How To Make the Best Chicken Salad
Table of Contents
This guide on how to make chicken salad is my absolute favorite. It’s so simple to put together, you can totally make it your own with different additions, and it’s just wonderfully tasty. This recipe will quickly become your go-to for a fantastic lunch! Learning how to make chicken salad this way is a game-changer. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, perfect for a quick weekday meal or to bring along to a picnic.
Recipe Details for Chicken Salad
| Category | Details |
| Prep Time: | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time: | 0 minutes |
| Additional Time: | At least 1 hour (for chilling) |
| Total Time: | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Servings: | 6 servings |
Ingredients for This Amazing Chicken Salad
| Quantity | Unit | Ingredient Name | Preparation Note |
| 4 | cups | cooked chicken breast | chopped |
| 1/4 | teaspoon | kosher salt | |
| 1/4 | teaspoon | coarse ground black pepper | |
| 1 | cup | mayonnaise | |
| 2 | tablespoons | lemon juice | fresh is best! |
| 1/2 | cup | celery | chopped finely |
| 1/4 | cup | sliced almonds | optional, but so good! |
Simple Steps: How To Make Chicken Salad
Making this chicken salad is honestly so quick and satisfying! Here’s how to make chicken salad that’s sure to be a hit:
- Prep your goodies: Make sure your chicken is cooked and nicely chopped. Finely chop that celery and get your lemon juice ready. Easy peasy!
- Mix it all up: In a big serving bowl, gently mix together the chopped chicken, kosher salt, coarse black pepper, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and finely chopped celery. If you’re using them, toss in the sliced almonds too. Keep stirring until everything is just combined and looking delicious.
- Chill out: Pop the bowl into the fridge for at least an hour. This lets all those yummy flavors get to know each other and really meld together. Trust me, it’s worth the little wait!
- Serve and enjoy: Dish it up and enjoy your amazing homemade chicken salad! It’s great on its own, in a sandwich, or over some fresh lettuce.
Cook’s Notes, Tips, and Variations for Chicken Salad
Here are some of my top tips for making the most amazing chicken salad, because when you know how to make chicken salad just right, it’s unbeatable:
Chicken Choices: Leftover cooked chicken is perfect for this! Rotisserie chicken works great too – just shred or chop it small. If you’re starting from scratch, poaching or baking chicken breasts and then dicing them is a fantastic way to go.
Make it Yours: Feel free to add other tasty bits! Some folks love adding chopped green onions, a bit of red onion for a sharper bite, a sprinkle of fresh dill, or even some creamy diced avocado. This is a really good chicken salad recipe to experiment with and find your perfect combo.
Healthy Swaps: Want a lighter version? You could try using plain Greek yogurt instead of some or all of the mayonnaise. It still gives you that creaminess and makes for a wonderful healthy chicken salad recipe.
Get Ahead: This salad is brilliant for making ahead. Whip up a batch at the start of the week for quick and easy lunches that you’ll look forward to.
Serving Ideas: It’s fab in sandwiches (try it on croissants!), piled onto a bed of crisp lettuce, or served with your favorite crackers for dipping. For a fancy-ish appetizer, serve a small scoop on a slice of toasted French bread and top with a half cherry tomato and a tiny sprinkle of parsley.
Canned Chicken Can-Do: In a real hurry? You can definitely use good quality canned chicken. Just make sure to drain it really, really well before mixing it in. This makes for a super speedy canned chicken salad recipe.
Nuts About Nuts?: If almonds aren’t your thing, or you just want to switch it up, try using chopped pecans or walnuts instead for that lovely crunch.
Storage Savvy: Keep your chicken salad covered tightly in the fridge. It should stay delicious for about 3-4 days. I wouldn’t recommend freezing it, as the mayo can get a bit funny when it thaws.
Nutrition Scoop (Per Serving of Chicken Salad)
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Calories | 435kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Protein | 30g |
| Fat | 33g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Cholesterol | 95mg |
| Sodium | 405mg |
| Potassium | 286mg |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Vitamin A | 60IU |
| Vitamin C | 1.9mg |
| Calcium | 29mg |
| Iron | 1.2mg |
(Heads up: Nutrition info is an estimate and can change based on the specific ingredients you use.)
If you love this recipe on how to make chicken salad, please feel free to pin it on Pinterest or share it with your friends! They’ll thank you for it!
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make Chicken Salad:
What are the basic ingredients of chicken salad?
Chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and seasonings like salt and pepper are the usual basics.
How do you prepare chicken for chicken salad?
You can use cooked chicken breast that’s been chopped or shredded; rotisserie chicken is also great.
How to make 4 ingredient chicken salad?
Just mix cooked chicken, mayonnaise, celery (or another crunchy veggie), and your favorite seasoning!
What is the best sauce for chicken salad?
Mayonnaise is the classic choice, often with a bit of lemon juice for brightness.
What does a chicken salad contain?
It usually has cooked chicken, a creamy binder like mayo, crunchy bits like celery, and seasonings.
How can I prepare chicken salad?
Simply mix your cooked, chopped chicken with mayo, celery, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
How to make salad in a simple way?
To make a salad simply, combine your main item, a dressing, and some crunchy bits; this guide on how to make chicken salad using this easy chicken salad recipe is a great example!
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