This Chicken Salad Recipe is a true kitchen essential, offering endless possibilities to cater to your taste preferences. Whether you crave extra crunch from celery, a hint of tart sweetness from apple, or a touch of curry for an exotic twist, this adaptable recipe serves as the perfect canvas for your culinary creativity. In this post, we’ll present the basic recipe, and then explore various delightful variations to inspire your next chicken salad creation.
Ingredients for CHICKEN SALAD
Ingredients:
Shredded Chicken – obviously. You have some options here. You can use rotisserie chicken from the store, or use the chicken you used in making homemade chicken broth. Either will be delicious! If you’re making a lot of chicken salad, put it in your mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed for a minute or so to shred it all for you! This works best if your chicken breasts are still warm.
Yellow Onion: A key to adding in a nice bite and crunch. However, if you’d like to omit, feel free to use a smidge of onion powder instead.
Garlic Powder: A nice way to add in a touch more flavor with minimal prep. Garlic powder is also slightly sweeter than raw garlic, which can have a peppery bite to it.
Cayenne: I like a bit of of a kick in my chicken salad, it helps to cut through and balance the mayonnaise.
Paprika: A brightener, both in terms of flavor and color – use smoked paprika for added depth of flavor.
Tarragon, or any type of herb you have – thyme, basil, sage, oregano, etc.: Adding in a fresh note also helps balance the flavor of the mayonnaise and chicken.
Mayonnaise: It wouldn’t be chicken salad without mayo! I like to use Avocado based mayonnaise, but naturally, use whatever your favorite is.
Lemon Juice and Zest: This is optional. If you would like to substitute, use 1.5 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar. I love the floral notes of lemon zest, and the bright lemon juice is just enough to taper the other flavors, bringing them all together to end on a lighter note.
Salt & Pepper: Naturally, to add and enhance flavor!
Variations:
Now that you have your scrumptious basic chicken salad, let your creativity flow with these delightful variations:
- Classic Crunch: Add diced celery for a refreshing crunch and a hint of earthiness.
- Fruitful Bliss: Incorporate diced apple, raisins, cranberries, or grapes for a touch of sweet and tart contrast.
- Curry Craze: For an exotic twist, blend in curry powder to create a curried chicken salad with a fragrant, spicy kick.
Chicken Salad Recipe
This is an easy and quick way to make chicken salad. It’s also a very adaptable recipe so you can add in other flavors such as curry, celery, apple, grapes, or cranberries to suit your preferences.
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 Sandwiches 1x
- Category: Lunch
Ingredients
2 Cups Shredded Chicken
1/2 Yellow Onion, small dice
1/2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1/8 tsp Cayenne
1 tsp Paprika
1 stem Tarragon, remove and finely chop leaves (feel free to remove completely, or substitute with any type of herb you have – thyme, basil, sage, oregano, etc.)
3 Tbsp Mayonnaise
1 ea Lemon Juice and Zest – optional. If you would like to substitute use 1.5 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
Salt & Pepper
Spinach or other greens (optional)
Instructions
Begin by dicing the yellow onion and placing it in a medium-sized clean bowl.
Add the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, finely chopped tarragon (or your chosen herb), mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the onion. If you prefer a hint of zesty freshness, include the juice and zest of 1 lemon; otherwise, substitute with apple cider vinegar for a delightful tang.
Mix the ingredients together until well combined.
Gently fold in half of the shredded chicken, ensuring it’s thoroughly coated with the flavorful dressing. Follow with the remaining chicken, continuing to mix until everything is well incorporated. Adjust the consistency with more mayonnaise, or season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
When serving, consider a final touch of paprika sprinkled atop the salad for a burst of color and an extra layer of flavor.
If making a sandwich, first butter and toast bread, then top with spinach and the chicken salad. If making a salad, I like to have spinach as a base and top the salad on top of that. Any type of lettuce works.
Keywords: Chicken Salad, Easy Lunch, Quick Lunch, Easy Meals, Lunch
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