This Best-Ever Chicken Salad recipe is really the perfect go-to chicken 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. 145% Loon Approved!
Hey! Watch us show you how easy it is to make this truly incredible Best-Ever Chicken Salad recipe!
WHAT MAKES THIS THE BEST-EVER CHICKEN SALAD RECIPE?
I love to roast chicken pieces ahead of time, but you can also easily purchase a rotisserie chicken from your local supermarket and use that instead. Either way, this chicken salad is so tasty and can also be adjusted to fit your favorite tastes. We think the addition of seedless grapes, almonds and fresh dill are part of what make this chicken salad so wonderful. 
OUR HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE RECIPE IS EASY AND MAKES THIS BEST-EVER CHICKEN SALAD TRULY THE BEST!
And 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). I mean, just think how really amazing this recipe would be if you made the mayo from scratch!!
It’s It’s all about using fresh ingredients.
The rave reviews for this recipe just keep pouring in. Try it and you’ll see what all the fuss is about!
The flavor combo simply cannot be beaten.
And it’s even better after it sits in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight!
I mean, just look how delicious this Best-Ever Chicken Salad recipe looks!
Wait until you taste it!! You and those around you will love it!
How about a close up of all this deliciousness? You can almost taste how good this is just by looking at it.
There is a reason this is hands down the most popular chicken salad recipe not only on How To Feed a Loon, but on the internet, too!!
Best-Ever Chicken Salad
This Best-Ever Chicken Salad is really wonderful. Perfect for incredible chicken salad sandwiches (croissants are great!), or ton top of a lovely bed of green. Either way, you're just going to love this Best-Ever Chicken Salad! Using our Homemade Mayo recipe makes it even better!
Ingredients
- 3 - 4 lbs chicken parts (bone-in, skin-on thighs and breasts work well) (You'll need about 4 cups)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup seedless grapes, halved (red and green varieties are great)
- 1 cup almonds, thinly sliced
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Kosher salt (start with 1/2 teaspoon, then add more, to taste)
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
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Pre-heat oven to 350°F
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Rub the olive oil all over the chicken pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
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Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until internal temp reaches 165°F using an instant-read thermometer.
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Remove the chicken from the oven and let cool. Remove the skin then pull the meat from the bones and roughly chop.
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In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, grapes, almonds, celery, scallions, dll, & parsley.
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In a small-medium bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, lemon, mustard, salt and pepper.
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Add the mayo/mustard mixture to the chicken mixture and gently stir until well mixed.
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Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
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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!
Best Salad Recipe Ever
Keep Up The Good Work
Awesome
Thank you so much, Sam! We really appreciate it. We’ll keep ’em coming!! Kris & Wesley
Thank you for this recipe! This is the best chicken salad I’ve ever made. I finally found a keeper. Will be making this for years to come.
Wow, Jay! That is so awesome to hear! We are so happy you enjoyed the recipe! It is definitely one of our all-time favorites. Thanks again! Best, Kris & Wesley
What I mean is for how long can I store it in my fridge before it goes bad.
Hi Rita! It’s all fully cooked, so it could easily stay in the fridge in a container for a week. It will not be quite as fresh (obviously), but will still be fine for eating (and still very delicious!). You can also freeze for up to two months. Enjoy!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Hi Rita! It’s all fully cooked, so it could easily stay in the fridge in a container for a week. It will not be quite as fresh (obviously), but will still be fine for eating (and still very delicious!). You can also freeze for up to two months. Enjoy!! Best, Kris & Wesley
How long do you think this will last in my fridge? It’s delicious!
Just made this for 50 volunteers and it was a HUGE hit… thankfully I hid a bowl of it away for my sister-in-law and myself for after we were done serving everyone. My husband says it’s the best he’s ever had… even better than his Momma’s (but we won’t tell her that). Whoa!
Can you please tell me how many servings one batch of your recipe makes? I’m trying to figure out how much I can eat of it, without overdoing it, although it’s very hard to step away from the bowl.
Hello!! That is absolutely amazing and so wonderful to hear! How wonderful for you to make this for 50 volunteers! You can get quite a few servings out of one batch. If you’re using approx. 4 cups of cooked chicken, you could easily get 8 – 12 servings out of it. If you’re making sandwiches (not overly stuffed), you should be able to easily get 10 sandwiches out it.
We really hope this helps, and again…thank you so much for letting us know how you (and your husband and volunteers) liked it. That means so much to us.
Best, Kris & Wesley
Good afternoon from Missouri. I just cooked the chicken in our instant pot and waiting for it is your wonderful dressing. Can’t wait to incorporate them and chill to enjoy for dinner. Thank you for the recipe and wonderful video.
Hi Jaci! We love Missouri and have lots of relatives there!! My mom and dad met at college in Missouri (Central Methodist) and so that state holds a dear place in our hearts! Great idea about cooking the chicken in the amazing Instant Pot! Can hardly wait to hear what you think of the salad. Let us know! xoxo Kris (& Wesley)
I am planning on making this for my baby shower this weekend. Expecting to serve about 30 people, and will be using miniature croissants. Probably making about four dozen sandwiches. Would doubling or tripling this recipe work best? Thanks in advance. 🙂
Hi Taylor! Woo hoo! Baby shower! That’s a lot of work, but we’ve got a feeling you’ve got it under control and it will be stellar! Well, I’d probably say you might want to consider tripling it. I know that seems like a lot, and depending on how you stuff the sandwiches, you might have some left over. But we’ve had lots of folks ask us this before, and several have said guests liked the chicken salad so much, they gave the left-overs as parting gifts. I know that sounds crazy, but we hear it quite a bit. My rule of thumb is to make sure you have enough, and if you’ve got some left over, you’ll find something to do with. Please let us know how it turns out. And best of luck with the baby shower and especially the mother-to-be!! Yay!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Such an amazing salad However, I’m wondering what is the difference between boiling chicken and toasting chicken? And which one is more delicious?
