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GET IT NOWEasy chicken salad recipes are a staple at my house every which way — I’ve made so many versions, and have loved them all. But sometimes I just want a classic chicken salad, without the frills and unique twists I often add. And this is the best chicken salad recipe for that! It’s the perfect balance of flavors and textures, and that must be the reason it’s the one I come back to most often. If you’re craving the classic, this is it. Make it with me!
Why This Is My Best Chicken Salad Recipe
- It’s the classic – While my other chicken salad recipes have different flavor options, this one has the taste and texture you probably imagine when you picture this dish. It’s got the tender chicken, sweetness, and crunch that everyone loves, all enveloped in an irresistibly creamy, tangy dressing.
- Simple ingredients – Nothing fancy here! This is my everyday version, made with staples I usually have at home. And you’ll find them at any grocery store if you don’t.
- Quick and easy to make – If you’ve got cooked chicken on hand, you can whip up my easy chicken salad in just 10 minutes! It’s one of my favorite breezy lunches when I don’t have time for much else (um, often).
- Versatile – This salad is also perfect to bring to a picnic or potluck! Just keep it cold, since it has perishable ingredients.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains what goes in my classic chicken salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Cooked Chicken – I use Instant Pot shredded chicken most often for this recipe. If you don’t have time to make it, take a shortcut by using ready-made rotisserie chicken from the store, or shred any leftover baked chicken breasts you have on hand.
- Grapes – Making chicken salad with grapes add nice sweetness to contrast the savory flavors. I recommend cutting them in half, or even quarters if they’re large. I usually make this with red grapes, but green or black work, too. You can even substitute cubed apples (see my chicken salad with apples for the best pairings!), dried cranberries (I make sugar-free dried cranberries), or raisins.
- Celery – The crunchy texture complements the creaminess of the salad perfectly. Chop it finely. If you’re not a fan, diced pickles or pickled asparagus would work well for crunch.
- Fresh Dill – Feel free to throw in other fresh herbs, or omit them if you prefer your chicken salad without them.
- Green Onions – I like the color and flavor of green onions here. You can use white or red onions for a stronger flavor, or yellow or sweet onions for sweetness.
- Pecans – For more crunch, but they’re optional. You can also try other nuts, like walnuts, almonds, or cashews, or use sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
- Mayonnaise – The base of my easy chicken salad dressing! Use your favorite store bought mayo, or make my 5-minute homemade mayonnaise. I think mayo makes the best recipe for chicken salad, but if you like a more tangy dressing, plain Greek yogurt makes an easy substitute, or you can replace half of the mayo with sour cream.
- Dijon Mustard – I prefer Dijon here because it’s more mild than other types. If you use yellow mustard, I recommend using less.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh is always best, but bottled lemon juice works just fine.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Make Chicken Salad
- Combine the chicken salad ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, grapes, celery, dill, green onions, and pecans.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Mix together. Fold or stir until combined. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste. I like to garnish with extra dill!
My Recipe Tips
- The ideal amount of salt and lemon juice can vary, largely depending on the mayonnaise you use. Some brands are more salty or tangy than others. Of course it also depends on your preference. I recommend starting with a teaspoon of salt and 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and adjust to your taste at the end.
- If your chicken salad is saltier than you like, add more lemon juice. The acidity cuts the saltiness.
- If it turns out too tangy, some sweetness can balance it out. Try a teaspoon or two of honey (I use my natural zero sugar honey when I make this adjustment).
- To shred chicken more easily, use a mixer. I use this hand mixer with beaters in a large bowl, but a stand mixer with paddle attachment also works well. Start at low speed to avoid chicken flying everywhere!
- I don’t recommend cubed chicken for chicken salad. You can use it if you like, but I find the dressing doesn’t penetrate well, so you end up with a lot at the bottom of the bowl.
- The flavors develop more in the fridge. I usually pop the salad in the fridge for 30-60 minutes for even better flavor! Just give it a good stir before serving.
Serving Ideas
Don’t tell anyone, but I like to enjoy this creamy salad right out of the bowl! If you want a more complete meal, though, try these ideas:
- Chicken Salad Sandwich – Slather it between two slices of your favorite bread. I love it on 90 second bread for a fast lunch!
- Crackers – This easy chicken salad makes a really nice snack on my almond flour crackers or flax seed crackers. This presentation makes a good appetizer, too!
- Stuffed Veggies – Scoop the salad inside avocado halves, hollowed out cucumber boats (similar to my cucumber subs), mini bell peppers, or even larger bell peppers (like my bell pepper sandwich recipe).
- Lettuce Wraps – My favorite way to serve this chicken salad, pictured above! I used romaine lettuce this time, but bibb lettuce also works well.
Easy Chicken Salad
My easy chicken salad recipe takes just 10 minutes, with tender chicken, sweet grapes, and crunchy celery & pecans, all in a creamy dressing.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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In a large bowl, combine the chicken, grapes, celery, pecans, dill, and green onions.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
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Pour the dressing over the salad. Mix well until uniform. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste if needed.
