Waldorf Chicken Salad combines tender chicken, crisp apples, juicy grapes, and crunchy celery in a creamy dressing for an easy meal everyone loves.
Author’s Notes
The Chicken Salad I Grew Up On
In case you missed it, I started a new series on social media called Mom’s Greatest Hits. It’s where I share the recipes that raised me! These are childhood favorites or recipes inspired by meals my mom made on repeat growing up.
I kicked things off with my all-time favorite salad my mom made all the time: ramen noodle salad. And if that doesn’t tell you how good this series is going to be, I don’t know what will 😉 haha!
I truly don’t remember a time growing up when there wasn’t chicken or tuna salad in the fridge. My mom made a batch almost weekly, and we’d grab it on the go before sports or work, eat it for quick weekend lunches, and every once in a while it even became dinner.
Waldorf chicken salad is a creamy chicken salad with chicken, apples, celery, grapes, and often nuts, and this version is pretty much exactly how she made hers. It’s still one of my all-time favorites!
Waldorf Chicken Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Let’s Chat About It |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Rotisserie chicken keeps this quick and easy, but any cooked and chopped chicken works great. |
| Apples & Grapes | Use crisp apples and sweet red grapes for the best mix of crunch and flavor. Cut grapes in quarters for easier bites. |
| Celery & Green Onions | These add freshness and crunch. Dice everything small so you get a little in every bite. |
| Mayo, Sour Cream & Apple Cider Vinegar | The combo keeps the dressing creamy with a lighter, fresher flavor. Give the dressing a taste and adjust as needed before mixing it into the Waldorf chicken salad. |
| Walnuts | Toast nuts before adding for extra flavor and crunch. Leave them out if you prefer a nut-free salad. |
Chelsea’s Tip
Keep The Apples From Browning!
For this Waldorf chicken salad, I use a simple salt water trick to keep the apples from browning.
Soak the diced apples in a bowl with 2 cups room-temperature water and 1 teaspoon salt for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, shake off the extra moisture, and pat dry before adding.
What To Serve With Waldorf Chicken Salad
- Croissants or buttery rolls to make sandwiches (don’t forget the lettuce!)
- Crackers or pita chips
- Fresh fruit like berries, grapes, or melon or fresh veggies & dip
- Potato chips or a simple pasta salad
- A simple garden salad or Caesar salad
More Quick & Easy Chicken Recipes:
Waldorf Chicken Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken rotisserie preferred (chop finely)
- 1/2 cup diced walnuts see note 1
- 1/3 cup diced celery
- 2/3 cup finely diced apples Honeycrisp preferred; see note 2
- 2/3 cup quartered red grapes
- 1/3 cup mayo Best Foods/Hellmann’s
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1-1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1-1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.
- Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Scrape every bit of dressing over the top and toss well. Taste and adjust to preference. For a creamier salad, stir in a little extra mayo and sour cream until it’s just right.
- Enjoy! Serve in sandwiches, on sliced apples, in lettuce boats, or with crackers.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
