Chicken Salad
21 Comments
Posted: 05/28/24
Updated: 07/27/22
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Creamy, classic Chicken Salad loaded with grapes, apples, celery and walnuts makes the perfect sandwich on bread or croissants! This cold sandwich is great for an easy or make ahead lunch, dinner during the summer or great for potlucks and BBQs.
Chicken salad is such a classic and I’ve been making mine the same way for years because it’s seriously the BEST recipe! Tender chicken, crunchy celery, apples, and pecans with juicy grapes and creamy dressing is the perfect filling for sandwiches or serve it as a side salad for potlucks and parties.
For the ultimate lunch, serve your chicken salad sandwiches with ice-cold glasses of lemonade with potato chips on the side! I would totally treat yourself to a homemade brownie for dessert, too. That’s what I would do!
Why You’ll Love this Chicken Salad Recipe
- You can use any kind of cooked chicken for chicken salad – make it easy with a store-bought rotisserie chicken or use leftover grilled or baked chicken!
- It’s a great make-ahead salad for easy lunches and dinners. In fact, chicken salad tastes even better after it’s had a chance to chill in the fridge.
- Serve it on sliced bread, buttery croissants, or serve it with a green salad for a light lunch. It’s so good!
Ingredients for Chicken Salad
- Cooked chicken – This is a great way to use some leftover shredded chicken! You can also use canned chicken if you need something quick.
- Seedless red grapes – A classic chicken salad recipe is made so much better with sliced grapes.
- Diced red apples – You can use a different type of apple if you prefer, but I don’t recommend using sour apples.
- Chopped celery – Feel free to omit the celery if you don’t like the taste of it.
- Chopped pecans – Chopped pecans add the nicest crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite mayo to make your chicken salad extra creamy.
- Lemon juice – A little fresh squeezed lemon juice adds a little tang to your tasty chicken salad.
- Chopped parsley – Fresh parsley adds just a little something to this chicken salad.
- Salt and pepper – Season your dish to perfection with just a little salt and black pepper.
What is the best way to cook chicken for chicken salad?
The easiest thing to do is poach the chicken for chicken salad. To poach chicken breasts, fill a saucepan with water so it will cover the chicken breast by least 2 inches. Bring water to a boil and place chicken breast in water. Cover saucepan with lid and bring the water back to a boil. Remove the saucepan from the stovetop immediately and set aside, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove chicken from water and shred.
Another option is to use shred rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken. If there is skin on the chicken make sure to remove the skin and discard. You can also quickly make some Instant Pot shredded chicken.
How to Make Chicken Salad
- Chop up the apples, grapes, pecans and celery before you begin making the chicken salad.
- Then, once you’ve prepped your chicken salad ingredients, all you have to do is combine them all together in a big bowl.
- Add the dressing and stir until everything is evenly coated. That’s it!
- Chill the chicken salad for at least an hour before serving it. It’s so delicious when it’s nice and cold from the refrigerator.
How to Store Chicken Salad
Leftover chicken salad with grapes and pecans will keep for up to three to five days in the refrigerator. Just store it in an airtight container.
When I make this dish, I usually make it a day in advance so it’s nice and cold when I’m ready to serve it. It also gives the flavors a chance to mix together. Also, making it ahead is perfect for easy lunches!
What can I eat chicken salad on?
I also love this chicken salad with grapes on croissants like you would get a cafe. The combination of the buttery, flaky rolls, with the cold salad is so delicious.
This mixture is great on whole-grain bread too, toasted or untoasted.
Or, skip the bread and serve it on top of a bed of lettuce. I like a mix of lettuce like romaine, spinach, and shredded iceberg for lots of crunch! Add other veggies, like chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and radishes to make it even more filling.
What to do if chicken salad is too dry?
If you have chicken salad that ends up dry, then add a bit of extra mayo into the mix. A little Greek yogurt would help too! You could also add some pickle relish for a sour bite and a bite more moisture.
What is a Good Side Dish for Chicken Salad Sandwiches?
There are plenty of different sides that you can serve alongside a hearty chicken salad sandwich:
- Chips
- Pickles
- Fruit Salad
- Side Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- French Fries
- Baked Beans
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Asian Ramen Salad
What can I swap out in this recipe?
- I love to use red grapes in this recipe because they are delicious and also add a pop of color! You can substitute green grapes, too, or do a mix of both.
- A lot of different kinds of nuts will work so if you don’t love pecans feel free to substitute chopped walnuts or almonds. They’re really good, too.
- I love sweet red apples, but if you want a little more tartness substitute Granny Smith apples!
- Speaking of chicken, you can use all white meat or use a mix of white and dark meat. You could even use leftover roast turkey to make this salad, too!
Pro Tips for the Best Chicken Salad Recipe
- When you serve chicken salad, don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than two hours. If it’s very warm or hot you will want to shorten that time. Since it’s a mayo-based salad it’s best to keep it chilled.
- Make sure your chicken is cold when you mix it with the dressing. If it’s warm or hot it will break down the mayonnaise and your dressing will end up runny instead of creamy.
