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Home » Recipes » Chicken

Quick & Simple Chicken Salad

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Quick & Simple Chicken Salad is always an easy crowd favorite. With just a handful of ingredients create a filling, delicious and creamy salad everyone will love. A salad with the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and color will not leave you disappointed!

Large scoop of chicken salad sits on top of a toasted piece of bread.

Light and fresh this chicken salad is full of crisp apples and sweet grapes and the faintest hint of lemon. Whether you use leftover chicken, grab a rotisserie from Costco or my favorite last-minute go to – canned chicken you’ve got an easy meal. Enjoy it on crackers or celery for snacking, on top a salad or in a wrap for a light lunch or in a sandwich for a quick and simple dinner.

Chicken Salad ingredients are combined in a bowl.

Canned Chicken to the Rescue

Now, hear me out, hear me out … hear me out. Using fresh chicken is obviously your best bet, so don't hesitate to substitute it in this recipe. Today though, I need to talk up my good friend -- canned chicken. Let us be honest, there are some days you don’t have the time or energy to get chicken cooked and prepared. These are the times our good friend swoops in to save the day.

Ingredients for chicken salad are on a table top in separate bowls.

My favorite, and the only canned chicken I use is Kirkland brand. The chicken is clean and quality top notch. I highly suggest rinsing the chicken one or two times to help remove excess salt and brine for a fresher taste. If you don't have access to Kirkland chicken, HERE are other brands of canned chicken to try

Chicken Salad 100 Ways

Whether you enjoy it over lettuce as a delicious salad, in a wrap, on a slice of toasted bread or buttery croissant for a filling sandwich it is sure to hit the spot. And because there are so many ways to enjoy this salad, This truly is the perfect recipe for any occasion. Serve it at your next Sunday picnic, barbecue, potluck, baby shower, or light lunch!

MAKE IT YOUR OWN

In this recipe you will see my favorite take on chicken salad. But remember, one of the best advantages of having control in your own kitchen is being able to make a recipe your own. And Chicken Salad is an easy recipe to customize to your own liking.

Any good chicken salad really just needs the basic building blocks. As long as you choose something from each category there really is no way to go wrong.

Chicken Salad's basic makeup in addition to chicken includes, a sweet bite, something with a little crunch, a creamy component, a flavor boost and if interested, a savory element. One of the most glorious aspects of chicken salad is that anything kind of goes. So, let your inner chef be inspired and LET'S GO!

Sweet Component
  • grapes
  • pineapple
  • cranberries
  • raisins
Flavor Boost
  • ranch seasoning
  • dijon mustard
  • lime or lemon juice
Crunchy Bite
  • crisp celery
  • tart apple
  • chopped pecans
  • slivered almonds
Savory Element
  • crumbled bacon
  • minced onion
  • diced pickle
  • boiled egg
Creamy Base
  • mayonnaise
  • mashed avocado
  • sour cream
  • greek yogurt (for a healthier option)
All the ingredients sit in the mixing bowl for chicken salad.

Pro-Chef and Mom Hacks

Chicken Salad can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Which totally makes this a fantastic, prepare ahead of time, kind of meal. Meal prep a variety of lunches early in the week using your prepared chicken salad as a base and life is that much easier the rest of the week! 

Another pro tip we want to be sure to offer is make sure that you allow enough time for this to chill in the fridge after preparing for at least two hours. Ideally you would make in advance and let this sit overnight so that all the flavors have a chance to meld together into a perfect harmony of deliciousness. 

Chicken salad on toasted whole wheat bread is served on a plate.

Make it a Meal to Remember

Pair this dish with our citrus and poppy seed salad and then serve with our decadent chocolate bar brownies or my favorite quick chocolate chip cookie for a meal to please.

📖 Recipe

Large scoop of chicken salad sits on top of a toasted piece of bread.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

The Dashley's Kitchen
This chicken salad is ALWAYS a crowd favorite. Light and fresh it is perfectly made with crisp apples, sweet grapes and the faintest hint of lemon. With just a handful of ingredients enjoy a simple and delicious meal.
4.45 from 20 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 313 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cans shredded chicken 25 ounces
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup grapes quartered
  • 1½ cup apple skinned and diced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Drain canned chicken. Rinse chicken well to wash off extra brine. Add chicken to a mixing bowl.
    2 cans shredded chicken
  • Add mayonnaise, apple, grapes, and lemon juice.
    ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 cup grapes, 1½ cup apple, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Mix ingredients till just incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Transfer salad mixture to an air tight container. Store in refrigerator to chill. Strive for a minimum of 2 hours, ideally overnight for optimal flavor.
  • Serve with favorite sandwich bread. We suggest thick whole wheat slices or a large buttery croissant.

Notes

  • We prefer Kirkand brand canned chicken, clean and high quality.
  • If you prefer fresh chicken you can sub the canned chicken for 3 cups shredded chicken.
  • Be sure to thoroughly rinse canned chicken to remove excess brine and salt.
  • Let the salad chil for at least 2 hours to help flavors meld together. (We like to make it and let it chill in the fridge overnight.)
  • The mixture may appear too wet initially. As the mixture chills it will absorb some of the mayo. If you prefer a drier sandwich use ½ cup mayo instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 23gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 235mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
Keyword Chicken Recipes, chicken salad, chicken salad chick, chicken salad sandwich, chicken sandwich, Dinner Recipes, easy recipes at home, fast dinner, fast lunch, lunch recipes, lunch today, sandwich over, sandwiches of Instagram, spring eats, The Dashley’s Kitchen, The Dashleys
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments

    4.45 from 20 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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  1. Samantha says

    April 22, 2025 at 9:12 pm

    5 stars
    Truly it doesn't get easier than this. Tasty and delicious. Served these at a baby shower and everyone was asking for the recipe. Thank you.

    Reply
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