Hi Natalie! Fantastic…well, I’m partial to roasting the chicken. If you don’t overcook it (until 165°F), you’ll have a nice juicy chicken with flavor locked in from the roasted skin and bone (that of course you’ll discard). Let us know what you think! Best, Kris & Wesley
I made this for a luncheon and there was none left over for me! Life is so unfair! I made another batch and it is absolutely delicious.
So you give two stars? That makes sense..
Why only 2 stars, we Really curious?
Cooked my chicken sous vide, 4 hours, then made this salad, tender and good. Thanks for this recipe.
Oooohhh…yes…sous vide…nice. Thanks for letting us know!! Kris & Wesley
Best chicken salad ever!!!
So happy about finding this recipe!
Yay!!!! So glad you liked it! The Best-Ever Tuna Salad is really good, too!! Thanks for letting us know!! 🙂 Kris & Wesley
Alright you guys! This is the crack of chicken salads! I took this to a meeting and it was a hit with all of the ladies. I used apple instead of the grapes and left out the almonds due to allergies. The star of the show is definitely the fresh dill. It really put the whole dish over the top. I tried to make the mayo but it was a fail. I can’t even imagine how good it would be if I had been able to use it. Thanks!
This was a delicious way to use my leftover chicken, so good! Due to pantry restrictions, I substituted grape tomatoes for grapes, pistachios for almonds, and chives for scallions ~ and it was divine. Thanks for the recipe.
Omg!! I got up and made your chicken salad this morning and I have to say this chicken salad is absolutely the best I’ve ever had! I love a little spice to my foods, so I seasoned the chicken with a little cayenne pepper and it’s really good!!!
Awesome! We love a little added spice, too! That sounds amazing! And we are so THRILLED to hear that you really liked the recipe. It’s a keeper!! Thanks again. All the best, Kris & Wesley
How many calories per serving? Thanks! Looking forward to making tonight.
Hey guys! The title of your dish is no exaggeration. This is the best ever chicken salad. I’ve made it twice now (with a few modifications), and the second batch was even better than the first. I’ve not tried your fresh mayo recipe, but look forward to incorporating that. I didn’t have any fresh dill (and didn’t want to make another trip to the store), so first time I subbed with same amount of dill relish, and second time same amount of dill juice from a pickle jar. Both did the trick, but I promise to use fresh dill next time. One other mod was that I used a poached chicken recipe I’d been wanting to try (as opposed to roasted). The poached chicken flavor is so intense. I highly recommend trying it.
Hi Mark! That all sounds fantastic! So glad you had success, and your modifications sound spot on! We’ll definitely try the poached chicken version, too. Thanks so much for letting us know!! We very, very much appreciated it!! Stay in touch! Kris & Wesley
I made this tonight, and boy was it good! The fresh dill, the tang of the Dijon, fresh lemon, made for a delightful, refreshing chicken salad. I used Miracle Whip instead of mayo (I prefer the flavor) and still turned out great. I will def be making this for summer get together!
This truly is the best chicken salad recipe ever. It certainly didn’t last long at my house! Thank you!
That is so awesome to hear, Kathy! Pleasing the household isn’t always an easy task! So glad you guys liked it! And thank YOU for letting us know. Stay in touch! xo Kris & Wesley
I need to know how many carbs are in each serving and what the serving size is, please. I am on the Keto plan and doing so well and I know that the troublesome ingredient is the grapes but there are not that many. I love the sound of this and would really appreciate an answer.
Thanks so much for your time.
Hi Ann!
1 cup is typically 1 serving and there are 2.5 grams carbohydrates per serving. Hope this helps!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Thank you so much for your help. It helped a great deal and I can hardly wait to make it.
Awesome! Let us know how it turns out!!
I will! 🙂
Hi! I’m so excited to make this for my sister-in-law’s baby shower! We are expecting around 15-20 guests. My brother wants it served on bread triangle cut with crusts cut off. Would you double or triple the recipe?
Thank you in advance! We are so excited for the deliciousness!!!
Hi Kate! This is perfect for the baby shower! And your brother’s got good taste! Love the bread triangles! I honestly think you can double the recipe and be fine. We have made this before at various food shows, etc, and tripling serves close to 50. But, people will probably come back for more…just saying!!! :). But, I really think you’ll be safe by doubling it. Let us know how it turns out and have a great shower! And congrats to mom and dad to be!! Exciting!
Hi!
Just wanted you guys to know your chicken salad recipe was a BIG hit! I followed it to the “T” including the homemade mayo! People loved it! My brother kept saying “there’s just something awesome about little triangle sandwiches”! I had some of the chicken salad leftover and people took it home in gladware. I definitely lives up to its name, the Best Ever Chicken Salad!
Fantastic! And I agree with your brother, there is something awesome about little triangle sandwiches!! So glad you and your guest liked it. Sounds like you had a fabulous shower. Congratulations!! Stay in touch! xo Kris & Wesley
This recipe is absolutely delicious! Definitely a keeper. Going to make it for my sisters baby shower.
Awesome!! Thank you so much for letting us know. Let us know how the shower turn’s out. And tell your sis that Kris & Wesley say “Congrats and sending lots of love for the newborn to come!” xoxo Kris & Wesley
I rarely comment on blogs but this chicken salad recipe deserves a comment! I am no good in the kitchen but this is so delicious, fresh, and easy to make! Every time I serve it people want the recipe. Great job and thanks for sharing it!
Hi Jen!! You just made our day, week and month!! Thank you so much for letting us know and we ware so very happy that you are enjoying and sharing it with friends!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
I made this over the weekend and it was amazing! Will be using this recipe again!
Sorry for the delayed response, Sherron!! That is so awesome to hear, and we are so thrilled that you loved the recipe!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Oh gosh! I just realized a mistake I made! I made this late last night before going to bed for a bridal shower today. I doubled the recipe. I accidentally used cilantro instead of parsley! (I had cilantro for salsa I was going to make also and when I went to get it this morning, there was only parsley! Note to self: when drinking wine late at night when you’re stressed about a party you really need to pay close attention to ingredients!
I’m scared to try it! I was determined to make it ahead of time and let it refrigerate overnight so the flavors were better! Tell me it’s gonna be okay!!!
I’ve always been cautious with chicken salad, I think it’s very easy to mess up and end up with a tuna salad-esque mess, but this recipe is amazing! Do you have the nutritional values for this recipe?
Hi! I was also curious about the nutritional values for this recipe 🙂 I love it and would love to share!
Thanks!
Amy
Hi Amy! I have that info stored on another computer. Let me pull that out and provide it. You’re not the only person who has asked for it. And so very happy to hear that you love it! It’s a favorite, for sure!! xo Kris (& Wesley)
I have never been a chix salad fan – I’d just never had any I liked and had pretty bad luck at purchasing it to find some I liked. Full disclosure – I’m really not a chix fan in general and buy rotis always if I do need it. After a postpartum craving last summer I made this recipe – OMG. I’m converted. I’ve made it incessantly. I’ve made it for friends. I’ve made it for my husbands General! Everyone asks for the recipe. And I am about to make it for the umpteenth time as a gift for a gf who just had a baby – passing on the torch to her. Just had to tell you this time that its delicious and thank you for sharing it!
Wow, oh wow! Talking about making our day, or heck, our week, or month! Thank you so much for letting us know. So very thrilled to hear that you’ve enjoyed the recipe and been able to share it with so many amazing people. Nothing makes us happier than that!! Thank you a million times over for letting us know. xoxo Kris & Wesley
Hi Kris,
Going to make your chicken salad for a ladies’ luncheon next week. Two other salads, green and pasta, are on the menu. Expecting 18-20 attendees. Should I double or triple the recipe? Re the dijon mustard, recipe calls for 1 tablespoon, but video says 1 teaspoon, although it appeared that more than that amount was used. So, which amount do you use? Lastly, I also plan to make your classic mayo. Is the final amount 1 cup? Thanks very much!
Hi Linda! Sounds fantastic! Those ladies are in for a treat! Do 1 tablespoon for the Dijon. It’s a matter of taste, but I really think the Dijon is what helps make this chicken salad really good. The final amount for the mayo can vary slightly, every time you make it. But the final amount is typically just over a cup. For 18 – 20, I think you’d be okay to just double it. And you could probably do one batch of the homemade mayo, and then have some store-bought on hand, just in case you need it. Hope this helps and so excited to hear how it all turns out! xo Kris & Wesley
Hey kris.
Is there a label made up for this recipe or anything? It’s amazing!!! One of my favorites.
Kris, the chicken salad was divine!! Many compliments and recipe requests from the ladies! I used dried dill (fresh dill in my local store was past its prime!), toasted the almonds, and doubled the recipe including the mayo using half avocado and half canola oil. Who knew making mayo could be so easy with the immersion blender??? Thanks for my now go-to chicken salad recipe!!
Linda! YES!!! We are thrilled to hear that it was a success! We were wondering how it turned out for you. Sounds like you absolutely nailed it! Bravo!! Thank you so much for letting us know! And isn’t making mayo fun, easy…and delicious?!! All the best, Kris & Wesley!!
This is so delicious. I followed recipe exactly as printed and it truly was the best ever!!! Kids loved it too!!
Awesome, Maureen!! Thank you so much for letting us know! So glad you (and the kids!) liked it. Stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
OH MY GOD this is amazing! I am so glad I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest. THANK YOU!
Awesome!!!! Thank you so much and we are so glad you liked it! We really love it, too!! We also love Village Bakery!! So great!! Stay in touch!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Just made this chicken salad and it is the BEST! It came together easily and fast. I served it on croissant with spinach leaves instead of lettuce. Delicious! I will definitely be serving this again. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Awesome, Lorraine! That is wonderful to hear! So very, very glad to hear you like it! We love it on a croissant, too, and spinach sounds absolutely perfect! Thank YOU of letting us know, and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Quick question – have a wet mustard allergy, would it be OK to use dry mustard? If so, how much? Thanks – love you guys. Found you with your Potatoes Dauphinois and fell head over heels!
Hi Colleen!! It is so wonderful to hear from you, and thank you!! Sending lots of love back to you, too! Absolutely you can use dry mustard. I’d go with a teaspoon of dried mustard, and maybe add in 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. Those two will work together nicely. Let us know how it turns out and please stay in touch! xoxo
Just made your chicken salad recipe just as you said to and it was awesome…shared the salad with a friend who liked it so much they asked for the recipe. You just made a new fan. Thanks guys.
Hi Roger! That is so fantastic to hear! We are so glad you guys loved the recipe! Thank you so much for letting us know, and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
I tried this recipe but i didn’t add the almonds and instead of grapes i used pieces of apples and it was amazing will be making more soon i love you guys .
