This Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipe brings the classic sandwich back to your kitchen! Creamy, crunchy, and super simple to throw together.
Author’s Notes
The Sandwich I Still Think About!
Before Chick-fil-A discontinued their chicken salad sandwich, it was my go-to order. Yep, I really am a chicken salad girl through and through.
I loved their chicken salad; it was perfectly creamy, flavorful, and simple. I was so sad when it left the menu! But, lucky for us, they shared the original recipe, and this copycat version tastes just like it. Plus, it’s truly so easy to make at home!
Between this sandwich, their famous sauce, their crunch salad, and the discontinued coleslaw I just shared… you’ve basically got a full Chick-fil-A feast right in your home!
Why This Recipe Works
This copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipe captures everything that made the original so good. It is creamy from the mayo and hard-boiled eggs. There is a little crunch from the celery. The sweet pickle relish adds just the right flavor pop. Best of all, it comes together in minutes using a food processor!
Ingredients In Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipe
- Chicken: Use Chick-Fil-A filets straight from the restaurant, rotisserie chicken, leftover grilled, or store-bought grilled chicken.
- Celery: Fresh, firm stalks add the best crunch and flavor.
- Sweet pickle relish: Use a good, sweet relish; I love Heinz.
- Mayonnaise: Use high-quality mayo for the best flavor.
- Hard-boiled eggs: Adds creaminess and richness that sets this salad apart.
Storage
This Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipe gets better as it chills. You can make it up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It is not recommended to freeze since mayo and eggs can separate.
More Chicken Salad Variations:
Chick Fil A Chicken Salad Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons chopped celery cut to 1-inch pieces
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken cooled and cut to 1-inch pieces, see note 1
- 2 large hard boiled eggs cooled and peeled
- 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish or dill relish (Heinz recommended)
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Bread for serving, see note 2
- Softened butter for serving, optional
- Lettuce for serving
Instructions
- Add the celery to a large food processor and pulse about 5 times. Add the chopped chicken and pulse just a few more times until coarsely shredded.
- Press the eggs down to the bottom. Add pickle relish, mayo, and garlic powder. Pulse a few more times until everything is mixed and the texture looks right. Don’t over-process; you want a light chop, not mush. Total pulsing time should be around 10–15 seconds. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed (if your chicken is already seasoned, you might not need any).
- Lightly butter the bread (if using) and toast it. Let it cool slightly. Add lettuce and a generous scoop of chicken salad to one slice, then top with the second slice. Cut the sandwich in half and enjoy right away.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tips For The Best Texture
Follow these tips to get the Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipe just right:
- Do not overprocess. This chicken salad should be slightly chunky, not a puree.
- Use chilled ingredients. Cold chicken and eggs help everything blend well without turning to mush.
- Taste and adjust. Add more relish if you like it sweeter, or a pinch of salt to bring everything together.
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Recipe Serving Ideas
- Spoon it onto a croissant for a classic lunch
- Pile it onto sandwich bread or slider buns
- Serve with crackers as a party dip
- Wrap it in lettuce leaves for a lighter option
- Stuff into pita pockets or serve in a wrap
Awesome recipe 🥪 I haven’t had the original but this was so good. Will be making again and again. Thanks, Chelsea!
I’m so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much, Emma.
I don’t think this taste like the Chick-fil-a chicken salad but it is very good!
Thanks Mags!
This looks so yummy! Any idea what I could replace the pickle relish with? We don’t really have that where I live, we just have normal pickles in a jar 🙁
Thanks Teresa! You can chop them up really small to mimic the texture of relish. If they’re super juicy, give them a quick pat with a paper towel so they don’t water things down.
How much is a serving
The filling makes 6 servings. If you divide it evenly into 6 separate bowls, each bowl is one serving.
Looking good
Thanks Dennis!
Looks delicious; looking forward to making this.
Thanks RJ!