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Serve right away, or refrigerate to let the flavors develop.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the right balance of saltiness and acidity, shred the chicken more easily, and why I don’t recommend cubed chicken.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3-5 days, depending on the freshness of your chicken and mayo. I don’t recommend freezing chicken salad recipes with mayo in them, because the dressing will separate after thawing and the texture of the grapes will be different.
- Note on nutrition info: The optional pecans are not included. If you want to update the nutrition calculation to add them, you can do that by customizing the recipe and marking them as not optional in the Wholesome Yum App.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Try More Of My Recipes
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The Best Chicken Salad Recipe
My Other Chicken Salad Recipes
If you love the convenience of this easy chicken salad recipe but want more variety in flavor, try one of my other versions:
34 Comments
Jill
0I have this one on repeat, it’s that good. I sub grapes with unsweetened cranberries and serve on crackers or in lettuce cups.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m glad this one’s a keeper for you, Jill! Love the cranberry swap, that sounds so tasty. Serving it on crackers or in lettuce cups is such a smart idea, too.
Lisa
0Loved this recipe, was exactly what I was looking for.
Wholesome Yum D
0Lisa, I’m so glad it hit the mark for you! Thanks for giving it a try and letting me know!
Reyna Carreon
0This is such a delicious combination. I used keto mayonnaise and replaced the peacans with walnuts instead. My husband loved it. 😍 I will definitely be making this recipe frequently.
Wholesome Yum D
0Reyna, I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed it! Love the swap for walnuts, sounds like a perfect combo.
Jeannie
0You’re right! This is the best chicken salad the only thing I changed was the dill I had dried so I used less I made keto protein buns for this salad My husband loved your salad and asked me to make more
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Jeannie! I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed this chicken salad.
Natalie Murphy
0This was a very delicious chicken salad! My family doesn’t care for dill, so I left that out, but it was still full of flavor! I served it as a lettuce wrap and took some for lunch at work the next day! Thank you for this recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you and your family liked this salad, Natalie! Sounds like the perfect lunch.
Ileezook98
0Great in wraps or on the go with tortillas
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you! I’m glad you like this. Those are both great ways to use this chicken salad.
Donna C
0Sorry Maya, I honestly thought this salad was going to be good, but it was terrible. Too salty, I cut the dill in half and it still was overpowering. I considered putting it all in a strainer and rinse in order to try and save the chicken, but will just throw it in the trash. I’ve enjoyed your other recipes and love chicken, but this was a costly fail.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you for the feedback, Donna. Sorry to hear this recipe didn’t suit your preferences. The salt might be the result of your chicken already being salted, was it? If so, you might need less salt, or it could just be a personal preference. You can try adding it last, to taste, next time. This also might not be the recipe for you if you’re not a fan of dill. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my other recipes and hope you find another one you like better soon in my healthy recipe index!
Karmen Burrell
0The Dijon mustard was a great addition to this recipe. It gave it more depth. I also liked the suggestions on how to twist it up for different flavors.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Karmen! Enjoy!
Sandy Taylor
0How flavorful and easy to prepair this recipe was, and it also makes a beautiful presentation.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked this chicken salad, Sandy! Thanks!
Mary
0Switched out pecans with walnuts and added Cajun seasoning tasted great.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you liked it, Mary! Yes, all kinds of nuts work great here!
Jeannette
0Made this yesterday and had it today for lunch. OMG! It is delicious. It was quick and easy to make. Perfect for the warm summer days ahead.
Ofelia
0Hi, how long can I keep leftovers in the fridge with this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Ofelia, This chicken salad will last 3-5 days in the fridge. I always have storage info in the post above the recipe card. Hope this helps!
Sami
0Delicious; however I never eat grapes or serve them to my family. I don’t know if you are aware Maya that grapes contain high dangerous amounts of pesticides and are Not a healthy option.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Sami, I buy organic grapes, so they don’t have any pesticides. Feel free to leave them out if you don’t want to eat conventional ones or get organic ones.
Fiona
0I do not like mayonnaise. Do you think I could use sour cream and greek yogurt instead?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Fiona, Yes, you can definitely do that.
MaryAnne
0A little peppery on day 2. Other than that, enjoyed it.
Gina
0Love the sweet grapes for a contrast in flavor and the celery brings the perfect crunch. I did half mayo, half Greek yogurt and it was still super creamy and delicious!
Janice
0This chicken salad recipe was sooo delicious! We paired it with lettuce wraps, and it was truly fantastic. I made a batch of it yesterday, and my family enjoyed it! This is a must-try!
Sage Scott
0This tasty chicken salad recipe has it all — savory, sweet, and creamy. My daughter put hers on a croissant and enjoyed it as a sandwich while I chose to add a scoop to a bowl full of salad greens. Delish!
Jane
0This is one of my favorite chicken salads! It’s so simple, yet the dressing is creamy and delicious. I make it all the time!
Rosanna Stevens
0We loved this salad, it was really refreshing in hot weather. I’d never have thought to add grapes!
kaylajean
0Tried tonight! My new favorite!