregano, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper) and combine them in a small bowl. I like to do this spice blending ahead because it distributes the seasonings more evenly than adding them one at a time.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the chicken breasts with the 2 tsp chicken seasoning. Simmer for 15-18 minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F internally and is cooked through. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it cool for 5 minutes so it's easier to handle. Cut the cooled chicken into 1/2-inch cubes—this size provides good texture and protein distribution throughout the salad.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese and mayonnaise until smooth and well combined. The thickness will depend on your cottage cheese brand—I prefer Good Culture because it creates a creamier texture without being runny. Add the 1.5 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice and stir to incorporate. This acidic brightness is essential to prevent the salad from tasting heavy or one-dimensional.

Add the cubed chicken from Step 2 to the creamy base from Step 3 and fold gently to coat. Add the diced celery and sliced grapes, folding to distribute evenly. Pour in the spice blend from Step 1 and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated and evenly seasoned. Taste the salad and adjust with salt and pepper to your preference. I like to be conservative with salt initially since the mayo and chicken seasoning already provide saltiness—you can always add more but can't take it out.

Refrigerate the salad for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the texture to set. This also gives the salad a pleasant cool temperature. Serve immediately on lettuce, crackers, or bread as desired.