The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2024)

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This easy Chicken Salad recipe is always a favorite no matter how it’s served! Delicious on its own, this easy recipe can also be enjoyed on a croissant, in a wrap, or served in a lettuce cup. You seriously can’t go wrong! Chicken, apples, grapes, pecans and celery are tossed in a flavorful, creamy dressing that takes just minutes to prepare!

Love salads? Make sure to try these favorites: The BEST Pea Salad,Creamy Cucumber Salad, andWatergate Salad!

The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (1)

Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

One of the most classic salad recipes and truly delicious, this easy chicken salad recipe is creamy, sweet, and perfect on it’s own, sandwiched between two slices of bread or nestled into a buttery croissant. This delicious recipe can also be enjoyed as a wrap, in a pita pocket, or in lettuce cups.

What Makes This the Best Chicken Salad

I’ve tasted a lot of delicious chicken salads in my time but this ones tops them all.

Lots of fresh ingredients in this recipe make it stand out from the crowd. Not only do they add natural sweetness and delicious flavor, but a lovely crunch as well.

I love that it can be prepared in advance which makes it ideal for entertaining. In fact, it’s one of my favorite recipes for tea sandwiches. To prepare this chicken salad for tea sandwiches, do a nice fine dice on the chicken, apples, grapes and celery.

The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2)

Kiss the Carbs Buh-Bye

Watching your carbs? Chicken salad is also great on it’s own!

Feel free to kiss those carbs good bye and enjoy this salad with a fork or served in a lettuce cup. It’s just as delicious served this way as it is as a sandwich.

Chicken Salad Ingredients

This traditional chicken salad recipe features lots of fresh ingredients that make this the best chicken salad you’ve ever tried. This is what you’ll need:

  • cooked chicken – any cooked chicken will work in this recipe but you want chicken that isn’t seasoned or overly seasoned. Rotisserie chicken will work, grilled chicken will work, poached chicken and baked chicken will also work
  • seedless red grapes – chicken salad with grapes is SO good! If you’ve never had chicken salad this way before, you’re in for a treat. Green grapes can also be used in a pinch but they are more tart than sweet and you will notice the difference in you salad
  • red apple – Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp – any sweet, firm apple will work here
  • celery – the celery in this recipe adds a delicious crunch factor as well as fresh flavor
  • nuts – I always choose pecans because they’re my favorite but walnuts or almonds will also work in this recipe
  • mayonnaise – for delicious creaminess of course! Miracle Whip can be substituted as well as Greek yogurt. I do recommend going half and half if you use Greek yogurt because of it’s tartness.
  • lemon – just the juice is needed.
  • fresh parsley – fresh herbs are always a great idea in salad recipes like this one. I used flat leaf parsley here but curly leaf would also work.
  • kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (3)

How To Make Chicken Salad

This salad recipe is so easy to make! It consists of prepping the ingredients (chopping the chicken, apples, grapes, celery, and pecans) and mixing together the dressing.

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.
    The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (4)
  2. In a separate bowl, combine chicken, grapes, apple, celery, and pecans.
  3. Drizzle dressing over the top and stir together making sure the dressing is evenly distributed
    The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (5)
  4. Cover and chill for at least one hour before serving.
  5. Serve as sandwiches on bread or croissants or as chicken salad lettuce cups.
  6. Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

FAQs

  • Can you freeze chicken salad? It’s not a great idea to freeze this salad. The ingredients will get all mushy and lose flavor.
  • How many calories in chicken salad? This recipe serves 6 and has 400 calories per serving. This does not include the bread you may end up using.
  • How long is chicken salad good for? Once the dressing is mixed in with the other ingredients, this salad is good for up to 3 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Variations To Try

  1. I like to use mayonnaise in this recipe but you can absolutely use Miracle Whip instead. Another option is Greek yogurt. If using Greek yogurt, I recommend using half yogurt and half mayonnaise.
  2. Not a fan of grapes or can’t find them? Try using raisins, like I do in my Rotisserie Chicken Salad Sandwich, or even craisins!
  3. Try using celery seeds instead of fresh celery.
  4. Different kinds of apples will give this easy salad recipe a yummy makeover.
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More Chicken Recipes To Try

  1. The BEST Chicken Marinade
  2. Chicken and Rice Casserole
  3. Chicken Stir Fry
  4. Cashew Chicken
  5. Glazed Honey Balsamic Chicken

How To Make Chicken Salad

The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (7)

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5 from 18 votes

Chicken Salad

This easy Chicken Salad is always a favorite no matter how it's served! Delicious on its own, this easy chicken salad recipe can also be enjoyed on a croissant, in a wrap, or served in a lettuce cup. You seriously can't go wrong! Chicken, apples, grapes, pecans and celery are tossed in a flavorful, creamy dressing that takes just minutes to prepare!

Course Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken salad, chicken salad recipe, chicken salad sandwich

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill 1 hour hour

Servings 6

Calories 400kcal

Author Trish – Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper or to taste

Chicken Salad

  • 4 cups chicken cooked and diced
  • 1 cup seedless red grapes cut in half or quartered, depending on size
  • 1 cup red apple chopped
  • 1 cup celery ribs chopped, about 2 stalks
  • 1 cup pecans walnuts or almonds, chopped or sliced

For Serving

  • bread, croissants, lettuce cups, pita bread, crackers

Instructions

Chicken Salad Dressing

  • In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.