Sounds awesome! Apples are wonderful in this chicken salad! Makes me want some right now! Thanks for reaching out to us and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
I tried this recipe today (without the grapes and almonds) and it was DELICIOUS, even my husband LOVED it. I made chicken salad stuffed tomatoes and wow!!! I do love chicken salad with grapes and nuts, so we will be doing this again adding both, just didn’t have them on hand. You are so right this recipe is so versatile that you can add/delete to your taste. The dressing is what makes this salad, there I’ll NEVER change a thing with that!!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you….
Thanks, Diana!! You are so right, it’s all about the dressing! So very, very happy to hear that you and your hubby loved it! Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Fantastic! I had some leftover chicken breast from another meal and thought this one looked like a winner and I was right. Thank you!
That’s so great to hear! Thank you for letting us know!! Please stay in touch, Chris! Thanks again! Kris & Wesley
Absolutely delicious! Added cumin & worcestershire instead of salt. Yum…
Yum! The additions sound fantastic!! Thanks for letting us know and please stay in touch!!
Best,
Kris & Wesley
I had this several years ago and thought it was nasty. Still think it is. So the name is misleading since I know about 20 people that won’t touch it. To me it’s the Worst ever chicken salad.
I am so surprised that you think this recipe is not a good one Bubba. What didn’t you like about it? Can you be specific. The chicken is whatever you like…store bought rotisserie or making your own chicken at home. That is a good part of the recipe. The other items are just regular items. There is nothing like horseradish or some crazy secret ingredient. So I am wondering if by chance you and your 20 friends are doing something incorrectly to make it be so nasty as you say. Almost all the rest of us think it is an awesome recipe. Oh and did your 20 friends also make it themselves or did they try yours?
When I see a negative reply to a recipe that is so well liked, I can’t help but wonder if they are trying to act like they are a gastronome. And for someone to have 20 friends that hate it, I don’t believe it!!
I agree Dan. Maybe the criticism is because they themselves made some errors in the recipe and served it to people.
This is one of the best chicken salad recipes out there. My step son called me, after I made it for him, to get the recipe, He makes it all the time now.
Mary
This recipe is awesome! I don’t use grapes or almonds, but I add giardiniera. It’s marvelous! If you’ve ever had potbelly, this comes close!
Hi Camielle! We have had Potbelly, and love it. And we LOVE giardiniera (although I can never seem to spell it correctly!). Your version sounds wonderful. I think that’s what people like so much about this recipe, it’s very adaptable to your own tastes! Thanks so much for letting us know, and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
I made this for a baby shower. Everyone raved about it and personally, this is the best chicken salad I’ve ever made. One guest said she has never liked chicken salad, but this made her want more. I made the mayonnaise following your recipe and it was fabulous.
Thanks for a great recipe. This will be my chicken salad recipe from now on.
Vickey, that is wonderful to hear, and thank you so much for letting us know. And that’s awesome that you made the mayo, too! I’m sure it was fantastic! So glad you and your guests like it. Nothing much better than that! xo Kris & Wesley
My son raved about a chicken salad sandwich with grapes he had at a wedding, so I searched for a recipe like it, and tried yours. Oh my!! The flavors balance beautifully. I had mine on Multigrain bread, and it was still delicious! And using a rotisserie chicken made this recipe so ridiculously fast, this is going to be a weekly meal for us. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
That is awesome, Jen! Yes! Rotisserie chicken works wonderfully! Sometime when you’ve got a little extra time, try roasting the chicken, it’s pretty amazing, too. So glad you and the family liked it. And thank you so much for letting us know. Please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
This is great; the combination of sweet with savory is just right . One I make that I got from my mother uses sweet western cantalope cut into bite size pieces , halved grapes, toasted slivered almonds, and chicken. I don’t have the amounts, I just eyeball what I want. Add mayonnaise and salt when ready to serve as it brings out the water in the cantalope. I have never served this that it was not liked and the recipe wanted. I think she tried to make a similar salad that she ate at the Pump Room in Chicago years ago.
That all sounds great, Ruth! This recipe is very adaptable to individual tastes. But we really do love it. It’s also our most popular recipe on the site! Thanks for letting us know, and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
This is the best chicken salad recipe ever! Everyone loved it. It is excellent with croissants. Thanks for the recipe!
Becky, you just made our day! So glad to hear you all loved the chicken salad. We love it, too, and have it every chance we get! Thanks for letting us know, and please stay in touch! Kris & Wesley
My husband really likes this chicken salad and I thought I wouldn’t but I do! He asks for it all the time. Thank you for the recipe.
Woo hoo! That’s so great to hear! You guys have good TASTE! Thanks so much for letting us know. All the best, Kris & Wesley
I am anxious to try your recipe. It sounds so good and your contributors seemed to love it. One day recently I was in a hurry and didn’t have all these ingredients so I used canned chicken, mayonnaise, CRAISINS, and pecans and it was delicious, especially for a quick meal. Probably doesn’t compare to all your delicious ingredients so I will try yours soon.
Fixing your chicken salad and serving in mini croissants for my niece’s baby shower.
Thank you!
Woo hoo!! We really, really hope everyone loves it at the baby shower! How wonderful! Hope mommy and baby are doing well and we send our best! Thanks for letting us know about the recipe. Stay in touch! xoxoxo Kris & Wesley
Does anyone know how many calories are in a serving?
This is the only recipe for chicken salad that my family will eat. My past chicken salad was boring and bland. So glad I found this one. Actually making it for dinner tomorrow. Thanks.
