This really is the perfect go-to salad for sandwiches or on top of a green salad.
You could easily add crumbled bacon, or raisins, or cashews, or even mix in a little curry powder to the mayo. Of course, homemade mayo puts this salad over the top. But again, a good quality store-bought mayonnaise works perfectly well, too. After cooking the chicken, the salad comes together in only about 15 minutes!
How To Make Chicken Salad
EXPERT TIP: Cook the chicken up to 3 days before assembling and serving. You can also make the homemade mayonnaise several days in advance, too!
Although chilling the salad after it’s mixed is recommended, we think to let the salad return to room temperature is great for taste when serving.
Watch us show you how easy it is to make this truly incredible recipe!
Other “Best-Ever” Salads to Try
What Makes It So Delicious?
So many folks have made this salad and asked us in complete sincerity: “What makes this chicken salad recipe so darn delicious?”
Well, there are several reasons, we believe: Here are some of the main ones:
- Roasting the chicken ensures flavorful, juicy chicken for the salad. In a pinch, you could certainly use a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket.
- The addition of seedless grapes, almonds, and fresh dill are part of what makes this dish so wonderful.
- A mix of mayonnaise, Dijon, and lemon juice adds a freshness that is just so very delicious. It all adds up to the best chicken salad sandwich you can imagine!
Homemade Mayonnaise Adds More Freshness
If you really are in the mood to make this truly the BEST-EVER chicken salad…make your mayonnaise from scratch.
There’s nothing better than homemade classic mayonnaise (click for recipe).
Of course, good-quality store-bought mayonnaise will work just fine, but we absolutely LOVE making it from scratch! One thing to keep in mind, though, homemade mayo has raw egg in it, which could be an issue with the very young, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system.
It’s all about using fresh ingredients.
Fresh dill and parsley add a layer of flavor that we think puts this salad over the top.
If you can’t get fresh, dried will work, just use half the amount that you would be using if fresh.
And it’s even better after it sits in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight! This chicken salad sandwich recipe is really about as good as they come!
I mean, just look how delicious this looks!
Wait until you taste it!! You and those around you will love it!
If you are looking for an easy chicken salad recipe that tastes like something you’d get at an amazing restaurant, you need to look no further!
You can almost taste how good this is just by looking at it.
There is a reason this is hands down the most popular recipe on How To Feed a Loon!
Best-Ever Chicken Salad FAQs
- How far advance can it be made? We recommend serving soon after the salad is assembled. However, you can prepare the chicken and the dressing up to several days in advance. We will say the salad is even tastier after it sits in the refrigerator for a few hours. We just suggest bringing the salad back to room temp before serving. But that’s just a suggestion!
- Is a rotisserie chicken okay to use? Absolutely! We feel pretty strongly that the roasted chicken pieces yield an even tastier salad, but a good-quality rotisserie chicken will work, too. Just please don’t use canned chicken. Please.
- What other ingredients could I include? The sky is practically the limit: We love dried cranberries, sliced apples, cashews or peanuts, even capers! Fresh oregano, rosemary and/or thyme is great, too!
- Can the salad be frozen? Yes! Freeze for up to 1 month in an air-tight container. Let thaw completely and return to room temperature. You may need to make a small batch of the dressing just to stir in before serving after it’s been frozen, but that’s not 100% necessary.
Ready to make the best lunch dish in town? Go for it!
And when you make it, take a picture and post to Instagram and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and #HowToFeedaLoon
Best-Ever Chicken Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 4 lbs chicken parts (bone-in, skin-on thighs and breasts work well) (You'll need about 4 cups)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup grapes seedless, halved (red and green varieties are great)
- 1 cup almonds thinly sliced
- 2 stalks celery finely diced
- 3 scallions thinly sliced (white and green parts)
- 2 tablespoon dill fresh, chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley fresh, chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt (start with ½ teaspoon, then add more, to taste)
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Rub the olive oil all over the chicken pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until internal temp reaches 165°F using an instant-read thermometer.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let cool. Remove the skin then pull the meat from the bones and roughly chop.
- In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, grapes, almonds, celery, scallions, dill, & parsley.
- In a small-medium bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, lemon, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Add the mayo/mustard mixture to the chicken mixture and gently stir until well mixed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Serve on a bed of greens with sliced tomatoes and avocado. Or, serve on bread with green leaf lettuce. Add more toppings to your taste!
Notes
Nutrition
Geraldine says
Should we cook the chicken at 350 or 400? The video is different from the instructions Thanks so much!
