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We have the Chicken Salad Recipe and it is simple to make. Diced cooked chicken, mayo, veggies and simple spices makes it so creamy and delicious. Serve it over lettuce or on croissants for a great meal everyone can enjoy.
I don’t know about you but I am pretty picky about chicken salad and this is the best chicken salad recipe. It has the perfect blend of chicken, veggies and seasonings.
Chicken salad really has to be just right and this is a great chicken recipe. You might also like our crock pot chicken salad as well. We love serving on a bed of lettuce or making a chicken salad sandwich for an easy spring recipe.
This creamy and delicious chicken salad is perfect for potlucks or a weeknight dinner. You can even use leftover chicken for an easy chicken salad recipe.
What's in this post: Chicken Salad Recipe
Why You’ll Love this Chicken Salad Recipe
This Chicken Salad Recipe is creamy, crunchy and endlessly customizable. It easily transforms leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken into a fresh and flavorful meal.
I love how simple these ingredients are. Most of the ingredients will make at least 2-3 batches of this recipe. This recipe is so budget friendly and taste amazing.
Whether you spoon it into buttery croissants, wrap it in crisp lettuce cups, or pile it atop mixed greens for meal-prep lunches, this chicken salad turns everyday staples into a satisfying, crowd-pleasing classic.
Ingredients
- Chicken – Use leftover chicken. You can also make Boil Chicken Breasts, Crock Pot Shredded Chicken, Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Mayonnaise – You can substitute with Greek Yogurt for a lower calorie variations
- Veggies – Chop celery and onion into small pieces
- Dijon Mustard – You can also use yellow mustard
This all comes together for the best chicken salad recipe. It is so good. Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Chicken Salad
Step 1 – Combine Ingredients – Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 2 – Serve immediately as a sandwich or over salad. If you are trying to eat low carb, just make a lettuce wrap or serve in a salad.
Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken chopped
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 2 green onion diced
- 2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ pepper
- 2 teaspoon fresh dill
- 6 Croissants
- 6 Romaine lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Stir together the cooked chicken, mayonnaise, celery, green onion, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and fresh dill together in a large mixing bowl.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.
- Place a Romaine lettuce leaf on a croissant and top with the chicken salad mixture.
- Serve cold and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Expert Tips
- Prepare Ingredients ahead of time – This is the perfect recipe to prepare your chicken ahead of time. You can store in the freezer or place in the fridge until ready to mix with the other ingredients. You can even prepare your vegetables in advance.
- Refrigerate – When not serving, make sure your store the chicken salad in the fridge.
- Sour Cream – To balance out the taste of the mayonnaise, feel free to mix in ⅓ cup of sour cream.
- Mixing Ingredients – Mix the ingredients in a large bowl to ensure that all the ingredients with the mayonnaise and seasoning.
- Serving – We love serving this chicken salad on lettuce and croissants but you can also serve on bite size bread. This would make the perfect appetizer.
- Double the Recipe – This recipe can easily be doubled if you are serving to a crowd. Just add in more chicken and combine with the other ingredients.
- Shredding Chicken – Once you have cooked the chicken it is now ready to be shredded. You can shred the chicken with two forks or my favorite way is to use a stand mixer. See How to Shred Chicken for all the tips.
Variations Ideas
There are so many different ways you can enjoy chicken salad. Here are some of our favorite add-ins that we have tried:
- Dried Cranberries
- Eggs
- Pickles
- Black Olives or Green Olives
- Green or Red Bell Peppers
- Red Grapes
- For a crunch, add nuts like pecans or Sliced Almonds
- Lemon Juice
- Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
How to Serve Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is the perfect dish to make when you are feeding a crowd or for a quick lunch idea.
I like to enjoy chicken salad on lettuce for a low carb option, but it also delicious on a croissant. You can even serve on Hawaiian Rolls topped with slice tomatoes and onions. We also love to serve with our favorite crackers.
If you like to make charcuterie boards, place a bowl of the chicken salad on the board. Then add your favorite crackers for an easy charcuterie board idea.
Storage Tips
- Fridge – Store the leftovers in an airtight container for the flavors to enhance. The chicken salad will last about a week in the refrigerator. Once you are ready to enjoy again, simply give it a stir and your chicken salad is ready to enjoy.