Awesome!! That is so great to hear! It’s not always easy to keep the family happy! 🙂 Glad we could help!! And thanks so much for letting us know. Best, Kris & Wesley.
can use you canned chicken?
can you use****
Hi Erin, you could…and we’ve heard from some folks that it still tastes good. But, if you’re looking to cut some time, go with a rotisserie chicken from the deli section in your supermarket, and just pull and shred the meat. But in a pinch, you could go with canned cooked chicken. Let us know what you end up doing and how it turns out! Good luck! Kris & Wesley
First time making this recipe, and man oh man is it good!!! Mixed dark and white meat chicken to give it a classic deli style taste, but I had to sub the scallions with green onion as well as use lemon juice concentrate and dried herbs. Tossed in some sunflower seed as I didn’t have the celery on hand no the scallions which add a crunch to it! Also used half veganase and half mayo as I ran out of mayo!
Sounds great, Jonathan!! So glad to hear it worked out well for you!! Thanks for letting us know!
Thank you so much for this recipe! 5 stars all the way. The only thing I changed was I toasted the almonds, and used dry dill, I did not have fresh on hand. It is by far the best chicken salad I have ever made. For some reviews that thought It had to much lemon juice, use 2 tablespoons, that seemed to be perfect for our taste.
Thank you, Debra! We couldn’t be happier that you enjoyed the recipe! And so glad you adapted it to your taste preferences! Thanks so much for letting us know, and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Wow.. this was my first time making chicken salad and its amazing. I of course have had chicken salads but back home they are usually more on the savory side, instead of this sweeter, healthier salad. I omitted the lemon, because we are not crazy about it.. but wow.. this is just delicious and my 2 and 4 year old LOVE it. I also used dried dill and parsley and its still out standing. I also added a bit of garlic powder because.. come on.. everything could use garlic! haha Thanks so much, this will become a regular staple in our home!
That sounds fantastic! We are super happy you liked it! It’s a pretty versatile recipe and your tweaks sound great! Thank you so much for letting us know, and please stay in touch! xoxo Kris & Wesley
I just made this today, and I am SO pleased! It is delicious. Will be taking it for a beach picnic! Thank you!
Awesome!! Thanks so much for letting us know, Katie!! Have a great beach picnic! (We’re jealous!!!). xoxo Kris & Wesley
Just made this for a friend recovering from surgery. I am not a fan of grapes and nuts in chicken salad but this is delicious. Dressing was a little tart for my liking (I may have used too much lemon juice) so I added a couple of tablespoons for Miracle Whip and it was perfect.
That is great to hear, Sarah! We hope your friend is having a speedy recovery, and that friend has a good friend in you, that’s clear! We love hearing from people like you that make tweaks to this recipe to fit their own liking. We think that’s why this recipe is so popular, it’s a fantastic base, but yet very adaptable. Thanks so much for letting us know, and please stay in touch. And give our best to your friend!! xo Kris & Wesley
Hey guys! The chicken salad was a hit. (And so was my strawberry shortcake btw) Do you have a trout recipe you can post on FB or here? Something other than the usual “stuff his belly with lemon and herbs” or my go to “Cajun blackened any kind of fish”. Hope all is well.
Awesome! Let me go back into my archives! I haven’t cooked trout since I lived in Texas many years ago. I’ll let you know what I come up with! Hope you are great, as well!! Best, Kris
Love this recipe! I use 1/2 cup of full-fat Greek yogurt instead of the mayonnaise and about 3 tablespoon of minced red onion instead of scallions. I might try adding some diced red apple next time I make this.
Awesome! Sounds great! That’s what we love about this recipe, it’s very adaptable! Thank you for sharing and please stay in touch!!
I just found you guys on my tablet and read all the wonderful comments that were shared. I plan to make this Chicken Salad today, as I have a rotisserie chicken ready to be dismantled. Can’t wait to see many of your delicious recipes pop up on the screen. Thank’s to you, for sharing.
We had paired loons on our lake side property, only they didn’t cook!
Woo hoo!! Let us know how the salad turned out. And hope you enjoy it! Loons are something to behold!! xo Kris
I just say OMG it was delightful. I followed u our entire recipe, to the bottom of your page, and WHAT LA, instant gratification to our taste buds. My husband said this recipe topped any of, even his grandmother’s, so guess what, it goes in our favorite recipe file for near future use. We thank you for sharing. Can’t wait for more receipe’s to come.
That is so awesome!! Thank you for letting us know!
Hands down, the best chicken salad I’ve ever used. I was in a hurry and just opened canned chicken (sigh), but even THAT was fantastic! The fresh dill TOTALLY popped in it. I’ll be making this for quite a while!
Thank you, Amy!! So glad you liked it! We agree, the dill makes it sing! Stay in touch! xo Kris & Wesley
I just made this for a Father’s Day luncheon for a full house. I was so nervous to try a new recipe when I was hosting my boyfriend’s parents and my family all together for the first time, but this is hands down the best chicken salad I’ve ever had. I prefer toasted walnuts to almonds, so I made a substitution there, and I used grilled chicken breasts. Otherwise made it exactly as specified and served it on fresh croissants. It was fantastic, and I’m eating it again already, only two hours after the last guest departed. You won’t be disappointed.
Melinda! You just made our day!! So very glad you liked this salad. That is a bit of a stressful situation to being trying out a new recipe, but you can’t go wrong with this one. So happy!! Stay in touch, all the best, Kris & Wesley
I really don’t care for dill but everyone loves this recipe. Do you really taste the dill strongly?