    1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Chicken Salad

  • In a separate bowl, combine chicken, grapes, apple, celery, and pecans.

    4 cups chicken, 1 cup seedless red grapes, 1 cup red apple, 1 cup celery ribs, 1 cup pecans

  • Drizzle dressing over the top and stir together making sure the dressing is evenly distributed

  • Cover and chill for at least one hour before serving.

  • Serve as sandwiches on bread or croissants or as chicken salad lettuce cups.

    bread, croissants, lettuce cups, pita bread, crackers

  • Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Video

Notes

Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 639mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 193IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2024)

FAQs

How long will homemade chicken salad last in the refrigerator? ›

Generally, chicken salad will only last three to five days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). You must store the chicken salad in the fridge to maintain its freshness. As a refresher, the fridge should be set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below per the USDA.

How to tell when chicken salad is bad? ›

Mold is never a good sign. Discard any chicken salad with visible mold growth. Fresh chicken salad should have a light color. If the chicken or mayonnaise appears discolored or gray, it's time to toss it.

How healthy is chicken salad? ›

Chicken salad is rich in lean protein and a decent source of iron. Depending on what other ingredients it contains, it might also provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Still, using ingredients such as mayonnaise or serving the salad on a croissant adds calories and fat.

How long does chicken salad chick last in the fridge? ›

Both freshly prepared chicken salad and the leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last up to 5 days.

Can I eat 7 day old chicken salad? ›

Some spoilage bacteria can grow at cold temps too, so even when carefully stored and refrigerated, toss that chicken salad after four days.

Can you freeze homemade chicken salad? ›

Place chicken salad in a Ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible before placing it in the freezer,” advises Hunt. Always leave a small opening and suck out the air, cinching in the bag tight to the salad. “Label and date your salad and place it in the freezer. Use within three months.

What causes food poisoning in chicken salad? ›

This is mainly due to two types of bacteria, Campylobacter and Salmonella, which are commonly found in the guts and feathers of these birds. These bacteria often contaminate fresh poultry meat during the slaughtering process, and they can survive up until cooking kills them ( 1 , 2 ).

What should the discard date be for chicken salad? ›

In the context of food safety, the discard date for a chicken salad that was prepped and stored on June 1st would typically be seven days from the date of preparation, assuming that the salad is kept under proper refrigeration. Therefore, the correct discard date on the label should be June 8th.

How long does rotisserie chicken last in the fridge? ›

The USDA guidelines clearly state that rotisserie chicken is good for 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator. Additionally, rotisserie chicken can be stored in the freezer where it will be good for a longer period of time. If frozen it will keep best, maintaining its optimal flavor and texture, for 4 months.

What are the ingredients for chicken salad? ›

Will I lose weight if I eat chicken and salad every day? ›

Although chicken and salad are healthy nutrients, you can gain weight due to the way the chicken is prepared, or the salad is made with high-calorie sauces. Moreover, you can't shed weight with only one food in your diet. Salad with chicken supports your diet in this way, but it isn't enough on its own.

Is chicken salad good for your gut? ›

It should also have lean proteins, like chicken. This fresh take on chicken salad is a gut health all-star! Chicken is naturally high in selenium, which helps reduce your risk of developing precancerous polyps.

What does chicken salad Chick give you for your birthday? ›

We'll even give you your first 25 points just for joining. Plus, as a Craving Credits member, you'll receive an Original Chick meal on your birthday—no charge! It's just one of the ways we spread joy.

What type of bread does chicken salad chick use? ›

Options include White, Wheatberry & Croissants. Availability varies by location.

Can you eat chicken salad that was left out overnight? ›

Cooked chicken left out overnight is most certainly not safe to eat. Cooked chicken left out of the fridge over 2 hours is dangerous and is no longer safe to eat – it must be discarded. To reduce exposure to bacteria, it's important to store chicken correctly when it's left out of the fridge.

How long is it safe to eat homemade chicken salad? ›

It's tempting to stir up a big batch so that we can enjoy leftovers for a few days. But how long is it safe to keep chicken salad on hand? The short answer is to store chicken salad in a sealed container in the fridge or cooler for no more than four days.

Is chicken salad good for 4 days? ›

Chicken salad will last up to four days in the fridge. It's perfect for meal prepping, because you can make a big batch at the beginning of the week and have it for lunch for several days! Store it in an airtight container or cover the bowl tightly in plastic wrap to keep it fresh.

How long does home made salad last in the fridge? ›

How long does salad last in the fridge? Stored correctly, an average salad will last up to five days in the fridge. Any longer than this, and you'll start to see soggy, wilting leaves. Stored incorrectly, and you could be looking at no more than a couple of hours!

What should the discard date be for chicken salad that was prepared and stored on June 1st? ›

Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food prepared and held for more than 24 hours in a food establishment must be marked with the date of preparation and must be discarded if not consumed within 7 calendar days from the date of preparation.

References

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