Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

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This chicken salad recipemade with fruit and nuts is the perfect lunch recipe idea. It is the BEST chicken salad recipe!

Whenever I make this chicken salad recipe (which is a lot, because it is the best chicken salad recipe), I have to make a double batch because it is everyone’s favorite! I like to serve it with refrigerator pickles and if I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll make a sandwich with our french bread recipe. Sometimes we put it out in a bowl with a serving of our cracker recipe too!

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Chicken Salad Recipe (1)

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad recipe ingredients

  • Chicken – My preference for chicken salad is chicken breast. With the mayonnaise you don’t have to worry about it tasting too dry.
  • Onion – Red onion is my favorite, but sweet yellow onion will work in a pinch also.
  • Grapes – Red grapes! Make sure they’re seedless though, this is important.
  • Almonds – Almonds are my favorites, but almost any nut (or even some seeds!) will be delicious.
  • Mayonnaise – I love a full fat mayo in this chicken salad recipe, a little goes a lot way.

Make it into a chicken salad wrap for lunch!

Chicken Salad Recipe (2)

How do you make chicken salad?

Basic chicken salad is a combination of chicken and mayonnaise. In this recipe we add grapes for sweetness, nuts for crunch, and onion for additional depth of flavor.

What type of chicken for chicken salad?

I like to use chicken breast for our chicken salad recipe, if I have it on hand (I like to prep chicken ahead and freeze it for stuff like this), but if I don’t have it on hand any kind of chicken will work!

Leftover crispy chicken thighs are great, or even grab a rotisserie chicken from the market!

Chicken Salad Recipe (3)

Chicken salad recipe variations

  • Use apples instead of grapes
  • Add a teaspoon or two of yellow curry powder for a kick
  • Try different nuts or seeds instead of (or in addition to!) the almonds.
  • Substitute mashed avocado for the mayonnaise.
  • Toss in a few sprigs of fresh dill.
  • Drizzle some of our honey mustard recipe over top.

Chicken Salad Recipe (4)

How many days can you keep homemade chicken salad?

A chicken salad recipe will last in the refrigerator for about three days. Make sure you are using fresh ingredients so it lasts, and tastes great, for as long as possible.

Is chicken salad good for you?

Chicken salad is good for you! It is made with lean protein in the form of chicken breast, fiber and antioxidant filled grapes and onions, and almonds withhealthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E!

Chicken Salad Recipe (5)

Chicken salad recipe with grapes

The first time I had chicken salad with grapes was at a new friends house several years ago, and I’ll admit now that I turned my nose up to the stuff. Silly, silly me.

I finally relented and tried some after way too much coaxing and have been a wholehearted convert ever since.

Where to eat your chicken salad recipe

This chicken salad recipe begs to be eaten on a creaky porch swing with some chilled sparkling cider and a crisp leafy green salad while enjoying the warm Spring breeze.

Or, you know, over the kitchen sink with your children screaming circles around you. Either way it’s delicious.

Chicken Salad Recipe (6)

More yummy sides and salads

  • Macaroni salad
  • Broccoli salad
  • Pasta salad with tuna and cheese
  • Egg salad
  • Broccoli slaw
  • Tuna salad stuffed tomatoes
  • Smoked salmon dip

Tools we love

  • Santuko knife– My favorite knife for cutting vegetables! This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced. Also, I just love that it’s fun and colorful!
  • End grain cutting board– This is my absolute favorite cutting board and the one that I get the most compliments on. And p.s. I have a lot of cutting boards. It really is absolutely stunning, and knows how to take a beating. We use it every single day!

Chicken Salad Recipe (7)

How to make a Chicken Salad Recipe

Chicken Salad Recipe (8)

Chicken Salad Recipe

This chicken salad recipe made with fruit and nuts is the perfect lunch recipe idea!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken salad recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 167kcal

Author: April Woods

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast chopped (click here to learnhow to always have cooked chicken breast on hand!)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons red onion finely diced
  • 1/2 cup seedless red grapes quartered
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 2 -3 tablespoons mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Mix ingredients together.

  • Enjoy!

Notes

Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.

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Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal

Want even more?Follow Mama Loves Food on Pinterest!

If you love chicken, you’ll also want to try our delicious honey mustard chicken recipe!

Chicken Salad Recipe (9)

This post was originally sponsored by Frigidaire. First published 03.2012, 4.27.17

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  • Fried Pickles - How to Make Fried Pickles
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  • French Bread Recipe - Easy French Bread Dough

About April Woods

April is an expert foodie and consummate traveler who has honed the craft of developing simple delicious recipes and finding fun places to explore! You can find her content featured on MSN, Huffington Post, News 6, BuzzFeed, and more! (read more...)

Comments

  1. Jana from Texas says

    You should try Brianne's Poppy Seed Dressing on the chicken salad instead of mayo! 🙂 YUM!!!

    Reply

  2. Hollis Evon Ramsey says

    i like the grapes/almonds, but i think i'd throw in some apples/celery to the mix, as well, just because. and what do you think about tarragon as a spice in this salad? i'm tempted ….

    Reply

    • April says

      i bet it would be delicious! let us know if you try 🙂

      Reply

  3. Jacqueline DiNuoscio says

    Chicken Salad Recipe (13)
    This is the most perfect chicken salad recipe!

    Reply

  4. Amanda Livesay says

    Chicken Salad Recipe (14)
    I love chicken salad with grapes! I can totally see why this disappears quickly at your house!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for a chicken salad? ›

Image of What are the ingredients for a 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? ›

Add minced fresh herbs like parsley, chives, basil, or tarragon. Add fresh grapes for juicy little bursts of flavor. Add cooked pasta to stretch the chicken salad into a larger meal. (You'll have to increase the amount of mayonnaise mixture to cover the pasta.)

What is the best bread for chicken salad? ›

For example, brioche is a sweet, fluffy bread that pairs well with chicken salad. Wraps and pitas are great for grilled chicken while a hearty roll is perfect for crispy chicken. You can also try roasted chicken with focaccia.

What is chicken salad Chick chicken salad made of? ›

Classic Carol

All white meat, shredded chicken, finely minced celery, mayonnaise, & our secret seasoning.

What are the four 4 components of salad? ›

The basic parts of a salad are the base, the body, the garnish, and the dressing. The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination.

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 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 ingredients does chicken contain? ›

Nutrients like protein and essential vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, choline, and vitamin B12 are found in many different cuts of chicken.

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

Try chicken, lean beef, tuna and salmon. Hard-boiled eggs, lentils, pulses, nuts or seeds can make salads more filling, too.

What are the main ingredients of a salad make up its body? ›

The BODY of the salad is the main ingredient. It may include vegetables, fruits, meats, or cheeses. The GARNISH of the salad adds color and appeal, and sometimes flavor. It must always be edible, and may be as simple as a sprinkling of crumbs or spice.

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