The great thing about this recipe is you can adjust anything to your own liking. We think all the flavors blend together just right, but try it and pull back a tad on the dill and see what you think. One of our producers from our show doesn’t like dill, but he loves this salad!! Let us know what you think. Thanks!
Just wondering if adding cream cheese would enhance the flavor. Not instead of mayo, but in addition too. Perhaps cut down on the mayo? Haven’t tried the recipe yet.
Hi Terri! I’ve never tried adding cream cheese to a chicken salad, but sounds interesting. I’m all for trying new things, and this recipe is very adaptable. I don’t like salads, like chicken or potato, that have too much mayo, and we think this ratio is pretty good, but give it a go and let us know how it turns out!! Thanks!! Kris & Wesley
Love this salad! I have even made it with canned chicken In a pinch and it still turns out divine!
So wonderful to hear, Karen!! Thanks for sharing, and please stay in touch!! xo Kris & Wesley
This recipe is very similar to one I got from my Aunt Virginia many years ago only hers did not have dill or mustard in it. I want to try your version too! Sounds yummy!
Hi Karen! I must say I think the dill is key, and the mustard gives it depth. I’d hate to compete with Aunt Virginia! But, give it a shot, I think you’ll like it…and let us know if you do and what you think. All the best, Kris & Wesley
OMG this is amazing! I made this and am making them into pinwheels stuffing for a party. Will let you know how it turns out like that. I can eat this for days. My 13 year old couldn’t stop eating it lol
Love. It! So glad you and your family like it!! Totally want to hear about the pinwheels stuffing…sound awesome! Let us know and thanks so much for letting us know!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
The pinwheels were a hit!!! I also put the left over dressing in a dipping bowl if anyone wanted extra. Definitely making this tonight again for a bbq. So glad I found you guys and this amazing recipe! Thank you!!!
AWESOME!!!! Keep your eyes peeled…so much more to come!! Thanks again!! K&W
This recipe looks perfect for the Bunco party I’m hosting next week! I usually like chicken salad on a crossaint, so will likely do that. Do you have any suggestions for sides and/or desserts that go well with it?
I hope your comment can be deleted as it has no bearing whatsoever on the recipe. So why you had to comment to begin with is ridiculous. I will pray for you that God helps you find more constructive things to do in your life then to make an awful comment on a chicken salad recipe.
God bless you, Mary.
Hi Kris and Wesley,
I just made the chicken salad and I took a taste and it is delicious. I have it in the fridge getting chilled for dinner later. So the only thing I did not do is add the dill. And that is because I went to two stores and no fresh dill. So when I got home I realized I had some Marzetti dill dip and so I added a tablespoon to the chicken salad. I was getting dill in there one way or another. So now I am debating on what I want to serve it with. This awesome tea house I go to puts the chicken salad in won ton cups. I have never tried this so going to look up if I can by them or if I have to make them. The chicken salad tasted great in them. It gave it a nice crunch. Well have a great evening an thanks for a great recipe.
Hi Mary!
Don’t you hate that when the store is out of an ingredient! Well, sounds like you found a good solution. I do have to say I think the dill is one of the key herbs that makes this salad sing, but it sounds perfect what you did. And, the won ton cups sound wonderful. Love it! This salad is quite versatile, so I think it will be awesome served that way! Thanks for letting us know, and let us know what you and your loved ones think of it! Have a great meal and evening!! Kris & Wesley
Our family has been making this for the past 35 years; the only thing different is we add 1 or 2 Tablespoons Capers and do not use the dill. We also use this as a salad and then we add 1-1/2 cups of cooked/rinsed/drained shell macaroni and serve on a leaf of lettuce, a slice or 2 of tomatoes and a couple slices of avocado (marinated in lime juice and black pepper). Amazing that our recipe is almost identical.
Hey Bev! We LOVE capers! Your version sounds really good! And hey! Great cooks think alike, right? Thanks for sharing, and do please stay in touch!! Best, Kris & Wesley
This really is the best chicken recipe salad! My husband and I absolutely LOVE it. It’s delicious fresh but it is even better the next day. Thank you so much for sharing this awesome recipe!
Thank you so much, Amy!! We agree, it really is great just as it all comes together, but the next day…even better!! We are so glad you guys like it! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Do you have the nutritional breakdown for this recipe? I cannot wait to try it. I had Bariatric Surgery and am always looking for new ways to eat healthy food. This looks REALLY good.
Which is right? Your video calls for 2 ribs of celery and 3 scallions. Your printed recipe calls for 1 rib of celery and 4 scallions. Pretty big change in flavor.
Thanks Carolyn!! Great catch. I am always tweaking recipes over time. We did this video about a year after I first developed this recipe. When I make it now, I go with the 2 ribs of celery and 3 scallions. I decided to pull back on the scallions, even though I love them. I was looking for the perfect blend of flavors. Thanks again, and let us know how it turns out!! Best, Kris (& Wesley).
Well it really is the best!! I have made this for our family when we go to bible conventions. I look for something that will taste great and keep nicely. This is golden!! Last time I made it, it was for a family that was new to our congregation and the kids loved it!! Thanks for helping me be not a peanut butter and jelly mom all of the time
That’s awesome! Merry Christmas!!
Wish I could get TimHortons to use this recipe in their Canadian stores! It is so much better than their current chicken salad sandwich, which I ordered yesterday because there was no egg salad! This is a lovely recipe!
