This is the ultimate Chicken Salad recipe! We call this ‘fancy’ Chicken Salad because of the dressing, grapes, and pecans, but it’s truly easy. This is a fresher and lightened-up version of classic chicken salad, and it’s perfect as a side dish, main course, or for meal prep. It’s especially easy if you use leftover rotisserie chicken.
“Another winner. I was looking for a summer dinner, this was perfect. I served it on a bed of spinach & lettuce. My husband had 2 servings. It was perfect the next day for lunch, we made into sandwiches. Thank you for sharing!!” – Cindy ★★★★★.
Watch my easy video tutorial where I walk you through all of my tips for making the best Chicken Salad.
My favorite chicken salad has finally been found after years of tinkering! The creamy dressing is made with lemon and fresh herbs, which make the salad feel so light and fresh. The combination of sweet and savory flavors, and different textures makes this salad exciting and one you’ll make on repeat. This is my go-to lunch salad on busy work days, and it never disappoints. Plus, there are so many ways to serve and keep it exciting (see my serving suggestions below).
We love protein-packed salads like our Chicken Avocado Salad, Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad, and Cobb Salad. This creamy chicken salad is really the best combination of chicken salad and Waldorf salad which is a go-to for lunch. As a busy working mom, I always appreciate quick and easy lunch ideas.
The 5 ingredients in this chicken salad are simple, but each one is important for the best taste, texture, and color. That said, there are plenty of variations that I’m sharing so you can use what you have on hand.
Chicken salad is a classic dish that is versatile, easy to make, and downright delicious. It can be served as a light lunch, a protein-packed snack, or even an appetizer when scooped on top of crackers or bread. The possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing chicken salad to your preferences with different combinations of veggies fruits spices, and sauces. But where exactly can you find high-quality chicken salad near you when a craving hits? This comprehensive guide covers all your options for getting your hands on chicken salad both at restaurants and by making it yourself at home.
Purchase Chicken Salad from Restaurants and Delis
If you want chicken salad, one of the easiest ways to get it is to go to a nearby restaurant or deli that sells it already made. A lot of sandwich shops, coffee shops, and other places to eat will offer chicken salad in some form, like as a full sandwich or a side salad. When deciding where to get store-bought chicken salad, read online reviews to find out which places in your area serve the best quality and mix of flavors. These places have great chicken salad that you can grab and go:
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Delis in your area: Chicken salad at these places is usually made fresh every day, and they may have classic versions or new ones with different ingredients. Plus, their chicken salad is usually cheaper than at a restaurant.
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Sandwich and salad shops—Chicken salad sandwiches, wraps, and salads will be available at chains like Subway, Panera Bread, Jason’s Deli, McAlister’s Deli, and Chicken Salad Chick. It’s a quick and easy option for lunch or dinner.
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Grocery store deli counters – Most grocery stores with deli counters sell pre-made chicken salad by the pound or scoop. The flavors are usually pretty basic but you can get it at an inexpensive price point.
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Restaurants with salad bars – If a restaurant near you has a build-your-own salad bar, there’s a good chance they’ll include chicken salad as one of the protein options to top a salad with.
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Food delivery services – Apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash and GrubHub allow you to get chicken salad delivered from local eateries right to your doorstep in no time Browse the menus on the apps to find chicken salad near you.
No matter where you buy ready-made chicken salad, make sure you look it over carefully before you buy it. Look for chicken salad that has chunky or shredded chicken, not a lot of filler like celery or onions, and a creamy texture.
Make Chicken Salad at Home
When you’re able to plan ahead, consider making homemade chicken salad yourself so you can control the ingredients and flavors. While the process does take some time and effort, the end result is fresh, tasty chicken salad customized exactly how you prefer it. Here is a simple overview of steps for how to make classic chicken salad at home:
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Cook the chicken – Bake, grill, or poach skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs until fully cooked. Allow the chicken to cool before chopping or shredding it into bite-size pieces.
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Prepare the add-ins – Rinse, chop, slice or dice any vegetables, fruits or other mix-in ingredients you want in your chicken salad like celery, grapes, almonds, etc.
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Make the dressing – Whisk together the dressing ingredients such as mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, etc. in a small bowl.
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Combine it all – In a large bowl, mix together the chopped chicken, vegetables/fruits, dressing and any seasonings until fully combined.
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Chill before serving – Refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes which allows the flavors to meld together.
