This is the ultimate Chicken Salad recipe! We call this ‘fancy’ Chicken Salad because of the dressing, grapes, and pecans, but it’s truly easy. This is a fresher and lightened-up version of classic chicken salad, and it’s perfect as a side dish, main course, or for meal prep. It’s especially easy if you use leftover rotisserie chicken.
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Helpful Reader Review
“Another winner. I was looking for a summer dinner, this was perfect. I served it on a bed of spinach & lettuce. My husband had 2 servings. It was perfect the next day for lunch, we made into sandwiches. Thank you for sharing!!” – Cindy ★★★★★
Chicken Salad Video
Watch my easy video tutorial where I walk you through all of my tips for making the best Chicken Salad.
I’ve made and tasted more chicken salads than I can count, and after years of tweaking, this is the one! It has a creamy dressing, but it feels so light and bright because of the lemon and fresh herbs in the dressing. The combination of sweet and savory flavors, and different textures makes this salad exciting and one you’ll make on repeat. This is my go-to lunch salad on busy work days, and it never disappoints. Plus, there are so many ways to serve and keep it exciting (see my serving suggestions below).
We love protein-packed salads like our Chicken Avocado Salad, Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad, and Cobb Salad. This creamy chicken salad is really the best combination of chicken salad and Waldorf salad which is a go-to for lunch. As a busy working mom, I always appreciate quick and easy lunch ideas.
Chicken Salad Ingredients
The 5 ingredients in this chicken salad are simple, but each one is important for the best taste, texture, and color. That said, there are plenty of variations that I’m sharing so you can use what you have on hand.
- Chicken – we use 2 large chicken breasts from a whole roasted chicken, but you can use rotisserie chicken, Baked Chicken Breast, or sautéed chicken breasts instead. Dark-meat chicken, like our quick-cooking Air Fryer Chicken Thighs will also work. I’ve even had good reports with readers using canned chicken in a pinch.
- Celery – adds a great crunch to the salad and lightens up the flavor (if you aren’t a fan of celery, we can still be friends, just replace with diced green apple, bell pepper or seeded diced cucumber.
- Grapes – add sweet juiciness to the salad. Just like in our Broccoli Grape Salad, the grapes are a refreshing addition and make the salad feel ‘fancy.’ You can sub for another fruit such as diced apples or pears or dried fruit like cranberries or raisins.
- Pecans – I suggest toasting the nuts on a dry skillet to really bring out their flavor. You can substitue with walnuts, cashews, sliced or slivered almonds, or sunflower seeds or pepitas.
- Red onion – finely chop half of a medium red onion, or you can add red onion to taste. If you prefer a milder onion flavor, try a vidalia sweet onion. You can also substitute chopped green onion, but red onion keeps better when refrigerated.
The Best Chicken Salad Dressing
This is similar to the dressing from my popular Broccoli Apple Salad. It’s creamy and tangy, and adding sour cream makes it lighter than just using mayo.
- Mayonnaise – use real mayo or homemade mayonnaise for the best flavor.
- Sour cream – we use full-fat sour cream, but you can substitute it with low-fat sour cream or fat-free Greek yogurt.
- Lemon juice – be sure to use freshly squeezed and not from concentrate.
- Dill – finely chopped fresh dill is our favorite, but you can substitute with 2 Tbsp of finely chopped fresh parsley. Fresh herbs really elevate this salad.
How to Make Chicken Salad
This easy chicken salad comes together so fast in one bowl, which is why it’s the ideal lunch option.
- Toast pecans – Place them on a dry skillet over medium/low heat and toss them frequently until they are golden and fragrant. Do not walk away from them because they can burn easily. Transfer to a cutting board to coarsely chop and set aside to cool, then add to a large bowl.
- Chop Chicken – dice cold chicken breast and add it to the mixing bowl. Note: We prefer the texture of chicken when it’s diced instead of shredded.
- Halve Grapes – Cut grapes in half with a serrated knife and add to the bowl.
- Chop celery and onion – cut celery sticks in half lengthwise then thinly slice and add to the bowl along with the chopped onion.
- Make Dressing – Combine the dressing ingredients in a dish and add dressing to the salad.
- Toss to combine – stir until salad is evenly coated in dressing, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
This easy chicken salad keeps well in the refrigerator, so it’s great for meal prep. If you are serving the salad with greens or on toast (see serving ideas below), store those separately from the salad so they don’t get soggy.
- To Refrigerate – Store the leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, depending on how fresh the cooked chicken is. The USDA recommends storing cooked chicken for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing – I do not recommend freezing chicken salad since the dressing can separate.
How to Serve Chicken Salad
Just like with a classic Tuna Salad, this chicken salad can be served as a side salad or as a main course:
- Over Mixed Greens – place your favorite greens such as arugula or mixed salad greens into a large bowl, top with the chicken salad, and serve.
- Lettuce Wraps – serving in lettuce cups is a great low-carb option for lunch.
- Croissant Sandwiches – Cut the croissants in half without cutting all the way through then fill it with the salad. It tastes like a bakery-quality sandwich.
- Crackers – pair with crunchy crackers for a quick snack. My favorites are Sourdough Crackers, or storebought Ritz or Wheat Thins.
- Pita Bread – we love to stuff a pita with chicken salad, it’s so simple and good.
I hope this creamy Chicken Salad gives you some great lunchtime inspiration. I’m convinced this will become your new favorite creamy chicken salad dressing – it’s easy and excellent.
Have you tried this easy chicken salad? I’d love to hear about any special twists or add-ins that you use.
Best Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Chicken Salad Ingredients:
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast meat, 4 cups diced*
- 2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
- 1 cup celery, (from 2-3 sticks celery), cut in half lengthwise then sliced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped (1/2 medium red onion)
- 1 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
Chicken Salad Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp dill, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Toast pecans on a dry skillet over medium/low heat and toast for 3-5 minutes, tossing frequently until golden and fragrant then transfer to a cutting board and coarsely chop and set aside to cool.
- Combine Salad Ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, combine diced chicken, halved grapes, sliced celery, chopped onion, and cooled pecans.
- Make the Dressing – In a small bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients and stir to combine.
- Add the dressing to the salad to taste and stir until the salad is evenly coated with dressing. Enjoy right away or cover and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
*Chicken Salad Variations
- Nuts – leave them out or try walnuts, almonds, or cashews.
- Fruit – instead of grapes, try diced apples, pears or dried fruit like cranberries or raisins.
- Onion – try sweet Vidalia onion, or chives for milder onion flavor.
- Celery – swap with green apple, bell pepper or seeded diced cucumber.
- Canned Chicken – it will work but you’ll have the best texture when using fresh, cooked chicken.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy Lunch Ideas
- Taco Salad
- Egg Salad
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Reuben Sandwich
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Chickpea Salad
- Avocado Chicken Salad
- Sloppy Joes
This is the best chicken salad ever. My friends love when I make it! Thank you for sharing.
This is basically our “go to” chicken salad at our house, but we add tarragon instead of the dill!
I’m glad to hear that!
Dangerously delicious!! I’m not sure if it’s healthy to eat this as much as I do! I make it twice a week. Thank you for sharing!!
Great chicken salad. Everyone in the house loved it. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You’re so welcome, Idalia!
This looks amazingly delicious!
I can’t wait to make this! Thank you for sharing your inspiring & wonderful recipe😊💖
The best we’ve tried, and share the recipe every time I bring it somewhere.
I just made this for a baby shower. I’m excited for everyone to enjoy it. It is so fresh and delicious, a perfect addition for a Springtime celebration.
I hope it becoems a huge hit!
My granddaughter loves your Fancy chicken salad, she requests it for her school lunches, and eats it 3 days in a row. We like it too it’s great. Thank you.
That’s awesome!
This looks very tasty but I can’t eat nuts. What do you suggest I replace them with? Val
Hi Val! You can just leave them out.
Can you have sunflower seeds? That’s what I use! Just toast at 350 in the oven or toast in a pan with a bit of salt, so good and you still get that nutty crunch in there! Made this 2 nights ago and I haven’t stopped thinking sbout how good the sandwich is!!
I don’t like mayo. Is there an alternative or can I leave it out?
Hi Shawn! Using Mayo gives this the best flavor, but feel free to experiment with it. You can use more sour cream/Greek yogurt to help balance it.
Love this salad! So easy to make and tastes great! I used roasted turkey leftovers instead of chicken meat. Will make it again!
I’ve been making this for about 20 years. The only difference is I add chopped dill pickles or even sweet gherkins.
Outstanding! This will be a regular recipe for me. I found small sweet firm red grapes from Peru which were perfect.
Ver pleasantly surprised! Mix of delicious tastes & textures.
Extremely tasty and easy to make. I followed the reciepe exactly and wouldn’t change a thing.
Delicious! The only ingredient I changed was whole milk yogurt in place of sour cream. (Only because I didn’t have sour cream on hand.) Thanks Natasha!
Yay! Great to hear that you loved this salad!
Hint-if you have a Ninja Foodie Smart Lid with a sous vide option, what I do is put boneless skinless thighs in it just as they come in the vacuum pack from Costco. The meat comes out so good!
Thanks for sharing, Irina!
I do not like mayo. Can I leave it out or substitute it with something else?
Hi Neelam. Using Mayo gives this the best flavor, but feel free to experiment with it. You can use more sour cream/Greek yogurt to help balance it.
This was such an easy and delicious recipe! I will definitely be making this again in the future!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Rhonda!
I followed the recipe closely, and this is the best chicken salad I’ve ever had! And I’ve had lots of chicken salad in my lifetime! I used Duke’s mayonnaise, which I’ve recently discovered and it kicks Hellman’s butt so to speak!
This was delicious! I had some rotisserie chicken to use up so I just used what I had in my fridge. I didn’t have red onions or pecans so I didn’t use any onions and used walnuts instead of pecans. Apart from that I followed the recipe to a T and it was delicious! Thanks for new my go to chicken salad recipe!
Hi Nicolette! I’m so glad you found a new go-to recipe! Thank you for sharing.