how to make chicken salad

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January 12, 2021

Chicken Salad Recipe

The best classic Chicken Salad recipe is flavorful with simple ingredients. Chicken, celery, mayonnaise, green onions, and a little lemon juice make this salad taste like heaven. Feel free to add in whatever you want but this is great just as it is! You can eat this as a sandwich or for a low-carb and make a Keto chicken salad by eating it in lettuce wraps or by itself.

chicken salad on a white plate with a lemon

CHICKEN SALAD RECIPE

Chicken salad is one of those recipes where you think everyone should know how to make it but when it comes to it there are a lot of different ways it can go. My goal in creating this recipe was to keep it easy with basic ingredients I had on hand.

One of my favorite chicken salad recipes is from Costco. They use a rotisserie chicken with mayonnaise and celery. If you ask me, this version is pretty darn close.

WHAT IS IN CHICKEN SALAD?

Classic Chicken Salad traditionally has chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and onion. Add some lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

I think this tastes like Chicken Salad Chick's chicken salad.

POSSIBLE ADD-INS:

Chicken Salad is a blank canvas for whatever you want to add in. You can add nuts, hard boiled eggs, fruit, seasonings, or fresh herbs. I love this version of chicken salad plain but you can add in to suit your taste.

NUTS – Cashews, sliced almonds, pecans, or walnuts would be a great addition to this salad.
HARD BOILED EGGS – Slice up hard boiled eggs and fold them in.
FRUIT – Common fruits to add in are sliced grapes, dried cranberries, or diced apples. The most common is chicken salad with grapes.
SEASONINGS – You can add onion powder, garlic powder, Worchestershire, or Season All.
FRESH HERBS – Some chopped fresh parsley or dill would be a great addition.

chicken salad in a clear bowl

WHAT TO EAT WITH CHICKEN SALAD?

You can eat this chicken salad as a sandwich on some good bread or a croissant. Another option is to eat it with a fork or in lettuce wraps. We serve this with fruit!

HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?

Chicken Salad will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days.

CAN CHICKEN SALAD BE FROZEN?

Recipes with mayonnaise are not great for freezing because when they thaw the mayonnaise separates. I would not recommend freezing this recipe.

TIPS FOR MAKING CHICKEN SALAD:

You can replace the mayo with mashed avocado and sour cream for a different version.
Reduce the calories by using Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise.
You can cook your own chicken breasts or thighs in the crockpot, then use an electric hand mixer to shred the chicken for this recipe.
Use canned chicken in a pinch.

OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES:

Keto Blueberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Sliders
Chicken Suiza Sammies
Bowtie Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Salad with Grapes
Chicken Parmesan Meatball Sliders
Layered Buffalo Chicken Salad

chicken salad on a white plate with a lemon

Yield: 4 servings

The best Classic Chicken Salad recipe is flavorful with simple ingredients. Chicken, celery, mayonnaise, green onions, and a little lemon juice make this salad taste like heaven. Feel free to add in whatever you want but this is great just as it is! You can eat this as a sandwich or for a low-carb and Keto friendly version eat it in lettuce wraps or by itself.

3 cups cooked chicken, diced (I like to use rotisserie chicken)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup sliced green onions
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and combine well. The salt will need about 30 minutes to dissolve. Add more salt if needed and add pepper to taste. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Serve on sliced bread or croissants. For a low-carb version serve as lettuce wraps or all alone.

HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?

You can keep chicken salad in the fridge for 3-5 days.

POSSIBLE ADD-INS:

Chicken Salad is a blank canvas for whatever you want to add in. You can add nuts, fruit, seasonings, or fresh herbs. I love this version of chicken salad plain but you can add in to suit your taste.

NUTS - Cashews, sliced almonds, pecans, or walnuts would be a great addition to this salad.
FRUIT - Common fruits to add in are sliced grapes, dried cranberries, or diced apples.
SEASONINGS - You can add onion powder, garlic powder, Worchestershire, or Season All.
FRESH HERBS - Some chopped fresh parsley or dill would be a great addition.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken, chicken salad recipe

chicken salad

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