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Serve or store – Enjoy the chicken salad immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Some easy mix-in ideas for homemade chicken salad are dried cranberries, grapes, sliced almonds, pineapple tidbits, chopped pecans, chopped hard-boiled egg, avocado, bacon bits, shredded cheese, diced apple, and any of your other favorite fruits, veggies or nuts. The fantastic thing about making your own chicken salad is that you can tweak it to your preferences every time.
Convenient Options for Chicken Salad to Go
When you’re pressed for time or just need chicken salad in a hurry, using pre-cooked and packaged chicken salad options can be a real time saver. Here are some quick and convenient chicken salad choices for when you’re on the go:
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Canned chicken salad – Brands like Swanson Premium White Chicken Salad come ready to eat right out of the can. The flavor is mild and the texture isn’t as chunky as homemade but it’s an easy protein option.
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Pre-made pouches – Check your grocer’s deli section for individual serving pouches of pre-made chicken salad you can grab and go. Sabra makes a classic Greek yogurt chicken salad pouch that’s tasty.
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Rotisserie chicken – Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli and use the meat to quickly make your own chicken salad at home. Just chop and mix with desired ingredients.
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Leftover chicken – Shred up leftover cooked chicken from a roast or thighs into a chicken salad the next day for an effortless make-ahead option.
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Canned tuna salad – In a pinch, swap canned tuna for chicken to make a quick tuna salad. The flavor will be different but still delightful.
With so many choices for pre-packaged chicken salad that only requires some light assembly or no prep at all, it’s easy to put together a chicken salad meal or snack in no time flat.
Chicken salad is such a versatile and satisfying dish to add into your lunch rotation or enjoy as an afternoon snack. Whether you purchase pre-made chicken salad from a restaurant or deli, make your own homemade blend, or use convenient pre-cooked chicken salad options, there are endless tasty choices available. So next time you get a hankering for chicken salad, you’ll know exactly where to turn to get your fix! What’s your favorite way to enjoy chicken salad?
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How to Make Chicken Salad
This easy chicken salad comes together so fast in one bowl, which is why it’s the ideal lunch option.
- To toast pecans, put them on a dry skillet over medium to low heat and toss them around a lot until they are golden and smell good. Don’t leave them alone because they’re likely to catch fire. Move to a cutting board and chop into large pieces. Let cool, then add to a large bowl.
- Slice the cold chicken breast into small pieces and add them to the bowl. Note: We like the way chicken feels when it’s diced instead of shredded.
- Cut Grapes in Half: Use a serrated knife to cut the grapes in half and add them to the bowl.
- Chop the celery and onion. To do this, cut the celery sticks in half lengthwise, then slice them very thinly. Add the thinly sliced celery and onion to the bowl.
- Make Dressing: Put the dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix them together. Then, pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss everything together and stir until the salad is evenly covered in dressing. Cover and put in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
The Best Chicken Salad Dressing
This is similar to the dressing from my popular Broccoli Apple Salad. It’s creamy and tangy, and adding sour cream makes it lighter than just using mayo.
- Mayonnaise: For the best taste, use real mayonnaise or make your own.
- Sour cream: We use full-fat sour cream, but you can use low-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt without added fat instead.
- Make sure the lemon juice you use is fresh squeezed and not from a concentrate.
- Fresh dill that has been finely chopped is our favorite, but you can use 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh parsley instead. Fresh herbs really elevate this salad.
How to Make Chicken Salad | Get Cookin’ | Allrecipes
FAQ
Does Wendy’s sell chicken salads?
Made fresh daily with our signature lettuce blend, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, cool, creamy avocado, Applewood smoked bacon, and grilled chicken breast ….
Does Chick-fil-A offer chicken salad?
Chicken Salad was previously available on the menu at participating Chick-fil-A® restaurants nationwide. We’d like to give you the recipe so you can make it at home, even though it’s not on the menu anymore. Learn how to make more of your favorite Chick-fil-A dishes by visiting our Recipes page.
Does McDonald’s sell a chicken salad?
Caesar Crispy Chicken Salad. Our Caesar salad includes crispy breaded chicken breast pieces on a bed of crispy lettuce, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese and garlic-herb flavoured croutons. A Caesar sauce is also available for that extra oomph!.
Is chicken salad actually healthy?
Definitely — chicken salad is full of lean proteins, minerals, and vitamins. It is low in sugar, carbs, and fiber while high in protein. Therefore, this low-calorie salad is good for your health.