For a chicken salad recipe that’s guaranteed to be a total winner, look no further! This chicken salad is wonderfully creamy without being overly wet, it isn’t too sweet or too tangy, and it incorporates the perfect balance of flavors.
Best Chicken Salad Recipe
I’m a sentimental romantic. So you’ll have to indulge me for a moment.
One of my favorite movies of all time is the Megan Follows version of Anne of Green Gables and its sequel. Would it be too dramatic to say that growing up, those movies helped shape who I am? Yes, that’s pretty dramatic. But in some small but meaningful ways I believe they did.
As I was making this chicken salad a line from the movie came to mind. (That’s what happens when you have the entire dialogue of the movie memorized.) Diana and Anne are standing on the cliffside of scenic Prince Edward Island overlooking the ocean, the wind blowing in their hair, staring off into the sunset.
Diana says to Anne, “I wish I were rich and I could spend the whole summer at a hotel, eating ice cream and chicken salad.”
Anne responds thoughtfully, “You know something, Diana? We are rich. We have sixteen years to our credit, and we both have wonderful imaginations. We should be as happy as queens.”
Nodding at the setting sun over the ocean, Anne observes, “Look at that. You couldn’t enjoy its loveliness more if you had ropes of diamonds….I am happy Diana, and nothing is going to hold me back.”
Without a doubt, one of life’s simple but greatest pleasures is good food – food that’s thoughtfully prepared and shared with those you love.
So in celebration of Diana’s desire for good food, and in appreciation of Anne’s understanding that happiness is how you interpret it, here’s a delicious chicken salad you can enjoy with your family and friends!
This salad is wonderfully creamy without being overly wet, it isn’t too sweet or too tangy, and it incorporates the perfect balance of flavors. The sour cream adds a touch of freshness to offset the heaviness of the mayonnaise. Bite into and we’re confident you’ll be very happy indeed.
Use this chicken salad recipe for sandwiches, croissants or in wraps. Or, for a low-carb option, serve it on top of a bed of salad leaves with some sliced tomatoes and avocado.
Let’s get started!
Place the diced chicken, celery, green onions and grapes in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine all remaining ingredients to make the sauce and stir to combine.
Scoop the mayo sauce over the chicken salad and stir to combine, making sure the chicken salad is thoroughly coated with the sauce.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving.
Enjoy!
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BEST Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless ,skinless chicken breasts cooked in lightly salted water then chilled in the fridge and diced, about 4 cups (for the best texture, avoid canned chicken)
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 1/2 cups halved seedless red grapes
- 3 green onions ,chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise (for a healthier choice use Avocado Oil Mayonnaise)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the diced chicken, celery, green onions and grapes in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the remaining ingredients to make the sauce and stir to combine. Pour the mayo sauce over the chicken salad and stir to combine and thoroughly coat the salad.
- Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Serve on sandwiches, croissants or in wraps with some lettuce. For a low-carb option, serve on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomato and avocado.
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Bob Phillips says
Hi Kim, was wondering if it was be okay to add a couple of chopped boiled eggs to this recipe. I never had chicken salad without it but if it would alter the flavor that everyone is raving about, then I won’t add them.
Bob, Lake Charles, LA
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Bob, absolutely, feel free to adapt to your preferences and add the eggs.
Anonymous says
I made this chicken salad for my daughter’s baby shower. I had to quadruple the recipe, but it was a hit! Everyone raves over how delicious it was. It has a Mediterranean taste. It truly is the best chicken salad.
Jamie says
This was delicious! I made one substitution because I didn’t have celery on hand. I used some celery seed and chopped, raw green cabbage. It was fantastic! I read that cabbage could be substituted for celery, and it did not disappoint. This recipe is perfectly balanced. Thank you.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jamie, thanks so much for the feedback!
Deb says
This looks delicious! I would like to prepare it ahead for an event, how many days in advance have you made it? Thanks so much! (I love Anne of Green Gables, too!)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Deb! I’ve eaten this over the course of two days but probably wouldn’t go longer than that because of the texture of the grapes.
Deb says
Great! Thank you!
Cindy says
I’ve made this recipe several times now and it’s always a huge hit! Everyone just raves about it. I serve it with King’s Hawaiian rolls. This is one of those recipes I will continue to make for years to come. Thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, Cindy, thank you so much!
Gayle says
I just have a question on how to cook the chicken. Do I boil it in water,and for how long? I’ve never done it before.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Gayle, yes, you just boil chicken breasts until they’re done (how long depends on their size). Alternatively you can also get a rotisserie chicken from the store, remove the meat and chop it up.
Durga says
Delicious 👌 so easy and tastes great. Thank you for the recipe. We all enjoyed.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Durga!
Lufi says
Thank you for sharing such an awesome recipe! I’ve made this twice in one week. Didn’t use sour cream or lemon juice, but it’s still great!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Lufi, thanks so much!
Leddy says
I didn’t use mustard, or dill, used red grapes & dried roasted cherries/pecans/almonds, substituted honey for sugar, used pumpernickel bread for my bf and put mine on lettuce. Super yummy!! Found a tip to break up chicken by hand and shred with hand mixer, worked great! They sell this $8/lb at local store just made this 3lb for $5? My boys & parents will love this too! Great recipe.
Mary T says
I gathered several chicken salad recipes to decide which I would like the best. This was the first one I tried. I need to look no more.
I substituted dried cranberries for the grapes, otherwise the same. Delicious! Thank you.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Mary, I’m so glad it was a hit – thank you!
December says
I add onions and hardboiled eggs but recipe is basically the same – I like it 🙂
Tara Hickenlooper says
Used this for a baby shower and it tasted great! Definitely keeping this recipe on hand.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Awesome, Tara, thank you!
Glen Raines says
I added 1/4 cup of chopped pecans to this already wonderful recipe. My wife shared it at work and called me to make her more. I’ve made it 3 times in one week. That’s how good it is!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s fantastic, Glen, I’m so glad it’s been a hit at your wife’s work and you’re a star for keeping them so generously stocked with food! :)
Annie says
Can I omit the sour cream and it still be “ok”
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Annie, it will be dry without replacing it with something – you can substitute plain yogurt if you prefer.