HI Lynn! Thank you so much. We kinda agree…I haven’t found a chicken salad recipe that beats this one. Took me a while to get it just right, but now it’s a favorite of ours and we really get a lot of positive feedback when good people like you give it a try. Thank you so much for letting us know, and please stay in touch! Kris & Wesley
Hello,
I was hoping to get a serving size with calories so I can plan my other meals around this. Thank you!
Hey there! 12 oz. per serving with 360 calories (using a light mayo). Enjoy!
Hello!
I was wondering how many calories would be in a typical serving size for the chicken salad by itself (no bread). Thanks!
HI Allison!
One serving size is approx. 12 ounces. And if you go with a light mayo, the calories count per serving is 360. Hope this helps! Let us know how it turns out, if you make it. We’re pretty sure you’ll love it1
Thank you so much for getting back to me! I made it on Sunday and it’s AMAZING! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Woo hoo!!! So glad y’all liked it!!
Simply amazing! My first time making chicken salad and so glad I chose this recipe. Made it for my boyfriend for the work week but I can’t stop eating it myself! Delish.
That is awesome to hear, Abbey!! We are so glad you liked it. It is definitely one of our favorites! Thank you for letting us know! Stay in touch! Best, Kris and Wesley
This really is the BEST chicken salad ever! I made this last week while I was on vacation, using leftovers from another recipe where I had made crock pot Rotisserie Chicken and had leftover chicken meat. I pretty much ate the whole bowl by myself it was soooo good! I did let me 10 year old try some when he came home from school and he’s always skeptical about new things and he was like WOW mom! That’s really good! But I must admit that little bowl I gave him was all he got! The rest I ate through the week with wheat thin crackers, yum! I made as directed with the exception of I didn’t have any Dijon mustard so I substituted it with Chardonnay Mustard and I used my left over chicken from the previous meal mentioned. Thanks sooo much for sharing this recipe! I can’t wait to make this again!!
Thank you, Deanna! We are SO thrilled to hear that you liked this chicken salad. It is definitely our favorite! And how awesome that your 10 year old son gave it a big thumbs up!! Thanks again for letting us know how it turned out! And do stay in touch! Kris & Wesley
Looks amazing! I want to make this for camping this weekend. How long will it keep in the fridge you think??
HI Julia! This salad will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. I think it’s best when it sits over night and then you eat it the next day…the flavors really meld, yet everything is still very fresh. You could make it tomorrow and then head out camping the next day, and it will be perfect. You’ll just need to keep it in a cooler, obviously. Let us know how it turns out…and have a GREAT weekend camping. We’re jealous! 🙂 Kris & Wesley
Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly!! I am going to make it today then. I will let you know how it turns out and how everyone likes it! Thanks again 🙂
This chicken salad is amazing! I can’t wait to taste is tomorrow after it has been in the fridge.
Awesome!! How was it the next day? We LOVE it after it sits in the fridge over night! Stay in touch!! Kris & Wesley 🙂
Fantastic
🙂
Wow! I just made your Best Ever Chicken Salad and it is! It’s very different from the chicken salad my mom always made with boiled eggs and sweet pickle relish. I had mine on a croissant. It was so good I had seconds. I’ll be making it again soon. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome!! Thanks for letting us know, Neva! Stay in touch!! 🙂
Can’t wait to make & try your chicken salad recipe- it sounds great!! I love chicken salad with fruit & nuts in it- this sounds perfect on bread or just crackers for a snack!! Yummmmmmm!will make tomorrow for lunch!! With a rotisserie chicken for sure!!
Awesome, Tim! We love it, too! Let us know what you think…we think you’re gonna like it! 🙂
Hey I really wanted to make this chicken salad it looks so healthy j was wondering how many calories in this whole batch love your recipes!
Thank, Abby
Hi Abby!
I don’t have the exact calorie count for this salad. You’ll run into some calories in the mayo, but not too much…I’d say less than 100 calories per serving. I don’t like my chicken salad to be too heavy with the mayo. All in all, this is a pretty healthy recipe. You could go with a low-cal mayo, but in my opinion, it will alter the taste too much. Hope you try it, though, and if you do…let us know what you think! Thanks, Kris & Wesley
Delicious. I did add one chopped Granny Smith apple too. Loved it! Thanks
Thanks, Gloria! The chopped Granny Smith apple was excellent, I’m sure! Yum! Thanks for the feedback, and please come back often. All the best, Kris and Wesley.
I love your chicken salad and would like to get more recipe from you both. I’d especially would like you potato and pasta salads. Thank you. Just general information I’m 81 years young.
Hello Allene! Thank you so much for your note and we are thrilled that you enjoyed the chicken salad. It was on of our favorites, for sure! We do have a pasta salad and potato salad on the site, too. Just do a search in the search box in the upper right corner, and you’ll see them. Let us know if you can’t locate them. Thanks so much, and stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
I detest mustard in all forms! Can you taste it in the salad? If so, can it be omitted without changing it from the Best-Ever to just Almost the Best-Ever?
Leave it out! I’m pretty sure you’ll still love it!
I made this using rotisserie chicken and it was delicious! I was hoping for leftovers, but everybody had seconds. LOL Which I definitely prefer to people not liking my food. I will definitely be making this again.
That’s so funny, Marci! Well, I couldn’t agree more…I love leftovers…but when it’s because people aren’t eating what you made them…it’s not so great! So very happy that you and your guest enjoyed it. And thank you for letting us know. Please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
Made this for a luncheon today. I used a large rotisserie chicken and I chopped almonds because I couldn’t find the slivered almonds. It still came out great! Everything is so balanced. I added a couple tbsp plain Greek yogurt because I like it extra creamy.
