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
Tammy Flynn says
The BEST EVER chicken salad! I have made this many times and still love it the best!. Its crunchy, sweet, creamy deliciousness is a favorite of my family. The dill, grapes, and celery make it perfect year round. I ‘cheat’ with rotisserie chicken. This is the recipe that introduced me to How to Feed a Loon. You guys are amazing!!
Kris Longwell says
Tammy!! This makes us so happy! We are so grateful that you found us (via Chicken Salad)! We appreciate your support and we are thrilled you are enjoying our recipes!! This chicken salad put us on the map a few years back! Thanks again!!! Kris & Wesley
Shawna says
If I am using rotisserie chicken, is it 4 cups of shredded chicken? That sounded high so I just wanted to check before making!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Shawna, 4 cups is a good ratio of chicken to dressing, but you can pull that back if needed. Just add the dressing a little at time, stirring, until you get your desired ratio of chicken to dressing. Keep us posted!
Paige says
We first came across this recipe on your website in 2018. It is still our favorite! (And we do make your homemade mayo, too, because it makes it absolutely over the top delicious!) Everyone we have served this to over the years has raved! I haven’t been on your website since that first recipe interaction, but now that I’m finding it again, I can’t wait to try some more of your creations! Thanks for sharing your culinary genius with us!
Kris Longwell says
Paige!!! You just made our day!!! We are THRILLED you are enjoying our chicken salad recipe, especially with the homemade mayo!!! NICE!!! Thank you so so much for sharing and for the amazing review! We truly appreciate that so much! Please stay in touch!! xo Kris & Wesley
Al says
This is the most delicious chicken salad I have ever had. And it was very simple.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Al! That is so wonderful to hear! We are thrilled you made our chicken salad and had such great success!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the awesome review! That means the world to us!!! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Amanda says
I found this recipe a few years ago and it has been my go to recipe for potlucks! Chicken Salad Chick has nothing on y’all!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Amanda! Thank you so so much! We are so happy you are loving our chicken salad! We think it’s the bomb, too!!!! Thank you so so so much for sharing and for the awesome review! That really means so much to us! Please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Laure says
This recipe is TIMELESS. I’ve made it at the LEAST once a month since I found the recipe 9 years ago. I found it to make for my middle child’s baby shower who is now about to be 8. EVERYTIME I make it people ask me for the recipe or they request I make it for the next event!
Kris Longwell says
This means so much to us, Lauren!!! We are THRILLED that you have been enjoying our chicken salad recipe over the years! That’s amazing that your middle child is now 8 years old! You just made our day! Thank you so so much for sharing and for the wonderful review. It honestly means so much to us!!! Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Maria Weaver says
Absolutely delicious. I always make this recipe when I am entertaining and everyone loves it.
Kris Longwell says
Yay!! We are so so happy you are enjoying our chicken salad recipe! And thank you so so much for sharing and for the wonderful review! That means so much to us!! Please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Heather says
Amazing.. I’ve been making this for years and always get compliments and requests to make it. It’s perfect
Linda Hyde says
So glad I made this; it really is the best!
Kris Longwell says
Yay! We’re so glad you made it, too! And thanks for sharing!!! Stay in touch!
Parnellabella says
thanks for the recipe!
Just a suggestion: for the salt, it would be nice if instead of saying “1 teaspoon and then in parenthesis say start with 1/2 teaspoon, you start with 1/2 teaspoon and then for those of us that don’t pre-read our recipes we could not over salt to begin with and have to start over! 🙂
Kris Longwell says
Thanks! We’ll update!!
deb says
Absolutely delicious. The roasted chicken adds great flavor. It really is the best! I’m making some today to jazz up the matzah we’re currently eating.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Deb! We are so so thrilled you are enjoying our chicken salad recipe! It will be GREAT with the matzah!!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful review. That means so much to us! Please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Nicole says
This is my go-to chicken salad recipe. I make it even easier by using a store bought rotisserie chicken! Never fails to be delicious.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Nicole! You just made our day! We love that you are loving our chicken salad recipe! And rotisserie is a great way to go!!! Thank you so so much for sharing and for the awesome review. That means so much to us!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
shawna says
how many cups shredded rotisserie do you use?
Kris Longwell says
Hi Shawn! Just responded to your comment. Let us know how it turns out!
Tiffany says
This truly is the BEST! This has been my go to for several years now. Everyone loves it. Thank you!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Tiffany! Yay!! We are so so happy you have been enjoying our chicken salad recipe!!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the fabulous review. That means the world to us!! Please stay in touch!!! xo Kris & Wesley
Monica Martin says
I never made this at home so I wanted to give it a try. Only thing I didn’t do was cook the to chicken. I bought a rotisserie chicken as Sam’s Club because they are flavorful and are bigger. I also switched out as almonds for pecans because they are yummy. This turned out amazing though. Especially on croissants but honestly I could have eaten it by itself no joke lol. Thanks for the recipe!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Monica! Yay! This chicken salad recipe is definitely adaptable, so we are so happy you made some substitutions that fit your likes and it turned it so good! Thank you so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. That means so much to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley