Traditional Chicken Salad is a tried and true favorite for almost any kind of gathering. It’s easy to make and tasty by itself, atop lettuce, or served on sandwiches.
We love chicken salad and I love making it for parties and get-togethers–it’s sweet, savory and satisfying. This recipe is always sure to please and goes great with almost any other kind of food: soups, salads, fruit, and hors d’oeuvres. Chicken salad is also flexible. You can choose which mix-ins you like and what kind of flavor you want. You can make it tangier with dill and pickles, or keep the simple, garden flavors of celery and grapes. Serve it up on lettuce or a croissant roll for a fancy touch. You can make it for a luncheon, a shower, a barbecue or for a lighter dinner when something else is just too much.
Can I use something other than grapes to add to my chicken salad?
Yes. I prefer grapes, but this is definitely your salad, so pick something you like best. You can get creative and change up the nuts as well. Some variations I like are: apples, mandarin oranges, pineapple, dried cranberries, and dried figs. Walnuts and pecans are also excellent nuts for chicken salad.
What kind of chicken should I use to make chicken salad?
Chicken salad is typically made using leftover chicken, canned chicken, or shredded rotisserie chicken. You can use either dark meat, white meat, or a combination. If you don’t have any pre-cooked chicken on hand, you can also cook chicken just for making chicken salad. Simply boil 2 chicken breasts (about 12 ounces) in either water or chicken broth (for more flavor) for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain and shred chicken with a fork.
Can I use miracle whip instead of mayonnaise?
Yes, you can swap this ingredient out if you prefer the taste of Miracle Whip. I recommend mayonnaise, because it isn’t as strong, so won’t interfere with the other flavors in the salad.
If you like this recipe, you may also be interested in these other delicious salads:
- The Best Macaroni Salad
- Creamy Potato Salad
- Tuna Macaroni Salad
- Old Fashioned German Potato Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Retired old guy here and a long-time fan. I still consider myself a novice in the kitchen. By chance, we had all the ingredients on hand. Whipped this together and now I am considered some kind of hero/genius. This is really good! Thank you for sharing this with us.
LOVE TSAHC!!!
Love Love this chicken salad!
Do you ever use pecans?
This salad is delicious and very easy to make. I make it a day ahead of serving and add extra almonds and dried cranberries. It’s wonderful and love the whole grain mustard and sweet onion. Gives it a bit of a zip! 😉
This is a great traditional recipe and have prepared it like this for years. Don’t be afraid to try something different though Sometimes I will add a dash or curry instead of garlic powder, instead of grapes try dried cranberries and toasted pecans Always get big raves when you prepare homemade chicken salad
I added dried cranberry instead of grapes and pecans with some seasoning salt and a dash of paprika.
Thank you so much for this delish chicken salad recipe! Even my picky eaters love it!
I used it for a special family service and there were compliments all round. I told everyone exactly where I got it and sent them your way!
I so enjoy all your recipes and listening to you. You are very easy to understand so Thank you very much….
I just tried your chicken salad. Delicious. No one else in my family likes chicken salad, so it’s all mine.