- If you are serving it in warm weather, I always place the serving bowl inside a bigger bowl that is half full of ice to keep the mixture cold.
More Cold Sandwich Recipes
Want more amazing sandwich recipes? Be sure to check out these recipes, too:
- Another favorite cold sandwich is my Egg Avocado Tuna Salad. It’s quick and easy to make!
- My husband loves my Ham Salad – it’s perfect for sandwiches and a great way to use up leftover ham!
- You can’t go wrong with a classic Egg Salad Sandwich! My version tastes just like a deviled egg – it’s so good.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
- How to Make Spaghetti in Crock Pot
- Roasted Broccoli in Air Fryer
- How to Make a Alabama Slammer
- Easy BBQ Marinade for Chicken
- Recipe for Chicken Green Beans and Potatoes
- Dippers for Cannoli Dip
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Chicken Salad with Grapes Recipe
Classic cold sandwich that's loaded with chopped chicken, grapes, apple, celery and nuts. Serve it on bread, croissants or with crackers!
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken cooked and diced
- 1 cup seedless red grapes cut in half or quartered
- 1 cup red apple diced, optional
- 2 celery ribs about 1 cup, chopped
- 1 cup pecans, walnuts or almonds chopped or sliced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 lemon juiced about 2 tablespoons
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
Serving
- Bread
- Croissants
- Lettuce
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper; stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add chopped and cooked chicken, chopped grapes, apples celery and nuts. Stir to combine ingredients.
- Pour dressing over the top of chicken mixture and stir until mixed. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
- Serve on bread or croissants with lettuce, or whatever you prefer
- Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator
Tips
- Nutrition calculated for filling only.
- I love to use red grapes in this recipe because they are delicious and also add a pop of color! You can substitute green grapes, too, or do a mix of both.
- A lot of different kinds of nuts will work so if you don’t love pecans feel free to substitute chopped walnuts or almonds. They’re really good, too.
- I love sweet red apples, but if you want a little more tartness substitute Granny Smith apples!
- Make sure your chicken is cold when you mix it with the dressing. If it’s warm or hot it will break down the mayonnaise and your dressing will end up runny instead of creamy.
- Speaking of chicken, you can use all white meat or use a mix of white and dark meat. You could even use leftover roast turkey to make this salad, too!
- Obviously, you can serve it as a sandwich – that’s my favorite way! I love it on whole-grain bread. Sometimes I toast the bread first.
- I also love it on croissants like you would get a cafe. The combination of the buttery, flaky rolls, with the cold salad is so delicious.
- Or, skip the bread and serve it on top of a bed of lettuce. I like a mix of lettuce like romaine, spinach, and shredded iceberg for lots of crunch! Add other veggies, like chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and radishes to make it even more filling.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 596kcal (30%), Carbohydrates: 20g (7%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 58g (89%), Saturated Fat: 7g (44%), Cholesterol: 17mg (6%), Sodium: 651mg (28%), Potassium: 347mg (10%), Fiber: 6g (25%), Sugar: 13g (14%), Vitamin A: 208IU (4%), Vitamin C: 14mg (17%), Calcium: 47mg (5%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Doreen says
So glad you have this! I used to travel to spot that sold it. I can now have it when I crave it!
Sarah Hill says
I’m glad you can make it whenever you want – that is the best! Thanks so much!
Kathleen says
I tried this recipe and it is really delicious! I don’t find many sandwich salad I like because I don’t like mayo and many other condiments. I substituted the mayo with plain yogurt and ate it on croissants. Very, very good. Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe!
Courtney says
With yogurt? That sounds great! Probably healthier too! 😋
Linda Ferland says
Yummu. Since I have an allergy to walnuts I used almonds. Thank you.
Mattie says
YUM! Despite my changes due to what’s in my pantry, it still came out delicious. Can’t wait to try it with all the correct ingredients. My changes: Mandarin for lemon. Toasted pine nuts for walnuts. Green grapes for red grapes. No apple. Served in a Lidl Buttery croissant. I feel content and my belly is full. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Kudos
Mrs.C says
What a wonderful fresh salad! I added chipotle sauce and it was a hit with the family. Thank you!!!
Linda Ferland says
I’ve done this with grapes; but, not apples, too. Sounds good. Will definitely make this!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Kathy B says
Funny – I just happened to buy all the ingredients for this today. Love it!
Michelle Sperr says
That’s awesome Kathy! Hope you enjoy it!
Jane says
I also add craisens-yum!
Julie says
Sounds delicious!
Linda Ferland says
I also add raisins–golden seedless.
Mattie says
Thanks for mentioning the golden raisins. So doing that next time in 1/2 batch. I’ve got golden raisins all the time for my oatmeal.
Tara says
Love a good chicken salad — especially enjoyed the apples in this version!
Julie says
Perfect! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Sydnie says
YUMMMYYYY!!!! I love this recipe and I am so excited to add it to our regular routine!
Julie says
Excellent! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Nancy Bieker says
Love your recipes! Thank you so much!,
Julie says
You’re welcome!