Go Back

Best-Ever Chicken Salad

A creamy, flavorful chicken salad featuring tender chicken, crunchy celery, nutty walnuts, and sweet grapes, all enveloped in a zesty dressing.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced Use rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation.
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped Adds crunch and freshness.
  • 1 cup red grapes, halved For sweetness.
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped (optional) For a nutty flavor and crunch.
Dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise Base of the dressing.
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard Adds tanginess.
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice For acidity.
  • to taste salt and pepper To season.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. If you haven’t pre-cooked your chicken, bake or boil it until thoroughly cooked. Allow it to cool, then shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Whisk together until well blended.
  3. Add the shredded chicken, chopped celery, halved grapes, and walnuts to the bowl with the dressing. Stir carefully until all the ingredients are thoroughly coated.
Chill
  1. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Serving
  1. Once chilled, give the salad a gentle stir, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve on a bed of greens, as a sandwich filler, or with crispy crackers.

Notes

For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise. Keep the salad chilled longer for better flavor development. Avoid over-mixing to maintain texture.