- Freezer – Yes, you can freezer chicken salad. For all the tips see Can You Freeze Chicken Salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
To turn your bland chicken salad into delicious chicken salad, make sure you seasoning it with fresh herbs in spices. We also like adding in chopped grapes to give it that burst of flavor.
Homemade chicken salad is good for about 4 days. Make sure it is stored in the fridge if not serving.
Yes, you can make chicken salad ahead of time. But make sure to serve within a couple of days of making it.
This classic chicken salad recipe calls for 3 cups and it is the perfect amount. It gives the delicious chicken salad recipe the perfect combination of chicken and mayo and other ingredients.
This chicken salad is the perfect consistency. Not to runny and not to dry, just right.
You can use Miracle Whip in this recipe if you love the taste of Miracle Whip. However, I prefer mayonnaise because the flavor isn’t as strong and won’t interfere with the other flavors in the recipe.
More Easy Salad Recipes
Easy Salad
Creamy Greek Salad
Easy Sandwich
Egg Salad Recipe
Easy Side Dishes
Easy Macaroni Salad
Easy Side Dishes
Italian Pasta Salad
If you try this best recipe for chicken salad, please let us know how it turns out. We love to hear from you.
Why wouldn’t you put sweet pickle relish in the chicken salad like you do in the tuna salad? Would it be as good if I added it?
Mary – Feel free to add sweet relish if you love it! It would be delish!
OMG….this was an excellent meal. I did season the chicken with Italian seasoning and added mushrooms. I have two picky teenagers. If one likes the meal, the other one will complain about it and vice versa. However both kids and hubby were raving about this dish. Kids said it is my top cooking dish now. Thanks…I felt like a winner today!
We love this chicken salad!!
I make my own rotisserie-style chicken so I can limit the salt.
Thank you Carrie, for a great chicken salad recipe!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it – Thank you for sharing!
Ooh just saw a comment about tuna?? Could you substitute tuna?
Yes, tuna will be great in this recipe. Just make sure to drain it well before mixing it in with the other ingredients.
I have made this recipe for over a year! I have gone to different stores looking for good chicken salad .. Whole Foods, Publix, fresh market.. nothing beats this. My husband loves it. We are not big dill people so I do substitute with celery seed. Absolutely delicious. I use the sour cream you offered. It does help!!
Thank you for a great well used recipe!
I’m so glad. you enjoy this recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Excellent! Great basic recipe! I added tarragon because I love it, and also Filbert’s chopped. It was excellent.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it – Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely delicious! I only made one substitute and that was onion powder in place of scallions. It was midnight and the grocery store was closed, so that’s what I did and it was excellent!!! I think I will have this for breakfast instead of trying to wait until lunch! ????
Carrie after watching you’re video, it’s nice to see that I’ve used good working habits and this recipe sounds fantastic. I’m by myself now and it’s great to know that I can make the chicken salad (my favorite) ahead of time. The only question I have is I have both Miracle Whip and Hellman’s, both very different flavors. In all the recipes I’ve read they all just say mayo without distinguishing between the two, would love to hear your thoughts.
Respectfully
Steve
You can use Miracle Whip in this recipe if you love the taste of Miracle Whip. However, I prefer mayonnaise because the flavor isn’t as strong and won’t interfere with the other flavors in the recipe.
Delicious! I used a rotisserie chicken and shredded. My 5 year old even loved it!
Thank you for commenting!
Can you put eggs, sweet relish and onion in chicken salad?
I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see why you cant.
Very good!!! I added craisin and toasted pecans.
sa
Had this salad at a friend house. Would love to have the recipes
So easy to make this delicious snack. I used leftover rotisserie chicken and just tossed everything together. Added sliced tomatoes, too. Will definitely make again.
This really has become a repeat meal in our house. Sometimes we use tuna to change it up. One time we added craisins. We like making it different every time.
My kids and I love this! I never ever loved chicken salad to this recipe. Thank you!
How much is one serving? A cup? Half a cup?
One serving is 1/6 of the entire amount. It’s hard to give an extra size as each batch will vary. Thank you!