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

Related Posts:

  • Fried Pickles - How to Make Fried Pickles
  • White Bread
  • 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

Why is my chicken salad so bland? ›

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.

Is chicken salad enough? ›

Salad with chicken supports your diet in this way, but it isn't enough on its own. You should adjust your whole diet according to healthy nutrition.

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.

How many people will 2 pounds of chicken salad feed? ›

This two-pound container of chicken salad contains 10 servings. Each serving is 1/3 cup and contains 290 calories.

How do you make chicken taste more flavorful? ›

Marinating is good for flavouring and tenderising your chicken at the same time. It's best to marinate your chicken overnight to give the flavours plenty of time to infuse. A faster way to add flavour is to simply brine your chicken in salty water prior to cooking.

What should you not do in the preparation of 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.

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.

How long should chicken salad sit before eating? ›

7Allow the salad to chill for several hours (or even overnight). Serve on a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich or heck, eat it straight out of the bowl with a serving spoon.

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.

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.

How long can you keep chicken salad with mayonnaise? ›

Be extra careful with mayo-based foods, such as chicken salad or potato salad. They're only safe to eat for 3 to 4 days after they're prepared.

How long will homemade chicken salad last in the refrigerator? ›

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.

How much is a portion of chicken salad? ›

A standard serving is about half a cup, which is the equivalent of 2 ounces of chicken and 1/8 cup of vegetables. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans lists a simpler chicken salad recipe.

How much chicken do I need for 2 adults? ›

The amount of chicken needed depends on several factors like the cut, recipe, and appetites of the people. On average, you might need around 150-200 grams of chicken per person.

What size chicken feeds 4 people? ›

Herb Fed Free Range Chicken
Size of birdPortions
1.8kg (3.9lb)3-4 people
2kg (4.5lb)4-6 people
2.5kg (5.5lb)6-8 people

How do you make salad less bland? ›

Use LOTS of herbs and spices

To avoid boring, bland salads -- and make your meal actually flavourful -- you need to add herbs and spices. Seriously, don't be afraid when adding flavour.

Why does my salad taste bland? ›

If you always use the same base of romaine or spinach leaves, it's time to switch things up. “Try tossing together two or more different greens to give your salads more exciting tastes and textures,” says Amidor. Even if two greens look similar, they have unique flavors, she explains.

What to add to a bland salad? ›

7 Ways to Spice Up Your Boring Salad
  1. 1) Get Creative with Dressings. Salad dressings can really make or break a salad. ...
  2. 2) Top It Off With Something Crunchy. ...
  3. 3) Throw in Some Fruit. ...
  4. 4) Mix in Some Grains. ...
  5. 5) Experiment with Different Proteins. ...
  6. 6) Try Some Different Veggies. ...
  7. 7) Add Some Cheese. ...
  8. The Bottom Line.
Feb 21, 2023

How do you revive a bland chicken? ›

Adding spices and herbs is an easy way to fix bland dishes. Experiment with different spice blends, such as curry powder, cumin, or chili powder, to add a depth of flavour. You can also add in some fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme can also add a burst of freshness to your dish.

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