101 Ways to Make Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is a versatile and satisfying endeavor that appeals to beginner and intermediate home cooks. It combines cooked chicken with various ingredients to create a delicious, protein-packed meal perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The beauty of chicken salad lies in its adaptability; you can customize it to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
To start, you'll need cooked chicken, which can be shredded, diced, or chopped. From there, the options are endless! Common additions include diced celery for crunch, grapes or apples for sweetness, and nuts for texture. Binding ingredients, like mayonnaise or yogurt, bring everything together and add creaminess.
It is simple to prepare, but it also allows for creativity—experimenting with herbs, spices, or different dressings can elevate your dish. Serve it on a bed of greens, in a sandwich, or with crackers for a delightful meal. This post will guide you through the essentials of making a classic chicken salad and inspire you to create variations, ensuring every batch is delicious and uniquely yours!
Chicken Salad History
The history of chicken salad can be traced back to the early 19th century, with its roots in American cuisine. Here’s a brief overview of its evolution:
- Origins: The earliest known recipe for chicken salad appeared in the 1860s. It was likely influenced by earlier European dishes, where meats were often mixed with fruits, nuts, and dressings.
- Early Recipes: The first chicken salad recipes typically included cooked chicken, mayonnaise, and various seasonings. Fannie Farmer published one of the first documented recipes in The Boston Cooking-School Cookbook in 1896. This recipe highlighted the use of chicken with a mayonnaise dressing.
- Popularity Growth: By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, chicken salad became popular at picnics and social gatherings. The combination of chicken with rich dressings made it appealing for those looking for a hearty yet light meal.
- Variations: Over time, numerous variations of chicken salad emerged. Ingredients like celery, grapes, nuts, and apples were added, each bringing a unique flavor and texture to the dish. These variations reflected regional tastes and available ingredients.
- Modern Era: Today, chicken salad can be found in many forms, from classic versions served on a bed of greens to modern takes incorporating diverse flavors and ingredients, including global influences like curry or Asian-style dressings.
Chicken salad remains a versatile dish that can be adapted to suit various dietary preferences, making it a staple in home and restaurant menus.
Variations
There are countless variations of chicken salad, each offering unique flavors and ingredients. Here are some popular types you might consider trying:
- Classic Chicken Salad: This traditional version typically includes shredded chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and seasonings. It's great for sandwiches or served on lettuce.
- Southern-Style: This variation often features mayo mixed with dill pickle relish and hard-boiled eggs, making it creamy and hearty.
- Curry Chicken Salad: Adding curry powder to the mix creates a unique flavor profile. Dried fruits like raisins often complement the spices.
- Mediterranean: Incorporating olives, feta cheese, and fresh herbs offers a vibrant and fresh take.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad: Inspired by Buffalo wings, this version includes spicy Buffalo sauce mixed with chicken and creamy dressing, often garnished with celery.
- Cranberry and Walnut: This sweet and savory combination includes dried cranberries, walnuts, and a mayo base.
- Avocado: Substituting avocado for some or all of the mayo provides a healthier and creamier alternative.
With so many possibilities, chicken salad can be tailored to suit various tastes and dietary preferences!
📖 Recipe
Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Classic Version
- celery
- onion
- carrot
- peppers
- seedless grapes
Alternative Version
- almond slivers toasted
- capers drained
- sweet pickles chopped, or pickle relish
- water chestnuts
- eggs hard-boiled, chopped
- nuts walnuts, pecans, cashews, pine nuts, sesame seeds
- fruits apple slices, pear, raisins, cranberries, craisins, tomato, avocado, olives, mandarin oranges, cherries
- vegetables asparagus, cucumber
- cheese hard cheese, grated or thin slices of soft cheese
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- bottled dressing your choice
- herbs basil, parsley, tarragon, chervil, chives, sage, mint Spices - ginger, dry mustard, honey mustard, paprika, oregano
- chutney
- jam or preserves
- honey
- citrus juice lemon, orange, grapefruit
- peanut butter
- vinegar
- soy sauce
- hot sauce
- maple syrup
- yogurt
Instructions
- Assemble your preferred ingredients. Make sure that there is at least as much diced chicken as there is all other add-ins. For example, if you have 1 cup of diced chicken, make sure that all the add-ins you use equal no more than 1 cup, total.
- Mix dressing ingredients together. Count on ⅓-⅔ cup dressing per cup of ingredients. Add less to begin with, and then add more if necessary. You are shooting for a nice balance between salad and dressing.
- Fold the dressing into your prepared ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or two to let the flavors marry. Taste again and decide if you want to add a bit more dressing.
- Serve as part of a salad plate, on top of greens or in a sandwich. However you like to eat chicken salad, because there is no one right way.
Some of My Favorite Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Baked in Cornbread Recipe
- Sheet Pan Chicken with Roasted Plums Potatoes and Onions
- Quick and Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
- Chicken Mushroom and Spinach Comfort Food Recipe
- Southern California Style Chicken with Rice and Beans Recipe
- Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and Artichoke Hearts Recipe
- Simple Chicken - Tomato - Pasta Recipe
- Chicken Korma Recipe
martha
Just found your site, it's great! Fave chicken salad is chicken, toasted almond slivers, grapes, green pepper and green onion in mayo w/lots of chopped tarragon. Any suggestions for low-fat mayo that doesn't turn runny in the salad after the second day?
Erika
Chicken salad is rather like a blank canvas to me. All sort of possibilities and no shortage of new ideas. I always cut my mayonnaise by 1/2 and replace with low fat sour cream. It has a really fresh creamy taste without being oily or too high in fat!
Marianne Sinclair
I put curry and raisins in my basic chicken salad.
mark
I have my brother, Joe, to thank for this chicken salad variation. Start with leftover roasted chicken meat. Saute some diced bacon (1/2 cup or so) until chewy, or crispy, depending on how you like it. Remove bacon from pan, drain onpaper towels. Remove all but 1 Tbs bacon grease from pan. Saute finely diced red pepper and onion until soft in bacon grease. Meanwhile, roast some pecan pieces until lightly browned. Toss all ingredients together with mayo, salt and pepper and maybe throw in some dried cherries. Each time I make this, it is a little different, but the combination is fantastic and always better the next day after the flavors have had time to marry. Enjoy!
derek
I am working to try and replicate a delicious chicken salad my cousin made and will not share. It had grapes and cashews and was very sweet with a little tangy buzz. Any suggestions to make my quest shorter? right now I am just doing trial and error and I think my problem is in the spice arena (I am terrible at detecting exact spices) Any Ideas on a spice combination that will add a sweet tangy flavor? I wish I could be more specific.
renee
I add chipotle chili powder to the mayo- it adds a nice sweet and smoky element with a slight bit of heat.
april
i just found your site and I got 2 recipe's to take home and try and hopefully they will be as good as they look. I'm looking forward to trying them. thank you
Alma
I love your recipes. I found your site 3 yrs ago and love love the recipes. Very simple and yummy. Thanks!
Kimi
I love to add sour cream with my mayo to cut out the richness and tang. Also, tarragon adds a nice flavor. Don't forget the grapes and toasted pecans. Yummy!!!!
caroline
um, for a sweet tangy flavor use pineapple bits and the juice. This goes great with chicken salad that has dark purple grapes and nuts
Rachel
Very helpful! Another good additional ingredient to try is sunflower seeds.
Zaved Akhtar
hi i am a hotel management student and i tried this recipe .Really its nice aroma with good taste with the addition of white wine.
tanu
Here's a quick chicken salad - indian style
- slivers of boiled chicken (or small cubes if you so like
- diced tomatoes and onions
- a bit of green sprouts (optional)
- chopped fresh coriander and/or mint
- salt, dry cumin powder, pepper, dry mango powder (amchoor)
- and lots of freshly squeezed lemon juice...
proportions of everything else - depends on your taste...!
its yummy...
ps- if you get something called"chat masala" at a store near by..then replace all dry spices with this....it works better.
