Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (10 Minutes)

Name: Classic Chicken Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cooked chicken breasts (boneless and skinless Note 1); 1 celery rib; ½ cup grapes; 1-2 scallions (green part only); ¼ cup slivered almonds; 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley; ½ cup mayo; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 lemon (juiced (about 2 tablespoons)); Salt and pepper to taste

You really can’t go wrong with this classic chicken salad recipe, it’s a homemade version of the traditional recipe that we always love to have in the fridge for lunches or an afternoon snack. Whenever I know it’s going to be a crazy week filled with school, kids sport practices, and more, I always make sure to pick up the ingredients for this recipe at the store. It’s something I know the whole family will eat and I can have it prepared in 10 minutes.

This recipe is my basic recipe for chicken salad, but I’ve made it dozens of ways with whatever ingredients I already have on hand. I love that it’s a healthy and filling recipe that will keep everyone satisfied. If we are making it into a full meal, I love to serve it with our roasted red pepper soup or creamy cauliflower soup. Make it this week, and let me know what you think! I promise you won’t regret it!

An open-faced chicken salad sandwich on top of another sandwich.

Why you’ll love this recipe

So many ways to serve this chicken salad. There are several ways to serve chicken salad, including in a wrap, over greens, with crackers, or in a sandwich.
Meal prep recipe that holds well for a couple of days. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover, cooked chicken breast.
A flavorful recipe the whole family will love. The balance of creamy and crunchy textures makes for a seriously satisfying lunch or healthy snack.

Tips for Busy Cooks

We love to make this classic chicken salad recipe a day in advance, the flavors get better and better as it marinates in the fridge. It’s so delicious served on toast, soft bread or a wrap as a sandwich, or over greens for a salad.

Ingredients to make a classic chicken salad sandwich.

Key Ingredient Notes

For the chicken salad

Cooked chicken – I use cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It’s a great recipe for using leftover chicken, or my quick method for making them from scratch uses the Instant Pot and it’s hassle-free (here’s how to cook frozen chicken breasts in an Instant Pot). Rotisserie chicken breasts or cooked chicken breasts from the store also come in handy as well.
Celery – Breaks up the creamy texture with a little bit of crunch.
Grapes – Add a pop of juicy, sweet flavor.
Scallions – Also known as green onions. I only use the green tops, because they have a milder, more subtle onion flavor that doesn’t overpower the chicken salad.
Slivered almonds – For more crunchy texture. Walnuts are a good substitute if you don’t have slivered almonds on hand.
Parsley – Adds fresh, herby flavor.

For the dressing

Mayo – Provides a creamy texture that pulls all the chicken salad ingredients together. A classic chicken salad recipe wouldn’t be complete without it!
Dijon mustard – Adds a dash of bold flavor.
Lemon – Lemon juice cuts through the creamy mayo, lightening it up a bit.
Salt and pepper – Use kosher salt and ground black pepper to season the chicken salad to taste.

How to make classic chicken salad recipe

Dice or slice the chicken into bite-size pieces. Slice the celery, quarter the grapes, and slice the green part of the scallions.

Step 1: Combine the chicken, celery, grapes, scallions, almonds, parsley, mayo, mustard, and lemon juice in a large bowl.

Step 2: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Expert Tips:

A great recipe to use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. You can cook chicken from scratch if you desire, but to cut down on the prep time we recommend using leftovers or buying cooked chicken at the grocery store.
Add other mix-ins. You can really change the flavors of this chicken salad recipe to anything you please. Add fresh herbs like dill or tarragon, dried fruit like cranberries, or other fresh fruit like chopped apples. The options are endless.
Dice all of the ingredients to the same size. This makes the salad easier to eat and also allows the dressing to coat all of the ingredients more evenly.
If you aren’t a fan of mayonnaise, you can try using Greek yogurt instead. Alternatively, if you prefer not having a creamy dressing, use olive oil as the base for more of a savory bite.

Storage & Make Ahead

Store any leftover chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Prior to serving, give it a good stir and let it sit out for 5 minutes to take the chill off.

The creamy texture will improve as it sits, and it shouldn’t lose much of its crunchy texture, either. Unfortunately, you can’t freeze chicken salad, because the mayonnaise will separate and become grainy during thawing. Luckily, it’s quick and easy to make fresh!

Our classic chicken salad recipe is perfect for meal prep, we love to make it in advance to enjoy throughout the week. Some of our favorite prep in advance tips are to cook the chicken breast the night before when you’re making dinner, so you won’t have to bother with it when you want to assemble the salad. You can also chop the chicken, celery, grapes, and scallions up to 1 day in advance to save yourself a few minutes during preparation.

Ways to serve this basic chicken salad

As a sandwich: Serve classic chicken salad between two slices of whole grain bread, in a wrap, on a croissant, or in a pita pocket.
Keep it low-carb: Lighten the meal by serving chicken salad in a lettuce wrap, over greens, or with sliced cucumbers.
With crackers: Chicken salad and crackers make for a great party app!
Make it a meal: This classic chicken salad recipe can be a meal on its own, or you can serve it with chips, french fries, fresh fruit, a garden salad, or homemade soup.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Even though boneless chicken thighs would technically work, I don’t recommend using them in a classic chicken salad recipe. Lean chicken breast is milder tasting and has a firmer texture, making it a better match for heavy, mayo-based dressings.

What is the difference between Waldorf salad and chicken salad?

Waldorf salad is a creamy, mayo-based salad containing apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts. It has flavors and textures similar to this classic chicken salad recipe. However, it isn’t as hearty and filling because it doesn’t contain chicken. Waldorf salad works better as a side dish, whereas chicken salad can be a main meal.

Why is my chicken salad dry?

If your chicken salad is dry-tasting, you might have overcooked your chicken breasts. Since chicken breasts can vary in size and thickness, it’s best to check them for doneness halfway through cooking and then adjust your overall cooking time if needed. If your chicken salad appears dry after mixing it up, just add another dollop of mayonnaise for extra moisture.