Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (2024)

Light and creamy chicken salad made with cooked or canned chicken, red onion, crisp celery, and just the right amount of seasoning, Best Chicken Salad Ever is our version of this family favorite recipe!

I have been blessed to have had some really fantastic everyday recipes shared with me over the years and this is one of them. This recipe for the Best Chicken Salad Ever is in regular rotation in our house because it is so versatile!

Delicious as a sandwich, in a wrap, and even on it’s own right out of the bowl, this is less expensive than the deli version and super easy to make. If you haven’t tried it, you really should. It could become a new favorite in your house too.

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Weight Watchers Points = 3 per serving (Point Breakdown in Recipe Notes)

Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (1)

A NOTE ABOUT A Lighter Take on this Classic Favorite

We have made this recipe literally hundreds of times with great results. When we started making healthier changes to our eating habits, we lightened up the recipe buy making just two small changes, substituting light sour cream and light mayonnaise.

These changes didn’t seem to change the taste at all but they substantially changed the amount of calories and fat in the recipe. When counting Weight Watchers points, these small changes brought the points down from 11 points per serving to only 3 points per serving and it is still delicious!

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How to Make The Best Chicken Salad Ever

One day I was making Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip and the recipe called for pre-made chicken salad from the deli. When I arrived at the grocery store to pick some up the price was a LOT higher than I was expecting to pay.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the convenience of pre-made, but since it is literally made up of leftover chicken and pantry staples I have a really hard time paying that much for it. So I didn’t.

This recipe for the Best Chicken Salad Ever came from a friend who answered the call when I put a plea out on Facebook for a good chicken salad recipe. She often used leftover rotisserie chicken when she made it but since I didn’t have any leftover chicken I thought I would try to make it with canned chicken from Costco. And it was amazing. Simple and so good. And a new favorite recipe was born.

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To make the BEST chicken salad ever – start with shredding or chopping three cups of cooked chicken.

If you are using the Costco canned chicken (two 12.5 ounce cans), drain, put into a bowl and shred with a fork.

Add 1/4 cup of chopped red onion and stir.

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Add celery, lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper and stir to combine well.

Chill until ready to use. That’s all there is to it!

As mentioned previously you can use this to make Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip or you can just make some pretty fantastic little sandwiches. You can also serve it with crackers, on a salad, or just eat it with a fork. It is THAT good without the crazy price tag at the grocery store deli. Enjoy!

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Other Favorite Recipes You May Like

Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip – The recipe that started it all! This Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip uses Deli chicken salad to add a delicious twist to a potluck favorite!

Bite Sized Sausage Rolls – the BEST bite sized sausage rolls that I have ever tasted. Yum.

Party Pretzel Bites – these delicious little bites are addictive and always welcomed at any gathering.

Quick and Easy Bruschetta – restaurant quality Bruschetta is hiding in the ingredients in your refrigerator!

Easy Homemade Ranch Dip – just seven simple pantry ingredients to create a delicious and easy Homemade Ranch Dip!

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Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (7)

Best Chicken Salad Ever

Light and creamy Best Chicken Salad Ever is made with chicken, red onion, crisp celery, and just the right amount of seasoning!

4.95 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 cups

Calories: 639kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked chicken (leftover shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken or 2 cans Costco canned chicken)
  • 1/4 cup red onion
  • 2 pieces of celery (including leafy tops) chopped, about one cup
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Finely chop red onion and celery.

  • In a medium bowl, break up, finely chop or shred the chicken.

  • Add chopped onion and celery, lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper and stir to combine.

  • Chill until ready to use. Enjoy!

Notes

This is delicious on it’s own – pecans or walnuts can be added if not using for the Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe. Also makes excellent sandwiches and cracker spread.

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Nutrition *

Calories: 639kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 27g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 133mg | Sodium: 853mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg

* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.

Have you tried this recipe? Post a pic and mention @TheRecipeBandit or tag #therecipebandit!

Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (9)

  • Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (10)

    Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

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Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (2024)

FAQs

Who started putting grapes in chicken salad? ›

The chicken salad that's beloved today originated in Wakefield, Rhode Island. In 1863, Liam Gray, founder of Town Meats, was the first to mix leftover chicken with grapes, mayonnaise and tarragon. From then on, chicken salad was a hit, and Town Meats turned the salad into something of a delicacy.