Liz
I especially like the "mayo/sour cream" idea from a couple of the responses. I think I'll try this, and of course the pecans and purple grapes that I've already had from my aunt's recipe!
Winston Smith
I usually substitute tuna for the chicken, use pepper instead of salt, and basil instead of pepper.
Bliss
Winston Smith: That would be a tuna salad, not a substitution. 😉
I'm going to try this mayo/sour cream duo tonight and see how that works out. Great suggestion!
Ileen
Wow ! Simply delicious salad recipe.
Tks so much for sharing. God bless you.
Ileen
Karen Sullivan
I mix together chicken, diced green (Granny Smith) apple, celery, mayo and some dried minced onion, salt and pepper. It needs to sit until the minced onion softens. It's pretty good.
Pat McLoed
I make a chicken salad with cubed chicken cubed cantaloupe green seedless grapes Toasted slivered almonds with a honey mayo dressing. I sometimes add a few drops of sesame oil to the mayo for an oriental flavor.
Katie D
My chicken salad was always missing something until I added honey. I use about a teaspoon full. More/Less depending on amount of servings. It is perfect now!
RG
Hi Katie, great tip. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Nancy B
I mix a small carton of non-fat plain yogurt with about 1/4 cup or so of mayo to cut down on the fat and calories.
Great suggestion Nancy. Thanks for sharing. - RG
Carrie V.
I used to live down south and the best chicken salads in "ladies tea rooms" always had heavy cream in them as well! Rich and slightly sweet .
Hi Carrie, thanks for that tip. - RG
Mike W.
Nice basic stuff. I use KFC grilled chicken with mayo, sour cream and crasins. Give it a try the expense is well worth it.
Sounds interesting. Do you remove the heavy breading on the chicken? - RG
Bobbye F.
This is a great site with lots of ideas! I prepare my chicken salad with chopped onion, celery, apple and enough mayo (you can use veganaise, etc.) to taste without being excessive. What makes it delicious and special is the addition of a seasoning mix called Veggie Grill by Weber and smoked paprika to taste...everyone says YUM! A little salt and pepper and you're done. It really does taste outstanding with those two special ingredients.
Hi Bobbye, thanks for the suggestions. - RG
Hazel
I will try your chicken salad recipe. I used seasoned chopped chicken breast, sweet relish.Dill, sweet and kosher pickles. Red, orange and green bell peppers which enhance the flavor and give it a beautiful color. I also used apples and eggs. Miracle whip.
Hi Hazel, I love sweet relish. I was just suggesting my wife add some to her potato salad sometime to see how it would taste. She adds slices of sweet gherkins to top it off so why not try some relish. As a kid I loved Miracle Whip but now find it a bit too sweet. - RG
Barbara
I add a small amount of Dijon or spicy mustard since we like a little kick to ours.
Sounds good Barbara - RG
jltinpdx
I was once out of mayo and yogurt, but had a little Tzatziki sauce (Greek dipping sauce for meats). I used that. It's thinner than mayo, so I used only a few tablespoons, tossed in some red grapes, diced red onion, and voila! Serve the chicken salad with sliced cucumbers, and a bed of arugula or romaine in a wrap, and you have an interesting, tasty alternative to beef/lamb.
Sound delicious Jennifer, thanks for the suggestion. - RG
westtexasgal
I just found your site searching for my "new" favorite chicken salad. I have my basic recipe down but it was always missing something. Someone from an earlier post mentioned cashews. That's it! Cashews add a nuttier, sweet taste to the salad. I use leftover chicken (grilled, baked, etc) if I have it or canned, grapes (red seem to taste better), celery, yellow onion, a touch of cranberries, salad dressing, and a couple of tablespoons of cole slow dressing. The cole slaw dressing gives it a tangy/sweet taste. I spice it up with salt, pepper, and something called Bad Byron's Butt Rub (it's excellent on ribs, etc when smoking or grilling). The addition of cashews is what put it over the top. Thanks for the article.