Emily…aren’t those rotisserie chicken’s the best?! I do that often as well, when I’m in a pinch for time, and it turns out amazing. Love the addition of Greek yogurt. I bet that was amazing…will have to try that next time. Thanks for letting us know how it turned out…and stay in touch!
A lot of different recipes say “the best”, but I am really amazed at how good this recipe is. I believe that it can be called the “The Best”!
Thank you, Kristen!! That word does get thrown around a lot, but we have to agree…we think this chicken salad really is the best! It means the world to us that you agree. Please stay in touch! All the BEST, Kris & Wesley
I’m taking a friend to the hospital for a back procedure Tuesday and I wanted to take her lunch/dinner when I picked her up to have when she got back home. This is perfect!! I can add some good crackers or bread, a fruit salad perhaps and have a great little meal. Thanks.
Perfect! I have made this for a very finicky eater neighbor a few times when she had been in the hospital…and she can’t stop raving about it. I think your friend will thank you very much. Let us know how it turns out, Jan! All the best. Kris
I can’t wait to try this! To save time I may need to use rotisserie chicken. Could you tell me how many cups of cooked chicken I should use? Thank you!!
I used 3 1/2 – 4 cups of cooked, diced chicken per recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. I’ve made it twice so far and have shared the recipe numerous times. It’s delicious!
Perfect, Susan!! So glad you’ve enjoyed it! Lots more to come!! Kris & Wesley.
Hi Lara! I use rotisserie chicken often with this, too, and still love it. One chicken should give you about 3 cups which is just right. Just keep an eye on the dressing to chicken ratio…don’t overdue it with the dressing. Add a little, then mix, until it just coats the chicken. Perfection!! Let us know how it turns out! Thanks!
This was a big hit at my daughter’s baby shower. There were approx 80 guests so I 8x the recipe. I poached 15 lbs of boneless chicken breasts which yielded about 32 cups of cubed chicken. There was LOTS left over (I didn’t dare shirk on my only responsibility) so I divided up the leftovers into takeaway containers and put them out on the table next to the party favors as guests were leaving. There was not one container left! I received many requests for your recipe during and after the party and shared your website with them all. I love your videos and look forward to making more of your delicious-looking dishes.
Susan! You just made our day!! That sounds FANTASTIC!! Wow! 15 lbs of boneless chicken breasts!! You weren’t taking any chances, for sure! And how incredible that you gave everyone their own container of the chicken salad. I’m so thrilled that everyone liked it. Sounds like you did it perfectly. That’s just wonderful. Thank you so very, very much for sharing. Keep coming back and please stay in touch. All the best! Kris (& Wesley…the Loon).
No worries!! 🙂
Hi I want to make this for a wedding shower this weekend. Could you tell me about how many this will serve?
Thank you!
Annie
Never mind I am a ding dong I just saw it serves 4-6
Sorry to bother you!
You are NOT a ding dong!! No bother at all. Hope it turns out great! Have fun!!
HI Annie! It depends on how you’re serving it. I say 4 – 6 people, but that’s if you making a nice-sized sandwiches. If you serve with slider buns, or just as a salad, this recipe could easily feed 10 – 12. In the video, you’ll see that we doubled-the recipe, and you’ll see how much it made. We fed it to an audience of approx. 40 people, and had enough. Let us know how it turns out! Thanks so much!!
I just LOVE you guys – You are awesome! My kids (8 & 9) will eat about anything the loon comes up with with makes me love you MORE! They love this!
One question – We are about to road trip – Which recipes do you think will work best for the 20 hour 2-day car ride? (Besides mojitos for Mommy 🙂 )
Hi Teddie!! That is so awesome to hear! And so glad your kids like the Loon Approved recipes! That really makes so happy. Well, for a road trip, this chicken salad is great…you’d just have to keep cool in a cooler, if that’s an option. I have a couple pasta salads, and a potato salad that would be nice, too. But again, would need to keep them in a cooler. You could make some fried chicken, but that’s kind of involved. I have a recipe for Lemon Bars, that are really nice. Plus, I’ve got several cookie recipes that are Loon favorites, too. All of these are on the site, just search for them in the search bar. I’ll have to think some more on it, it’s a good question, maybe we’ll start a new category on the site called ‘Food to Take on the Road!”:)
Just made for my sister’s baby shower today! So wonderful! lots of compliments on this salad from the guests!!
That’s so great to hear, Christina! I am thrilled that it turned out good, and that your guests enjoyed it. I’m sure you prepared it perfectly! Exciting news about the baby, too. That’s always such an exciting time for a family. Stay in touch. Cheers! Kris (& Wesley)
I just finished making your chicken salad recipe & it’s phenomenal!
I was concerned with 2T of dill & almost decreased it but so glad I didn’t. Chicken salads I have made in the past, I sample prior to refrigerating to see if I need to adjust anything then I put them into the fridge to allow the flavors to marry because it’s not very tasty prior. Your chicken salad? I’m surprised I had any to put into the fridge! Delicious even before having a chance to sit.
Thank you for my go-to chicken salad recipe!
Hi Lizbeth! Thank you so much for the note! I couldn’t be happier that you enjoyed this chicken salad. I played with the ingredients and measurements for quite a while until I thought it was just right. Both Wesley and I love dill, and think it compliments the salad just perfectly. Thank you again, come back often, and stay in touch! All the best! Kris (& Wesley).
Oops…. Sorry…. You rub in on the chicken.
No worries!!!! Let me know if you make it and what you think. All the best!!
You listed good quality olive oil , but I don’t see where you used it in the recipe.
Rubbing it on the chicken, it’s right there.