Curry Chicken Salad has tender chicken, crunchy cashews, sweet raisins, crisp celery, and fresh cilantro in a creamy curry dressing.
Try these other versions next: classic Chicken Salad, Honey Mustard Chicken Salad, or Pineapple Chicken Salad.
author’s note
Curry Chicken Salad = Flavor Packed Lunch!
I’m chicken salad obsessed. I’ve made countless versions, and it’s my go-to for lunch, hosting, or even dinner. It just always hits. My other favorite flavor? Curry. So of course I had to combine the two!
This Curry Chicken Salad brings all the warm, bold curry flavor I love but keeps things just as simple as my usual chicken salad. It’s made with five ingredients in the salad, six in the dressing, and comes together in about 15 minutes thanks to rotisserie chicken.
Toss it all together, pile it on some lettuce or bread, and lunch or dinner is done.
Quick Tip
Using rotisserie chicken already saves time, but did you know you can buy pre-shredded rotisserie chicken? While it costs a bit more, it can cut down on prep time when you’re in a hurry.
Curry Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Rotisserie Chicken: Use pre-shredded rotisserie chicken for even faster prep.
- Roasted Cashews: Coarsely chop for added crunch and flavor.
- Golden Raisins: Adds a touch of sweetness; regular raisins work too.
- Celery: Thinly slice for a crisp texture.
- Cilantro: Finely chop for fresh, vibrant flavor in every bite!
Dressing Ingredients
- Mayo: Full-fat for creamiest chicken salad, but light works too.
- Sour Cream: Fat-free or light is great for lighter option.
- Honey: Balances the curry’s spice with sweetness.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy kick.
- Curry powder: Use a blend or brand you love for the best flavor!
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed for a touch of freshness!
- Salt and Pepper: Season to taste; start with 1/4 teaspoon each.
How to Make Curry Chicken Salad
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients.
- Mix: Gently stir until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Enjoy layered on bread or croissants with lettuce, or serve alongside fresh mango, red grapes, or a tart apple. Enjoy!
Serving Ideas for Curry Chicken Salad
- Sandwich: Toast bread or warm croissants, then add lettuce and curry chicken salad.
- Lettuce Wraps: Use large lettuce leaves as wraps for a low-carb option.
- Stuffed Tomatoes or Peppers: Fill hollowed tomatoes or bell peppers with the salad.
- With Crackers: Serve as a dip with your favorite crackers.
- Over Greens: Put a scoop on top of a bed of mixed greens.
- With Fresh Fruit: Pair with slices of mango, grapes, or apple.
Switch It Up
- Greek Yogurt: Use full-fat plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for more tang.
- Keto-Friendly: This curry chicken salad is keto-friendly. Serve it in a lettuce wrap to keep it low-carb.
- With Grapes: Add 1/2 cup of halved red grapes for extra sweetness. Use leftover grapes in Broccoli Grape Pasta Salad.
- With Apples: Add 1/2 cup of diced Granny Smith apple for a tart crunch.
- With Mango: Pair with fresh, ripe mango. Serve on the side or dice and mix it in.
Storage
Storage
- Refrigerate: Store in airtight containers within 1 hour of making.
- Shelf Life: Keeps for 3-5 days in the fridge. Curry chicken salad doesn’t freeze and thaw great.
- Check Freshness: If it smells bad or looks off, throw it out. Stir if it separates.
More Quick And Easy Recipes:
Dinner
Chicken Ramen
Soups And Stews
Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Dinner
Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
Dinner
Chicken Chow Mein Recipe
Curry Chicken Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken like rotisserie, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup roasted cashews coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery 2 stalks
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup mayo full-fat
- 2 tablespoons sour cream regular or light
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1 teaspoon yellow curry powder
- 1 lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Toasted bread or pita, sandwich thins, or croissants with lettuce
- Red grapes and/or fresh mango or a tart apple
Instructions
- Juice the lemon to get 1 tablespoon juice. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Gently stir until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Enjoy layered on bread or croissants with lettuce, or serve alongside fresh mango, red grapes, or a tart apple. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was soooo good, my husband made it tonight for dinner on croissants. He omitted the curry but I told him next time we will have to include it, I loooove curry, but it was still delicious without it! Great recipe.
So glad to hear this was enjoyed! Thanks for the comment Cena 🙂
Chelsea, this recipe is so good. I just made it for lunch and it is so tasty. I love the texture of the cashews with the raisins and chicken and the dressing has a great flavor. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I.can say I will be making it often.
Yay! So thrilled to hear you enjoyed this Linda! Thanks for the comment 🙂