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BEST Chicken Salad

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For a chicken salad recipe that’s guaranteed to be a total winner, look no further!ย  This homemade chicken salad is wonderfully creamy without being overly wet, it isnโ€™t too sweet or too tangy, and incorporates the PERFECT balance of flavors!ย  But don’t take my word for it or the hundreds of rave reviews below, give it a try and experience it for yourself!

chicken salad recipe best deli style croissants sandwiches

I’m a sentimental romantic. ย 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. ย Would it be too dramatic to say that growing up, those movies helped shape who I am? ย Yes, that’s pretty dramatic. ย 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. ย (That’s what happens when you have the entire dialogue of the movie memorized.) ย 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!

chicken salad recipe best deli style croissants sandwiches

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. ย The sour cream adds a touch of freshness to offset the heaviness of the mayonnaise. ย Bite into and we’re confident you’ll be very happy indeed.

Use this chicken salad recipe for sandwiches, croissants or in wraps. ย Or, for a low-carb option, serve it on top of a bed of salad leaves with some sliced tomatoes and avocado.

BEST Chicken Salad Recipe

Let’s get started!

Place the diced chicken, celery, green onions and grapes in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.

combining ingredients in a bowl

In a medium-sized bowl, combine all remaining ingredients to make the sauce and stir to combine.

combining the mayonnaise sauce ingredients

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.

stirring all the ingredients together

Serve as a salad on a bed of lettuce or as a sandwich filling.ย  We love it on croissants.

Enjoy!

chicken salad recipe best homemade ultimate deli style croissants sandwiches chicken salad recipe best homemade ultimate deli style croissants sandwiches

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BEST Chicken Salad

For a chicken salad that's guaranteed to be a winner, look no further!
4.92 from 325 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Entree, Main Dish, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings for sandwiches
Calories 279 kcal

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
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds or toasted chopped pecans , optional for some crunch
  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 7gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 532mgPotassium: 235mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 320IUVitamin C: 4.7mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword Chicken Salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on the The Daring Gourmet on Jul 13, 2017

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, Iโ€™m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




4.92 from 325 votes (258 ratings without comment)

220 Comments

  1. Sounds delicious but I have family members who are dairy intolerant. Do you have any suggestions what to add or substitute for the sour cream. Part of my attraction to this recipe IS the sour cream.

  2. It’s amazing how good the combination of chicken breast, grapes, and celery is! The only thing missing from this recipe is chopped toasted pecans for a fourth dimension of flavor. I have been making a similar recipe for years which only differs by having pecans stirred in as well. I am looking forward to trying this recipe (with pecans added, of course!) as the dressing sounds wonderful.

  3. This IS the best chicken salad bar none. I’ve been using this recipe for about a year now and have passed it on to many grateful fans.

  4. I made the chicken salad on croissants today for my company. It was delicious and would make again. Wish I had read some of the responses. Sliced almonds would be a great addition