What makes chicken salad spoil? ›

The Importance of Proper Storage and Temperature

Leaving chicken salad at room temperature for even a few hours allows bacteria to multiply, increasing the risk of food poisoning. Never, ever leave your chicken salad out on a hot day. This is just asking for trouble!

Does chicken salad chick use mayonnaise? ›

When our Original Chick, Stacy, set out in search of the perfect chicken salad, she found that the only two key components anyone could agree on were chicken and mayonnaise. From there, she developed recipes to please every palate, everything from the traditional to the savory, fruity, and spicy.

Who invented the chicken salad Liam Gray? ›

The legend goes that a man named Liam Gray created the recipe by stirring his poultry leftovers together with mayo, grapes, and tarragon. He owned a meat shop in Wakefield, Rhode Island, through which he introduced his invention to customers and allowed its popularity to blossom.

What is the Kim Kardashian salad? ›

This viral La Scala Chopped Salad was made famous by none other than the Kardashians, so you know I needed to give it a try. All of the great flavours from an Italian cold cut but in a salad format.

Who invented the Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

Jennifer Aniston's Salad refers to the one she ate while at the set of FRIENDS. She says that it's a cobb salad made at the commissary that they “basically butchered.” She added more ingredients to make it tastier, basically. It's actually a salad with lots of ingredients and the flavour is incredible.

What should you not do in the preparation of chicken salad? ›

To ensure that your chicken salad tastes the way that it should, you should avoid using overcooked or dry chicken in your recipe. Unfortunately, as we cook chicken, the moisture of the bird slowly evaporates.

Can I eat chicken salad after 6 days? ›

Be extra careful with mayo-based foods, such as chicken salad or potato salad. They're only safe to eat for 3 to 4 days after they're prepared.

How healthy is chicken salad? ›

Chicken salad is rich in lean protein and a decent source of iron. Depending on what other ingredients it contains, it might also provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Still, using ingredients such as mayonnaise or serving the salad on a croissant adds calories and fat.

Why did Chick Fil A stop selling chicken salad? ›

Speaking with Today, a representative for Chick-fil-A stated, "We know that many of our customers loved our Chicken Salad, but we have also heard from guests that they are looking for new tastes and fresh flavors on the menu in our restaurants." The desire for novel flavors seems a bit overstated, considering that ...

What are the main ingredients for chicken salad? ›

What is in the Mcdonald's chicken salad? ›

Freshly prepared salad with grilled chicken breast, lettuce, cucumber, sliced tomato and red onion.

Did Wolfgang Puck invent Chinese chicken salad? ›

Invented by Sylvia Cheng Wu also known as Madame Wu in the 60s and made popular by the original celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, The Chinese chicken salad has become an obsession in California, especially with celebrities. It's not hard to see why.

Is chicken salad a southern thing? ›

Early American chicken salad recipes can be found in 19th-century Southern cookbooks, including Sarah Rutledge's The Carolina Housewife: Or, House and Home (1847) and Abby Fisher's What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking (1881).

What nationality is chicken salad? ›

Chicken salad first originated when Liam Gray, proprietor of Town Meats in Wakefield, Rhode Island, mixed leftover chicken with mayonnaise, tarragon, and grapes in 1863. She began making it at night after her children were asleep and delivering it by basket, door to door, to potential customers.

Why does chicken salad have grapes? ›

While you don't have to incorporate grapes to make your dish a true chicken salad, there are plenty of reasons to do so. Amidst tender, creamy, and crunchy ingredients, quartered grapes provide the perfect burst of juicy sweetness in your mouth that you just can't get from, say, dried cranberries.

Who first made chicken salad? ›

Chicken salad first originated when Liam Gray, proprietor of Town Meats in Wakefield, Rhode Island, mixed leftover chicken with mayonnaise, tarragon, and grapes in 1863. She began making it at night after her children were asleep and delivering it by basket, door to door, to potential customers.

Can we eat chicken and grapes together? ›

There is no inherent problem with combining fruits and chicken in the same meal. In fact, incorporating a variety of food groups, including proteins (like chicken) and fruits, can contribute to a balanced and nutritious diet.

Who started candy grapes? ›

The grapes were developed by horticulturist David Cain and his team at Bakersfield, California-based fruit breeder International Fruit Genetics (IFG). The grapes are produced in California by grower Grapery, which began selling them in 2011.

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