You are welcome West Texas Gal - RG
Lauren
Yum! I love how you listed the main ingredients and alternative ingredients that you can chose to suit your own tastes. Some great suggestions by the way. I love chicken salad recipes! They are a personal favorite and I love making them all different types of ways some days with cranberries some days with walnuts.
Thanks Lauren - RG
chris pera
i believe that the best chicken salad is a simple one, seasoned well with culture, personality and of course chicken oh send me an email if you want me to hook you up with a good recipe.
Thanks for sharing Chris. - RG
Bridget
Thanks for the awesome blog. We made chicken salad wraps tonight for dinner. We used can chicken, dukes mayo, sour cream, hidden valley roasted onion Parmesan dressing, salt, pepper, and garlic on garlic pesto tortillas.
This was probably the best chicken salad I have ever made.
Hi Bridget, glad you enjoyed them and thanks for letting me know. - RG
Melissa
Your blog is awesome! I've been dying to try making a chicken salad & your site helped me through it.
I used the mayo/ sour cream method -
diced green bell peppers, onions, celery, salt & pepper
lime chili peanuts
& a few dashes of tabasco.
what fun for my taste buds...
tonight will try it on my husband.
Hi Melissa, let me know how he likes it. - RG
Nancy Monroe
Dried cranberries are a must. And diced tart apple. Finish it off with curry powder if you are so inclined.
Danielle
Try adding just enough mayo to make it stick together, then some Kraft Creamy Poppyseed Dressing for flavor! Amazing with red grapes and walnuts or almonds and green onions! Best on fresh croissants! Yum!
Great suggestions Danielle, thanks. - RG
Doris
I love the Rotisserie chickens from Cosco. They make wonderful chicken salad. I am making it for a luncheon, and will use croissants. I love to combine recipes and make it my own. Things I like to add are: roasted pecans, sour cream and mayo, red grapes, celery, fresh chopped basil, parsley, craisins, green onions.... yummy! Best if made day before.....
Thanks for the chicken salad ideas Doris. - RG
hmom
I like to use half mayo and half roasted red pepper humus. Extra protein, good nutrients, awesome flavor.
Bread and butter pickles, finely chopped, are my sons' favorite addition.
Sounds good hmom - RG
Mary Ellen Lavelle (Mrs. Frank)
Thanks for your fabulous blog. My favorite addition to roast chicken salad cubes is chopped or crushed smokehouse almonds. I use mayo/sour cream, green onions, fresh tarragon, salt and pepper, then sprinkle chopped smoked almonds over the salad. One can also dip ends of filled croissants into crushed smoked almonds. Luscious stuff. But I'm intrigued with the suggestions of white wine, honey, and heavy cream!!
lizzie
this recipe is the greatest I have ever tasted
Anne
I add dried cranberries and as for the mayo... I use half mayo and half plain yogurt. A taste test determines what adjustments I need to make to this mixture.
Chan
Great site and I plan on using many of the ideas. I"m thinking about making two kinds, and then I will choose the one that will become Momma's generational recipe! For my traditional recipe, I use mayo and mustard for the dressing, and other ingredients are:peppers, onions, walnuts or pecans, grapes or apples, salt and pepper, and garlic powder.
Jacquelyn
My daughter makes the best chicken salad I have ever tasted.
She uses sourcream/mayo combination with fresh lemon juice, and honey for the dressing.
Adds a small amount of green onion, chopped apples, chopped fresh cherries, walnuts or almonds, and chopped water chestnuts.
PR
I love chicken salad, I put in what ever I have in the cuboard. Last time I put in Pinapple and blueberrys. Once I make it just with celery, salt pepper mayo and a little blue cheese.
telana s faries
hello I'm telana. I love chicken salad. I use chicken mayo mustard egg green red yellow pepper dill n gherkin pickles and sweet relish lemon raisins onions little pickle juice sweet paprika garlic pepper and red n green apples and cashews to top it off n toast bread add cheese n tomato yummy
Gail
I plan to try this recipe this week.
I enjoy reading a recipe from a guy, just plain straightforward material without all the cutesy, adorable, pretentious filler information.
G. Stephen Jones
Thanks Gail, much appreciated.