The addition of red grapes and slivered almonds make this the best chicken salad recipe ever! One of my favorite lunchtime meals is a homemade chicken salad sandwich. Ideally, It’s made like exactly like I’m showing you in this image, stuffed into a buttery, flaky croissant, but I’ve been known to enjoy it on white toast or with a handful of crackers too! Chicken salad is a variety of cold sandwich spread that is classic, and loved by everyone. Just like in ham salad and tuna salad, a creamy dressing and tasty add-ins turn common and inexpensive proteins into a fabulous meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Chicken salad is such a versatile recipe! The ingredients in this recipe are balanced and work perfectly, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t switch things up to make endless variations on this classic. Try adding making a more savory chicken salad by adding some curry powder, garlic powder, or chopped bacon. Or if you’re making chicken salad for kids, skip any ingredients they won’t enjoy. Stir in a bit of shredded cheddar cheese – they’ll love that special addition! You’ll love that you can make homemade chicken salad ahead of time too. Mix this up, and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you like to meal prep lunches, chicken salad is an excellent option. One more thing – and this might be the best reason ever to love this chicken salad recipe: It only takes a few minutes to make! Use already-cooked chicken, and your salad will be ready in no time at all. If you’re looking for more recipes to make with cooked chicken, be sure to check out my super easy Creamy Chicken Orzo recipe. It’s made in one pan and makes the best quick weeknight dinner. Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is also pretty amazing!
Key Ingredients in Chicken Salad
Here’s what you need to make this tasty chicken sandwich filling:
Cooked Chicken: I prefer breast meat for chicken salad, but you can use any cooked chicken that you like. Use a rotisserie chicken, leftovers from last night’s Instant Pot whole chicken, or try this recipe with Smoked Chicken for a whole new flavor. Dressing: Mix mayonnaise with Dijon Mustard, a little bit of honey, and a splash of lemon juice. It’s so easy and so flavorful! Add-Ins: The best chicken salad recipe includes crunchy vegetables and mix-ins like diced onion, diced celery, red grapes, and slivered almonds.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make The Best Chicken Salad
Making chicken salad is really as simple as mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl! Here’s a quick step-by-step:
Recipe Tips
Any pre-cooked chicken will do. I like to use white meat chicken breast, but if you have leftover chicken thighs, use dark meat instead! Fresh chicken is best, but in a pinch you can even make this with canned chicken breast. Dice the chicken into small pieces so that the salad is easy to eat. You can also shred chicken breast if you prefer that texture. Instead of almonds, try adding toasted pecans or walnuts. You can also mix in sunflower seeds or pepitas, or just leave the nuts out altogether if you prefer. Instead of grapes, stir in dried cranberries, chopped apples, or mandarin oranges. Add More Veggies: Bell peppers, artichoke hearts, shredded carrot, and diced cucumber have all made it into my chicken salad at one point or another! Fresh herbs make everything more flavorful. This recipe calls for parsley, but green onion, dill, basil, or chives will also work well. For a really amazing, creamy texture, make your own mayonnaise from scratch.
Storing Tips
Keep homemade chicken salad in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for up to 3 days that way. When you’re ready to eat the salad you’ve stored in the fridge, stir in a little bit of mayo to make it fresh and creamy again. Since this recipe is made with mayonnaise, you shouldn’t leave it unrefrigerated for any length of time.
What To Serve With Chicken Salad
Enjoy chicken salad on a croissant, or as a sandwich on freshly baked bread machine wheat bread. It also makes a wonderful wrap on tortillas or homemade flatbread. On the side, have some potato chips or homemade french fries. If I’m packing a lunch to go, I love to take a container of chicken salad with crackers on the side. Oatmeal bliss balls are another sweet treat that I like to enjoy on the go! For the kids’ lunches, be sure to tuck in a lucky charms treat or a few chocolate caramel cookies. Make a batch of chicken salad today! It’s the perfect easy lunch or snack, no matter if you’re packing lunchboxes, meal prepping, or just making a tasty meal for yourself. You should try my Tarragon Chicken Salad and Curry Chicken Salad Recipes too! © Little Sunny Kitchen
