Creamy Classic Chicken Salad Recipe: A Fresh Summer Delight

Summers buzz with excitement when a classic chicken salad recipe lands on your radar, promising cool comfort and delightful flavors.

Fresh ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of textures that whisper of leisurely afternoons.

Tender chunks of perfectly seasoned chicken mingle with crisp vegetables, each bite telling a story of culinary simplicity.

Creamy dressings bind the elements into a harmonious blend that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Light and refreshing, this dish speaks to those who appreciate subtle elegance in their meals.

Chopped herbs and a pinch of creativity can elevate this timeless favorite from ordinary to extraordinary.

You’ll want to grab a fork and savor every delectable moment.

Why Classic Chicken Salad Is Always A Fresh And Easy Choice

• Whip Up Quickly: This chicken salad recipe requires minimal prep time, making it perfect for busy weekdays or last-minute lunches. You'll have a delicious meal ready in just a few minutes.
• Customize with Ease: The versatile recipe allows endless variations by swapping ingredients like nuts, adding different herbs, or changing the protein. Personalize it to match your taste preferences or dietary needs.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Its creamy texture and balanced flavors make this chicken salad a hit with both kids and adults. It's an excellent option for family gatherings, picnics, or casual potlucks.
• Nutrition in Every Bite: Packed with protein from chicken, crunch from celery and nuts, and sweetness from grapes, this dish offers a well-rounded nutritional profile that keeps you satisfied and energized.

What You’ll Need For Classic Chicken Salad

• Chicken: Lean protein that forms the main component of the salad, best when cooked and cooled.
• Nuts: Adds crunch and extra protein, great for texture contrast.

• Celery, Red Onion: Provide crisp texture and sharp, fresh flavor notes.
• Grapes: Brings natural sweetness and juicy burst to the salad.
• Parsley: Adds fresh herb flavor and bright green color.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that binds ingredients together, rich and smooth.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy depth and slightly sharp undertone.
• Lemon Juice: Provides bright acidity and helps balance the richness.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing overall flavor profile.

How To Make Classic Chicken Salad Step By Step

Step 1: Whip Up the Creamy Base

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and pour in mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a splash of fresh lemon juice. Whisk these ingredients until they transform into a silky, smooth mixture that promises to elevate your chicken salad experience.

Step 2: Chop and Prep Chicken and Veggies

• Cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
• Crisp celery
• Zesty red onion
• Sweet grapes
• Crunchy nuts
• Fresh parsley

Carefully dice and chop each ingredient into bite-sized pieces that will create a delightful texture explosion in every mouthful.

Step 3: Marry the Flavors

Gently fold the chopped ingredients into the creamy dressing, ensuring every morsel gets a luxurious coating. Use a soft spatula to blend everything together without crushing the delicate components.

Step 4: Season and Enhance

Sprinkle in salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning until the flavors sing with a perfect balance of zesty, creamy, and savory notes.

Step 5: Chill and Let Magic Happen

Cover the bowl and tuck it into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This resting time allows the flavors to mingle and develop a more complex, harmonious taste profile.

Step 6: Serve with Creativity

Unleash your culinary imagination! Serve this chicken salad nestled between soft bread slices, atop crisp salad greens, wrapped in a tortilla, or as a stunning appetizer on crackers.

Tips For Creamy And Crunchy Classic Chicken Salad

• Boost Protein Power: Choose rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken for a quick and easy protein-packed salad variation.
• Make It Lighter: Swap traditional mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or a mixture of Greek yogurt and light mayonnaise to reduce calories and add extra protein.
• Customize Your Crunch: Experiment with different nuts like toasted almonds, pecans, or sunflower seeds to add texture and enhance the overall flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Serve the chicken salad in lettuce wraps or over a bed of mixed greens to make it gluten-free and low-carb friendly.
• Herb Enhancement: Try fresh herbs like dill, tarragon, or chives to give the chicken salad a bright, fresh flavor that elevates the entire dish.

Best Storage Methods For Classic Chicken Salad

• Refrigerate chicken salad in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Keep the salad chilled for up to 3-4 days, ensuring maximum flavor and safety.
• Remove from the refrigerator and give it a gentle stir before serving to redistribute the dressing and ingredients.
• Always use clean utensils when scooping to avoid cross-contamination and extend the salad's shelf life.
• Avoid leaving the chicken salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as this can lead to potential foodborne illnesses.
• Freeze individual portions in sealed containers for convenient future meals, lasting up to 2 weeks, but note that the texture might slightly change upon thawing due to mayonnaise separation.

