The Easy Chicken Salad Recipe You Should Know By Heart

Who doesn’t love a fresh and easy chicken salad recipe? With the perfect blend of creamy and crunchy, this lunchtime staple can be enjoyed on its own, over greens or sandwiched between two slices of crusty bread. While you can buy premade varieties at the store, nothing tops the flavor of homemade chicken salad. It’s also a yummy way to use up last night’s leftover chicken.

Find more great make-ahead lunch ideas,

How to Make Easy Chicken Salad

This great recipe was sent in by Julie Sterchi of Jackson, Missouri.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1-1/4 cups seedless red grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion, optional
• Lettuce leaves or whole wheat bread slices, optional

Directions

Step 1: Make Your Sauce

Start by mixing the first five ingredients together for a creamy sauce. The sour cream and lemon juice add a tangy kick to this chunky chicken salad. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt and pepper until fully combined, tasting as you go, then set aside.

Not a mayo fan? We’ve got you covered. Learn how to make chicken salad without mayo. We like using plain Greek yogurt or mashed avocado for extra creaminess.

Step 2: Mix Together

In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, halved red grapes, chopped pecans and chopped celery. If using onion, add it along with your mayonnaise sauce. Toss to coat.

Editor’s Tip: Get creative with your ingredients and feel free to try substitutions. Instead of grapes, add fresh blueberries or chopped cherries. If you’re out of pecans, toss in chopped cashews for a salty crunch. Dried fruit also adds a sweet bite. Find more creative chicken salad recipes.

Step 3: Serve and Store

Once your chicken salad is combined, serve with fresh homemade bread, mixed greens salad or whole-grain crackers. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator right away.

How can I make chicken salad healthier?

Many people ask, “Is chicken salad healthy?” Chicken salad can definitely fit into your healthy-eating plan—with a few tasty tweaks. Use lean, white breast meat to start. To cut back on the fat and calories from mayonnaise, incorporate mashed avocado, plain Greek yogurt or vegan mayonnaise (we love this brand on Amazon.) When choosing your crunchy ingredients, opt for fresh, chopped veggies like onions, green bell peppers or carrots. Finally, serve your chicken salad in a lettuce wedge or over a mixed greens salad for more nutrients without the extra carbs.

How long will leftovers keep?

Chicken salad leftovers will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. But, considering how delicious this easy chicken salad recipe is, leftovers are unlikely.

These tasty sides are the perfect complement to easy homemade chicken salad:

• That Good Salad
• Heirloom Tomato Pie
• Creamy Red Pepper Veggie Dip

More Great Chicken Salad Ideas

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This fun and flavorful beauty turns last night’s cooked chicken into a delightful salad that’s perfect for lunch. —Linda Bevill, Monticello, Arkansas

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When the weather sizzles, get your chill on with a cool chicken salad. Mine uses grapes, pecans and celery for that signature crunch. —Sarah Smiley, Bangor, Maine

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My mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It's my favorite of my mother's chicken salad recipes. You can also serve it as a delicious but quick luncheon or potluck dish. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas

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My husband and I fell hard for the curried chicken salad from our grocery store deli, and I knew I could find a way to make something similar. This greek yogurt chicken salad has become one of our favorites to take on trips to the beach. —Janine Cooper-Moren, Portland, Oregon

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Everyone loves chicken salad, but this mayo-free version always stands out. Cooking the chicken in the crockpot gives it so much more flavor! For parties and showers, you can serve it on croissants or in lettuce cups. —Andria Lint, Flowery Branch, Georgia

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It doesn't get much speedier when using cooked rice and chicken. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes if you can take the extra heat. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

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This is a very healthy and simple salad to make; even my non-cooking husband can whip it together in minutes. We’ve served this to friends over the years, and they always ask for the recipe. —Radelle Knappenberger, Oviedo, Florida

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On weekday mornings, I whip up this fun chicken and blueberry combination in minutes to take for lunch. It also works as a nice light salad for a summer supper, and it’s a cinch to double it for a shower or potluck. —Kari Caven, Coeur d'Alene, ID

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This just might be the fastest chicken salad recipe ever! The fruit gives a sweet touch, the almonds a nice crunch, and the curry adds depth and color. —Priscilla Cote, New Hartford, New York

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The post The Easy Chicken Salad Recipe You Should Know By Heart appeared first on Taste of Home.

Carrie Madormo, RN