Home > Lunch > Sandwiches > Chicken Salad {With Video} Chicken Salad {With Video} November 24, 2017 | 10 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. The BEST chicken salad recipe. This makes the perfect dip or sandwich filling! This chicken salad recipe is one of my very favorite things to eat as a meal or snack throughout the day. This chicken salad is my go-to for an easy and DELICIOUS appetizer or light meal when hosting guests. Chicken Salad Chicken salad is a favorite in my family and this fall-inspired version is the BEST! Toasted pecans, crunchy celery, super flavorful chicken, and chewy cranberries all tossed in a sweet poppyseed dressing? Amazing! And even better when it’s served as a dip with crackers, fruit, and veggies! How Do You Make Chicken Salad? This recipe is extremely easy which is perfect for this busy holiday season! You can whip it all together in 10-15 minutes and serve it right away! Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper and you now have the perfect compliment for your salad. Check out my recipe below for detailed directions on how to make this delicious recipe. Chicken salad ingredients There are only FOUR ingredients in this salad: pecans, celery, dried cranberries, and chicken. The “secret” to having the best chicken salad is using really tender and flavorful chicken. And the best way I’ve found to do this is by using a pre-made rotisserie chicken. I use about 2 cups of meat from a rotisserie chicken and then use the remaining chicken in another recipe. (See here, here, and here!) The “dressing” for this chicken salad recipe requires only a few ingredients as well: mayo, sour cream, poppyseeds, a little lemon, Dijon mustard, and some honey for a little sweetness. How to serve chicken salad My favorite way to serve chicken salad is on croissants! If you’re looking for a great appetizer you can serve this chicken salad on miniature croissants. (Full size croissants make a great lunch!) Serve as a dip: place the chicken salad mixture in a bowl and surround it with chips, veggies, and thinly sliced apples. Serve on top of thinly sliced apples (or make a low carb “sandwich” with apples as the bread) ENJOY! More Delicious Salads Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Healthy Chicken Salad 10 Variations on your Standard Salad FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Chicken Salad 5 from 2 votes - Review this recipe The BEST chicken salad recipe. This makes the perfect dip or sandwich filling! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Chicken Salad 5 from 2 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe The BEST chicken salad recipe. This makes the perfect dip or sandwich filling! Course Appetizer, Snack Cuisine American Keyword chicken salad, chicken salad recipe Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 20 minutes Servings 4 -8 people Calories 202kcal Author Chelsea Ingredients2 cups prepared rotisserie chicken, chopped into small pieces1/2 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped1/3 cup dried cranberries (cherry infused for an even more delicious chicken salad!)2 stalks celery, thinly sliced1/4 cup full fat mayonnaise2 tablespoons sour cream (fat free or light is great!)1 tablespoon honey1 and 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard1 and 1/2 teaspoons poppyseeds1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juiceSalt and pepper, to tasteEnjoy With:Croissants or other Sandwich Rolls (add some lettuce for a sandwich)Thinly sliced applesCelery SticksCrackers InstructionsTo toast the pecans: pour the pecans into an even layer in a small, dry (no need to add oil or anything) skillet over medium-heat and stir them around a bit until they are fragrant, lightly browned, and toasted to your liking. Watch carefully to avoid burning the nuts (they can go from toasted to burned VERY quickly)In a large bowl, add in the chopped rotisserie chicken, toasted and chopped pecans, dried cranberries, and thinly sliced celery.Add the mayo, sour cream, honey, Dijon mustard, poppyseeds, lemon juice, and a generous (or to taste) sprinkle of salt + pepper.Gently stir all of the ingredients together until combined. Taste and adjust for seasonings (salt, pepper, additional lemon, etc.) Enjoy with crackers, apples, and celery sticks OR layer it on a croissant and add some lettuce. Enjoy immediately. Video Nutrition FactsCalories: 202kcal We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
Looks wonderful, but how do you make the cranberry-infused-with-cherry-juice??? I’m considering adding dried Montmorency cherries instead, we use them in green salads as a sweet/tart surprise amidst the blue cheese dressing. Reply
That’s just an option for store-bought (I think Craisins makes it) 🙂 Montmorency dried cherries would be delicious too; in fact, we use those often and LOVE them! Enjoy! Reply
This looks like a lunch I could eat all week, and totally will. Love a good chunky chicken salad, especially on a nice croissant! Reply
Can you explain cherry infused dried cranberries? Does this just mean I soak them in cherry juice??? Reply
No, you can just buy the pack of cranberries like that. They should say on the package cherry infused dried cranberries. Regular cranberries are great too with this recipe! 🙂 Reply
One of the best chicken salads to date. My family wouldn’t allow me to add the pecans, but without them it was still marvelous. Reply
Really good recipe. Didn’t have any poppy seeds but added a little ground ginger (for an Asian flavor) and found it to be a great touch. Very easy to throw together and everyone enjoyed! Reply