Great Sides To Pair With Classic Chicken Salad

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio complements the creamy chicken salad, cutting through its richness with bright, zesty notes.
• Serve Alongside Crunchy Crackers: Buttery, crisp water crackers or whole grain crackers provide a delightful textural contrast to the smooth, creamy chicken mixture.
• Match with Fresh Green Salad: A light, herb-dressed mixed green salad balances the chicken salad's density, adding freshness and extra nutritional value to the meal.
• Refresh with Sparkling Lemonade: A homemade sparkling lemonade with fresh mint brings a refreshing, citrusy touch that enhances the salad's tangy flavor profile.

Simple Swaps For Classic Chicken Salad You’ll Love

• Spicy Southwest Chicken Salad: Replace grapes with diced jalapeños, add black beans, corn, and cilantro. Swap Dijon mustard for chipotle sauce to create a zesty, southwestern-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken Salad: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, diced cucumber, kalamata olives, and fresh dill. Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter, tangier dressing.
• Curry Chicken Salad with Apples: Mix in mild curry powder, diced green apples, golden raisins, and toasted almonds. Replace lemon juice with apple cider vinegar for a sweet and aromatic profile.
• Asian-Inspired Chicken Salad: Add mandarin orange segments, chopped water chestnuts, and green onions. Use sesame oil and rice vinegar in the dressing, then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for extra crunch.

Questions Answered About Classic Chicken Salad

• What makes this chicken salad different from others?

This classic chicken salad stands out with its perfect balance of sweet grapes, crunchy nuts, and tangy Dijon mustard, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that elevate it beyond a simple chicken mixture.

• Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?

Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is an excellent time-saving option that adds extra flavor and makes the recipe even easier to prepare. Just shred or chop the chicken and you’re ready to go.

• Is this chicken salad healthy?

The recipe offers a good mix of protein from chicken, nutrients from celery and parsley, and a moderate amount of mayo. You can make it healthier by using Greek yogurt instead of some mayonnaise or adding more fresh herbs.

• How long can I keep this chicken salad in the refrigerator?

When stored in an airtight container, this chicken salad will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Always check for any signs of spoilage before consuming and give it a quick sniff test.

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy, classic chicken salad recipe brings Mediterranean flair to your lunch table with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and zesty herbs. Simple ingredients combine into a delightful midday meal you’ll savor with every refreshing bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 2 cups (about 300 grams) cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
• ¼ cup (30 grams) chopped toasted almonds or pecans (optional)

Aromatics and Vegetables:

• ¼ cup (40 grams) red onion, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon (4 grams) fresh parsley, chopped

Binding and Flavor Enhancers:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup (40 grams) grapes, halved (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice in a spacious mixing vessel until the dressing achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
2. Incorporate tender, shredded chicken pieces into the creamy base, ensuring each morsel is generously coated with the tangy sauce.
3. Introduce crisp, finely diced celery and delicately chopped red onion to provide a textural crunch and sharp aromatic undertones.
4. Gently fold in halved sweet grapes, which will contribute bursts of juicy brightness to the salad’s profile.
5. Sprinkle toasted, roughly chopped nuts throughout the mixture, creating delightful pockets of nutty complexity and satisfying crispness.
6. Scatter freshly chopped parsley across the salad, infusing the dish with a vibrant herbal essence and appealing green flecks.
7. Season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, tasting and adjusting the seasoning to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
8. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and develop a more cohesive taste.
9. Serve chilled as a versatile filling for sandwiches, atop crisp salad greens, or nestled within a soft wrap for a refreshing meal.

Notes

• Swap mayo for Greek yogurt or mashed avocado to create a lighter, healthier version of the classic chicken salad.
• Customize the texture by chopping ingredients finely for a smoother consistency or keeping them chunky for more bite and crunch.
• Experiment with different herbs like dill, tarragon, or chives to add unexpected flavor complexity and make the dish more interesting.
• Make the recipe gluten-free by serving in lettuce cups or using gluten-free bread for sandwiches, ensuring everyone can enjoy this versatile dish.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 400mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 10g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 25g
• Cholesterol: 80mg