Easy Chicken Salad Recipe

I’ve been wanting to share my chicken salad recipe with you again. I’m updating this recipe from 2016 because it needed some revisions. I’m making this on Christmas Day for my family, so if you want to make it for New Year’s Day you have the recipe ready to go.

This recipe has tender chicken pieces, sliced red grapes, chopped green onions, chopped celery, finely chopped apples, and dill weed to make it the perfect recipe for everyone.

Here’s the deal, we can buy some chicken salad at the grocery store deli section, Costco, and even Sam’s Club. But it’s not as fresh, and with this recipe, we know exactly what we’re eating. If desired, you can modify the recipe to suit your family’s tastes, and everyone will love it.

We boiled some chicken tenderloins, then let them cool, and placed them in the mixer to shred the chicken pieces into the perfect size and texture for a chicken salad.

What I love about chicken salad is you never know what you’re going to get when someone makes it. It can be ground-cooked chicken, big chicken pieces, and full of onions, nuts, craisins, or even raisins.

The sky is the limit when you make this salad. Everyone has their favorite way of making it, and I LOVE hearing how others put theirs together. Please share your add-ons, I love learning new ideas.

Items You May Need In Your Kitchen:

• Kitchen Aid Mixer (to shred chicken or just chop the chicken with a knife)
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups and Spoons

Chicken Salad Ingredients

• Chicken (I used rotisserie chicken): I love to use rotisserie chicken that can be purchased at the store. I usually buy packages at Costco. It’s cooked and has a delicious roasted flavor! It’s ready to be cut up into bite-sized pieces or shredded! Your own cooked chicken can also be used. An excellent source of protein and calcium!
• Grapes: A berry fruit grown on a flowering woody vine. They add a deliciously bitter and sweet crunch to this salad recipe! A great source of fiber and potassium.
• Celery: Refreshingly crisp, light, and delicious veggie! High in antioxidants and the fiber it contains is great for the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
• Dill Weed: My secret ingredient! The weed portion of the dill plant which is comprised of fern-like leaves and stems. It has a mild and grasslike flavor with a lemony tang.
• Apples: This recipe works great with any apple variety! High in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
• Green Onions: Green onions or “scallions” are typical names to describe a long, thin, tubular edible plant with an oniony flavor.
• Mayonnaise: Also known as “mayo.” A thick and creamy sour dressing made of eggs, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice.
• Salt and Pepper: Both spices add flavor and help to bring all of the flavors together.

Chicken Salad Recipe

Step One: Gather the Ingredients

Gather the ingredients so you’re ready to make this recipe. Do you love to use mayo or is Miracle Whip your choice when you make chicken salad?

Step Two: Shred The Cooked Chicken

One thing I want to share is a picture of “shredding” the chicken in my Kitchen Aid mixer using the wire whip. You can shred your cooked chicken pieces in minutes, literally, when using this mixer. It’s almost magical, it’s so fast! Today I used the rotisserie chicken from Costco in a package. I love the convenience of those chicken pieces off of the bones.

Step Three: Combine Ingredients

Combine the cooked shredded chicken, chopped apple, chopped celery, chopped green onion, and sliced red grapes.

Step Three: Make The Dressing

Grab a small mixing bowl, and combine the mayo or Miracle Whip with the dill weed, salt, and pepper until thoroughly mixed. I call this the “chicken salad dressing.”

Step Four: Scoop The Dressing Onto the Salad

Scoop the “chicken salad dressing” over the chicken mixture. Stir well.

Finished Product

Serve on a bed of lettuce or on a roll/croissant. We love these sandwiches!

Chicken Salad Recipe

How long can I store uncooked chicken?

According to the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, you can store raw chicken in your refrigerator for 1-2 days. It doesn’t matter if the chicken consists of legs, breasts, or a whole chicken, 1-2 days is the maximum time to store raw chicken in the fridge, to be safe.

What is the best way to cook chicken breasts?

I love to use cooked rotisserie chicken for this recipe. It eliminates a step, I am all about simplicity! If you would like to cook your chicken, I recommend cooking it as follows:

Rinse 4 raw chicken breasts in cold water. Cut off any fat that you observe. In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Once the water boils, turn the temperature down to medium heat. Simmer the chicken breasts for about 45 minutes. Once they have cooked, remove them from the water and allow the chicken to cool before you cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks.

How do I store this chicken salad?

I store mine in Tupperware-type containers in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze it after making it?

I would worry about the mayo, I think fresh is best. You could try it and then see how it turns out.

How long is it safe to store in the refrigerator?

If packaged correctly in airtight containers in the refrigerator, the chicken salad will be good for 2-3 days.

Can I add nuts to this recipe?

Absolutely, we love this recipe with chopped pecans or slivered almonds! Be sure to alert guests to the nuts in case there is an allergy issue with someone.

What about dried cranberries or raisins?

Oh yes, I have made this salad with both of those, and it’s super yummy!

Can I use green grapes?

You can actually use both green and purple or just green. Either way, it’s delicious.

Can I use fresh dill weed?

Now, we’re talking, I love fresh dill! I didn’t have any today, but I use fresh dill a lot. It’s like having a slight dill pickle flavor without the overpowering taste of pickles.

Can I add some leftover chopped bacon?

Well, bacon is always a good add-on in my book! It’s yummy with bacon bits.

Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Yes, I used rotisserie chicken in this recipe. As mentioned, I get it from Costco, in packages, deboned, and ready to eat since it’s pre-cooked before being packaged. I typically pick up 4-5 packages and freeze them. Then when I need some chicken, I thaw a package in the refrigerator the day before.

Can I substitute greek yogurt or sour cream for the mayo or Miracle Whip?

That’s why this recipe is so awesome, almost any ingredient listed is interchangeable! Go for it, it works! This is why I love teaching people to cook from scratch, we can cook and mix outside the box, literally.

Can I add other spices or fresh herbs?

I have added sweet basil, and even freshly chopped basil from my garden. Cilantro is another herb that I love to add to it.

Which apples work best?

Whatever apple variety is in season is the perfect apple to use. I have used Pink Lady, Jazz, Fuji, and Honeycrisp, to name a few. As you know, some apples have a more “crisp” texture to them and those are the ones our family likes the best. It also seems like the crisp varieties have a slight “tartness” to the flavor, and we enjoy that aspect too.

In case you missed this post, Apples: Everything You Need To Know

Are there any additional ingredients I can add?

I really love the recipe as is! If you are interested in adding any additional ingredients, the following may be good options:

• Dried cranberries (Craisins) or Raisins
• Fresh Basil
• Fresh Cilantro
• Red Onions
• Chopped Walnuts, Pecans, or Almonds
• Bacon
• Dijon Mustard

How can I serve this chicken salad?

This chicken salad is delicious when served on your favorite crackers for a low-carb snack! It can be served as a lettuce wrap or as a chicken salad sandwich on your favorite bread, roll, or croissant. I really love eating a dollop of it on top of a bed of lettuce! The options are endless!

I have served this at a variety of luncheons, picnics, and family get-togethers. It is always a hit!

Check out these other delicious chicken recipes!

• The Best Sweet & Sour Chicken Salad
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Poppy Seed Chicken
• The Best Chicken And Broccoli Casserole

Final Word

I hope you enjoyed reading about my chicken salad, and that you will give it a try. It really is the best chicken salad recipe! Let me know what you add to yours, I love to hear from you. One thing you may also want to try is eating this “salad” as a topping on your favorite crackers. We’ve used Triscuit, Wheat Thins, and others. Give it a try. May God Bless this world, Linda

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