Geraldine says
Hi, this sounds delicious! Should we cook the chicken at 350 or 400? The video is different from the instructions Thanks so much!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Geraldine! Sorry about that! Really, either will work, but go with the 350°F. This should take about 50 minutes. But, that also depends on the size of the chicken breast, so always good to check for doneness before using in the recipe. Juices should run clear, and if you have an instant read thermometer, the internal temp should be 165°F. Let us know if you make the salad and what you think of it. Or, let us know if you have any other questions! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Diana Pietrowiak says
looks great
Kris Longwell says
Thanks, Diana!! Let us know if you try it out and what you think!!! Best, Kris & Wesley
gigie says
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. With our situation right now ‘lockdown’ I have to rely on my whats in my pantry. Feeding a family of four is not easy but with your help it makes it very easy for me and the result was really great. Everybody likes it and getting a compliment for everybody while still sitting on the dining table. Again thank you and the home made mayonaise tastes so good too!!!!!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Gigie!! That is really so awesome to hear and just fills our hearts with joy. These are challenging times without a doubt. So, being able to help you have a win at the dinner table is just so fantastic. We’re glad the whole family enjoyed the chicken salad! And thank you so very much for letting us know and for the great review. Means the world to us! Stay in touch!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Presh says
Nice! Thanks for this recipe
Kris Longwell says
Awesome! You’re very welcome and thanks for letting us know!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Linda says
Nice recipe, thanks! I didn’t have any grapes or apples in the house so I used pears and they worked great. Just needed that sweet component. All I had were chicken strips and I had to use dried dill (One of the few herbs I don’t grow) but even with the substitutions it was delicious.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Linda! That all sounds great!! Sounds like you made it work wonderfully. And we are so glad you loved the chicken salad. And thank you so much for letting us know and the GREAT review. We appreciate that very, very much!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Kay Corey says
Can you also add sour cream or cream cheese?
Kris Longwell says
Hi Kay. Sure, you could if you like. It will change the texture and taste somewhat, especially the cream cheese, but maybe for the better! The recipe is very adaptable. We think it’s pretty awesome as is, but feel free to tweak to your own liking! Let us know how it turns out!
Katie says
Thank you so much for this absolutely incredible recipe. We used rotisserie chicken, added dried cranberries as some others suggested, and ate on croissants, as well as having some for a snack which we spread on water crackers. Ran a little low on almonds for our batch today so chopped some walnuts to add – can’t wait to see how it turns out! I am pregnant and foresee a lot more chicken salad cravings in my future!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Katie!! Wow!! All sounds fantastic!! We are so glad you enjoyed the recipe and were able to adapt it with such great success! Congratulations on your pregnancy!! So exciting!! And we are thrilled you’ll be gobbling up plenty of chicken salad!! Thanks for letting us know and thank you so much for the wonderful review!! Stay safe and healthy!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Abby says
Amazing! Not only my husband but my children are gobbling it up!
Kris Longwell says
Sorry for the delayed response, Abby! Woo hoo!!!! That is so awesome to hear! Congrats on making the hubby and kiddos happy!!! And thank you so much for letting us know and the wonderful review. We appreciate it very, very much!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
jessica butler says
This chicken salad is so very delicious! I saw the recipe a couple weeks ago and at the time didn’t have all of the ingredients-once I had everything I couldn’t wait to try it!
Look forward to making it again to share with guests, eventually! Thank you:)
Kris Longwell says
Hi Jessica! That is so awesome to hear! We’re so happy you enjoyed our chicken salad recipe!! Thank you for letting us know and we truly appreciate the great review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Emily says
Love this recipe so much! I added a bit of cumin and curry, chopped and added salted pecans, and drizzled in 2 tbsp of local honey to add some sweet complexity to the seasonings. We made little lettuce tacos and it was perfect! Thank you for the recipe and tips!
Kris Longwell says
Wow!! All sounds absolutely amazing. Thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the GREAT review! xoxoxo Kris & Wesley
Rebecca says
A+ Simply delightful! Thank you so much for the great recipe! I did airfryer chicken & homemade buttermilk bread with fresh lettuce leaves! Perfect lunch for the whole family! I’m in love!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Rebecca! Wow!! Love that you did air fryer chicken and the homemade buttermilk bread with lettuce sounds heavenly! Thank you SO SO much for letting us know and for the great review. We really do appreciate that so much. Stay in touch!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Emily says
I always double it and it makes great lunches for the week! So delicious. Thank you!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Emily! So awesome!! It does make a pretty awesome lunch, right? Thanks so much for letting us know and especially for the GREAT review! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Wen says
Made this recently and it was absolutely delicious! Love the layers of flavor as you bite down as it was a delightful dance on the tongue!
Kris Longwell says
Hey Wen! So so glad you had success with the chicken salad! And thank you so much for letting us know!! We truly appreciate that!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Paula says
Made this over the weekend after roasting skin on bone in chicken breasts that had been marinated in buttermilk salt and pepper overnight. Went exactly by the recipe, and it was absolutely delicious! Thanks for a wonderful recipe, it is a definite keeper!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Paula! That’s fantastic to hear! So glad you enjoyed our chicken salad recipe! We really love it, too! And thank you so much for letting us know. We appreciate that very much! Stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Eve says
Absolutely the best chicken salad I’ve ever made. Going to be a staple in our house from now on. Thank you Kris and Wesley!
Kris Longwell says
Thank you, Eve!!! We are so glad you loved the chicken salad and as always, thank you so much for your support and kind words!! It means so much to us!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Claire says
This is the first time I have written a review. I was on line looking for a good chicken salad recipe and came across yours. OMG! this chicken salad is the best. When the flavors all come together the taste is amazing. I did not make the mayonnaise nor did I have regular mayonnaise so I used Primal Kitchen Mayo made with Avocado Oil. I shared the salad with my best friend and also my family. They loved it.
Thank you Kirs & Wesley for such a great recipe.