Crafting these delightful bites is a simple, two-stage process: first, preparing the luscious chicken filling, and second, assembling the bites themselves. Follow these detailed steps for perfect results every time.

Step 1: Preparing the Creamy Chicken Salad Filling

1. Shred the Chicken: If you haven’t already, ensure your cooked chicken is finely shredded. You can do this using two forks to pull the meat apart. For an even finer texture, you can pulse the cooked chicken a few times in a food processor or use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed—this is a fantastic shortcut for creating perfectly shredded chicken in seconds. Place the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl.
2. Create the Creamy Base: In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Greek yogurt (or sour cream). Use a flexible spatula or an electric hand mixer on a low setting to whip these ingredients together. Continue mixing until the base is completely smooth, creamy, and free of any lumps from the cream cheese. This step is crucial for achieving that silky, luxurious mouthfeel.
3. Combine and Flavor: Add the finely chopped fresh chives, fresh dill, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and garlic powder to the creamy base. Stir until the herbs and seasonings are evenly distributed. Season generously with salt and black pepper. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. You might want a little more lemon for brightness or a bit more salt to make the flavors pop.
4. Fold in the Chicken: Gently add the shredded chicken to the bowl with the creamy herb mixture. Use your spatula to fold the chicken in, ensuring every piece is generously coated in the delicious dressing. Be careful not to overmix, as you want to maintain some of the chicken’s texture.
5. Chill the Filling: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes. This step is highly recommended as it allows the flavors to meld and deepen, resulting in a much more delicious filling. Chilling also firms up the mixture slightly, making it easier to spoon or pipe onto the cucumber slices.

Step 2: Preparing the Cucumbers and Assembling the Bites

1. Wash and Dry the Cucumbers: Thoroughly wash the English cucumbers under cool running water and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Since we are leaving the skin on for color and texture, you want to ensure they are clean.
2. Slice the Cucumbers: Using a sharp chef’s knife or a mandoline for perfectly uniform slices, cut the cucumbers into rounds that are about 1/2-inch thick. This thickness is key—too thin and they will become flimsy and break under the weight of the filling; too thick and the cucumber-to-filling ratio will be off. Discard the end pieces.
3. Prepare the Slices (Optional but Recommended): Arrange the cucumber slices in a single layer on a platter or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Lightly sprinkle them with a pinch of salt. Let them sit for 15-20 minutes. The salt will draw out excess water, which prevents your final dish from becoming soggy, especially if you aren’t serving them immediately. After 15-20 minutes, use another paper towel to gently pat the tops of the cucumber slices dry, removing the beaded moisture and excess salt.
4. Assemble the Bites: Remove the chilled chicken salad from the refrigerator. You can now top your cucumber slices in one of two ways:
   • By Spoon: Use two small spoons or a cookie scoop to place a neat mound of the creamy chicken salad onto the center of each cucumber slice.
   • By Piping: For a more elegant, professional presentation, transfer the chicken salad mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (like a Wilton 1M). Pipe a beautiful swirl onto each cucumber slice.
5. Garnish and Serve: Arrange the finished Creamy Chicken Cucumber Bites on a serving platter. For a final flourish, lightly sprinkle the tops with a touch of paprika for color and a pinch of extra finely chopped fresh dill. Serve immediately for the best crunchy, creamy experience.