Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

Of all the summer salads, a classic chicken salad recipe is always a favorite at a picnic, a barbecue, or an office potluck!

Just a few ingredients can be transformed into a cold, creamy salad or filling for a homemade chicken salad sandwich or wrap!

Keep this chicken salad recipe on hand for last-minute sandwiches, or serve it over a bed of lettuce or with a side ofpasta salad and corn on the cob!

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (1)

Ingredients in Chicken Salad

  • ChickenUse leftover chicken from last night’s dinner or rotisserie chicken. Even leftover grilled chicken works well. Canned chicken can be used, but fresh is preferred.
  • Add-insAs this is a classic chicken salad recipe, I’ve kept the additions to a minimum. Celery for crunch, green onions for flavor.
  • DressingMayonnaise and simple seasonings are all that is needed for the dressing in this recipe.

Change the flavor by adding dill or other fresh herbs. and replace some of the mayo for Greek yogurt, ranch dressing, or your add your favorite salad dressing.

How To Prepare Chicken for Chicken Salad

I most often use rotisserie chicken as it’s already cooked and just needs to be shredded or chopped.

You can also bake chicken breasts or thighs. Once cooked, cool the chicken and shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. Leftover chicken from almost any recipe can be used in chicken salad.

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (2)

How to Make Chicken Salad

Prepare this classic chicken salad recipe in just 15 minutes with only a few simple ingredients.

  1. Chop cooked and cooled chicken and place into a large bowl with celery and onions.
  2. Mix dressing ingredients (according to the recipe below) in a bowl. Toss with chicken.
  3. Serve on rolls, bread or over a bed of lettuce.

This chicken salad sandwich recipe can be served on any bread. We love this on a baguette or rolls. Keep it low carb and serve in romaine lettuce as lettuce wraps or spoon over a tossed salad.

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (3)
Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (4)

Storing Leftovers

Refrigerator: Store chicken salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Give it a stir and refresh the flavor with fresh herbs or an extra dollop of Dijon mustard.

Freezer: Prepared chicken salad doesn’t freeze well. To prep ahead, dice the chicken and freeze. When ready to make, combine thawed chicken with the remaining ingredients below for a quick lunch!

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Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (9)

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Classic Chicken Salad

A classic chicken salad recipe is always a favorite at a picnic, a barbecue, or an office potluck! Just a few ingredients can be transformed into a cold, creamy salad or filling for a homemade chicken salad sandwich or wrap!

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ReviewPrint

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (10)

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (11)

Servings 6 servings

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (12)

Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken chopped or shredded
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 rib celery finely diced chopped
  • 1 green onion thinly sliced (or chives or finely diced red onion)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • teaspoon black pepper or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill optional

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a medium bowl. Mix well to combine.

  • Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.

  • Serve as a sandwich or over salad.

Video

4.99 from 2104 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 206 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 72IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (14) Course Salad

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (15) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (16)
Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (17)
Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (18)
Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (19)

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Chicken, Recipes, Sandwiches

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for chicken salad? ›

Image of What are the ingredients for chicken salad?
Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world. Owing to the relative ease and low cost of raising chickens—in comparison to mammals such as cattle or hogs—chicken meat and chicken eggs have become prevalent in numerous cuisines.
Wikipedia

How to give chicken salad more flavor? ›

Toasted Almonds – Toast your sliced almonds to bring out more of the nutty flavor. Parsley – One of the best herbs for adding to salads, just finely chop up a few tablespoons. Tarragon – The best secret ingredient! You'll be amazed at how much flavor just a little bit of tarragon adds to the salad.

How good is homemade chicken salad good for? ›

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 enough? ›

Still, even though chicken salad is high in protein, one dish alone isn't super impactful for weight loss. Instead, eating an overall healthy diet that is within your daily calorie needs and is rich in lean protein, healthy fats, fiber, and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables is best for weight loss.

What is the main ingredient of a salad? ›

Pieces of vegetables, fruits, eggs, or grains mixed with a sauce. Garden salads use a base of leafy greens such as lettuce, arugula or rocket, kale or spinach; they are common enough that the word salad alone often refers specifically to garden salads.

What are the best ingredients to put in a salad? ›

leafy greens such as romaine, arugula, kale and spinach. whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and bulgur. chopped or shredded vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, cabbage, and beets.

What not to do when preparing chicken salad? ›

To ensure that your chicken salad tastes the way that it should, you should avoid using overcooked or dry chicken in your recipe. Unfortunately, as we cook chicken, the moisture of the bird slowly evaporates.

Why does my chicken salad have no taste? ›

Lack of Seasoning: One of the most common reasons for bland chicken salad is insufficient seasoning. Make sure to add enough salt, pepper, and other seasonings like herbs and spices to enhance the flavor. Overcooking the Chicken: Overcooked chicken can become dry and lose its flavor.

What enhances chicken flavor? ›

Marinating not only adds flavor, but the combination of healthy fat and acid in most recipes also helps tenderize the meat. A good marinade is roughly three parts oil to one part acid, plus salt and other seasonings like spices, crushed garlic, or a little natural sugar.

What makes chicken salad go bad? ›

Bad bacteria can grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone," a temperature range between 40°F and 140°F, so always transport and store chicken salad in the refrigerator or a well-chilled cooler or lunchbox.

What should the discard date be for 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.

How many days can you keep homemade chicken salad? ›

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.

Is it better to put warm or cold chicken on salad? ›

Cold meat just doesn't smell or taste as flavorful as it does at room temperature or warmer. This is why chilled chicken, even on salads, isn't as delicious as it could be. Warming that chicken before adding it to your salad would return it to its juicy, satisfying best.

What is the best way to eat chicken salad? ›

Pile it on toasted bread or croissants with lettuce and tomato for a sandwich, eat it with crackers of your choice, or serve a scoop on lettuce leaves with assorted fruit and fancy crackers for a pretty presentation if you're feeding guests. Or eat it straight out of the bowl with a spoon. That works, too.

Are you supposed to eat chicken salad cold? ›

Since chicken salad is served cold, chicken breast is preferable—it's got a much more pleasant mouthfeel than dark meat when eaten at lower temps.

What are 5 types of other ingredients that can be used for salads? ›

Other salad ingredients

Other common ingredients that you can add to your base of salad leaves are: Cucumber, tomato, radish, carrot, beetroot, peppers, cabbage, sweetcorn, onion, olives, celery and avocado.

How long is 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.

What does a grilled chicken salad contain? ›

Arrange lettuce on a platter (or on plates/in bowls) then arrange grilled chicken, corn, tomatoes, red onion, and avocado on top. Drizzle with prepared vinaigrette then serve.

Does chicken salad contain onions? ›

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!

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