Chicken Salad (Traditional)

When my dad comes to visit us here in Tennessee, I know I must be armed and ready with a menu that can please the pickiest eater in the world—him! That’s where this Traditional Chicken Salad recipe comes in handy. It’s creamy and tangy, and the tender pulled-apart chicken gives it the best texture. My oh-so-picky father eats with his eyes, too, and this beautiful salad doesn’t disappoint. It’s also a great way to sneak in some healthy fruits and veggies for loved ones who prefer meat for every meal.

What Is Chicken Salad?

In the world of salads, we certainly aren’t lacking in variety. And while I love a good pasta salad or barley salad, there’s something about a classic chicken salad that just hits the spot for my fam. Tender chicken is tossed in a mayonnaise-based dressing and mixed with juicy red grapes, crisp celery, red onion, and chopped walnuts. I can’t think of one baby shower, potluck, or picnic that hasn’t had a bowl of chicken salad on the table. And it’s so easy to make! No deli counter, no waiting in line, and no hefty price tag—just simple ingredients and a few minutes in the kitchen are all it takes to make this family favorite.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make the best chicken salad recipe ever:

Rotisserie Chicken: This is a kitchen shortcut I’m happy to take! Shredded rotisserie chicken cuts down on prep time and adds so much flavor. You could also make a roasted chicken yourself or use leftover chicken from a previous meal. You need roughly 4 cups of shredded chicken.
Red Grapes: If you’ve never had a chicken salad with grapes, you’re missing out! Seedless red grapes add the most amazing sweetness and perfectly contrast the savory chicken.
Celery: The crunchiest of vegetables! It adds texture and a fresh taste to the salad.
Red Onion: Adds a little sharpness and a mild onion flavor.
Walnuts: I prefer chopped walnuts, but you can also use slivered almonds or pecans for a little crunch.
Mayonnaise: Gives this traditional chicken salad its signature creamy texture.
White Vinegar: Cuts through the mayonnaise and adds a tangy element.
Salt and Pepper: The rotisserie chicken is already seasoned, but a little salt and pepper helps bring everything together.

What Else Can I Add?

This recipe for chicken salad is the perfect ‘let’s clean out the fridge’ dish. Add some apples and dried cranberries for a Waldorf salad vibe, or mix in some halved cherry tomatoes and avocado for extra freshness. Other ingredients that work well in a traditional chicken salad include hard-boiled eggs, bacon, diced bell peppers, and cooked pasta. Basically, if it’s in your fridge and you think it would taste good in this salad, toss it in!

What to Serve With Chicken Salad

The fun thing about this salad is that it can be served as a main meal or as a side dish. Here are some ways my family enjoys it:

Served in a halved croissant, in dinner rolls, or between two slices of bread as a sandwich.
Smothered on crackers or crostini.
Wrapped in lettuce leaves or tortilla wraps (for the quickest lunch ever!).
Alongside fried green tomatoes, cooked pasta, or air fryer sweet potato fries.
On top of lettuce greens for a hearty salad.
In a baked potato!

Storage Instructions

How long this traditional chicken salad recipe will keep totally depends on the freshness of your ingredients. Cooked chicken can last for 3-4 days in the fridge. If you make this salad on the same day you buy your rotisserie chicken, it should be good for at least 3 days when refrigerated and stored in an airtight container. Keep this in mind if you’re making it ahead of time for a party or meal prep for the week.

This Traditional Chicken Salad is creamy, tangy, and full of tender shredded chicken. It’s like having a taste of the deli counter at home! Author: Jess – Budget Bytes

Servings 8 servings, 1 cup per person Total 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

1 rotisserie chicken, about 4 cups of meat ($5.97)
1 cup seedless red grapes, quartered ($1.69)
1 cup red onion, diced ($0.61)
1 cup celery, diced ($0.62)
¼ cup chopped walnuts ($1.18)
¾ cup mayonnaise ($0.84)
1 Tbsp white vinegar ($0.02)
1 tsp salt ($0.04)
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.15)

Instructions

Remove all white and dark meat from one rotisserie chicken. This will yield about 4 cups of meat. Shred meat with 2 forks and set aside.
Gather the quartered grapes, diced red onion, diced celery, and chopped walnuts.
In a small mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, white vinegar, salt and pepper.
Whisk all dressing ingredients to combine.
Pour dressing ingredients over the shredded chicken, grapes, celery and walnuts.
Toss all ingredients together until evenly coated. Enjoy on a sandwich or on top of lettuce greens for a filling salad.

Nutrition

Serving: 1

cupCalories: 328

kcalCarbohydrates: 6

gProtein: 22

gFat: 24

gSodium: 696

mgFiber: 1

g Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

how to make Traditional Chicken Salad – step by step photos

Carve one rotisserie chicken to remove all the white and dark meat – this should yield around 4 cups of meat. Using two forks, shred the chicken into smaller pieces and set aside for now.

Gather 1 cup of quartered, seedless red grapes, 1 cup of diced red onion, 1 cup of diced celery, and ¼ cup of chopped walnuts.

Add ¾ cups of mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper to a small bowl.

Mix the dressing ingredients well to combine.

Add the 4 cups of shredded chicken, 1 cup of quartered red grapes, 1 cup of diced celery, and ¼ cup of chopped walnuts to a bowl and pour over the chicken salad dressing.

Toss all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated in the dressing. Serve the chicken salad over a bed of greens, on sandwiches, or any other way you like!

This traditional chicken salad is the quickest and easiest way to satisfy your craving for a classic deli-style chicken salad!