Description
Culinary magic happens when homemade chicken salad meets fresh ingredients in this irresistible classic. Crisp celery, tender chicken, and creamy mayo blend perfectly, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 cups cooked chicken, diced
Fruits and Vegetables:
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved or quartered
- 1 cup red apple, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped (about 2 stalks)
Nuts and Dressing:
- 1 cup pecans, walnuts, or almonds, chopped or sliced
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Craft a zesty dressing by whisking mayonnaise, lemon juice, finely chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper in a medium mixing bowl until smooth and well-blended.
- Chop cooked chicken into uniform bite-sized cubes in a spacious bowl, ensuring consistent pieces for balanced texture.
- Add halved grapes, diced crisp apple, thinly sliced celery, and roughly chopped nuts to the chicken, creating a vibrant mixture with varied textures and colors.
- Gently pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients, carefully folding and stirring to ensure every component is evenly coated and seasoned.
- Seal the bowl with a tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap, then refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and develop depth.
- After chilling, give the salad a quick stir to redistribute the dressing and ingredients.
- Serve chilled as a versatile dish – nestled between soft croissant halves, tucked into crisp lettuce cups, or scooped atop crunchy crackers for a satisfying meal or appetizer.
Notes
- Swap mayo for Greek yogurt to create a lighter, protein-packed version with reduced calories and added nutrition.
- Toast nuts like almonds or pecans beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a delightful crunch to the salad.
- Experiment with different herbs like dill or tarragon to add unexpected layers of fresh, aromatic complexity to the classic recipe.
- For a gluten-free option, serve the chicken salad in hollowed cucumber boats or crisp lettuce wraps instead of traditional bread.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg