Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (2024)

Light and creamy chicken salad made with cooked or canned chicken, red onion, crisp celery, and just the right amount of seasoning, Best Chicken Salad Ever is our version of this family favorite recipe!

I have been blessed to have had some really fantastic everyday recipes shared with me over the years and this is one of them. This recipe for the Best Chicken Salad Ever is in regular rotation in our house because it is so versatile!

Delicious as a sandwich, in a wrap, and even on it’s own right out of the bowl, this is less expensive than the deli version and super easy to make. If you haven’t tried it, you really should. It could become a new favorite in your house too.

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Weight Watchers Points = 3 per serving (Point Breakdown in Recipe Notes)

Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (1)

A NOTE ABOUT A Lighter Take on this Classic Favorite

We have made this recipe literally hundreds of times with great results. When we started making healthier changes to our eating habits, we lightened up the recipe buy making just two small changes, substituting light sour cream and light mayonnaise.

These changes didn’t seem to change the taste at all but they substantially changed the amount of calories and fat in the recipe. When counting Weight Watchers points, these small changes brought the points down from 11 points per serving to only 3 points per serving and it is still delicious!

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How to Make The Best Chicken Salad Ever

One day I was making Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip and the recipe called for pre-made chicken salad from the deli. When I arrived at the grocery store to pick some up the price was a LOT higher than I was expecting to pay.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the convenience of pre-made, but since it is literally made up of leftover chicken and pantry staples I have a really hard time paying that much for it. So I didn’t.

This recipe for the Best Chicken Salad Ever came from a friend who answered the call when I put a plea out on Facebook for a good chicken salad recipe. She often used leftover rotisserie chicken when she made it but since I didn’t have any leftover chicken I thought I would try to make it with canned chicken from Costco. And it was amazing. Simple and so good. And a new favorite recipe was born.

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To make the BEST chicken salad ever – start with shredding or chopping three cups of cooked chicken.

If you are using the Costco canned chicken (two 12.5 ounce cans), drain, put into a bowl and shred with a fork.

Add 1/4 cup of chopped red onion and stir.

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Add celery, lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper and stir to combine well.

Chill until ready to use. That’s all there is to it!

As mentioned previously you can use this to make Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip or you can just make some pretty fantastic little sandwiches. You can also serve it with crackers, on a salad, or just eat it with a fork. It is THAT good without the crazy price tag at the grocery store deli. Enjoy!

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Other Favorite Recipes You May Like

Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip – The recipe that started it all! This Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip uses Deli chicken salad to add a delicious twist to a potluck favorite!

Bite Sized Sausage Rolls – the BEST bite sized sausage rolls that I have ever tasted. Yum.

Party Pretzel Bites – these delicious little bites are addictive and always welcomed at any gathering.

Quick and Easy Bruschetta – restaurant quality Bruschetta is hiding in the ingredients in your refrigerator!

Easy Homemade Ranch Dip – just seven simple pantry ingredients to create a delicious and easy Homemade Ranch Dip!

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Best Chicken Salad Ever

Light and creamy Best Chicken Salad Ever is made with chicken, red onion, crisp celery, and just the right amount of seasoning!

4.95 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 cups

Calories: 639kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked chicken (leftover shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken or 2 cans Costco canned chicken)
  • 1/4 cup red onion
  • 2 pieces of celery (including leafy tops) chopped, about one cup
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Finely chop red onion and celery.

  • In a medium bowl, break up, finely chop or shred the chicken.

  • Add chopped onion and celery, lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper and stir to combine.

  • Chill until ready to use. Enjoy!

Notes

This is delicious on it’s own – pecans or walnuts can be added if not using for the Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe. Also makes excellent sandwiches and cracker spread.

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Nutrition *

Calories: 639kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 27g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 133mg | Sodium: 853mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg

* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.

Have you tried this recipe? Post a pic and mention @TheRecipeBandit or tag #therecipebandit!

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  • Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (10)

    Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

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Best Chicken Salad Ever ~ The Recipe Bandit (2024)

FAQs

Where is the chicken salad from TikTok? ›

A simple video on TikTok has caused a craze at the 81st Street Deli on Cleveland's east side. This viral video has been viewed over 160 thousand times.

How good is chicken salad good for? ›

After checking with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, here is what they had to say: For best quality, chicken (as well as egg, ham, tuna and macaroni) salads should be kept only three to five days in the refrigerator (stored at 40 degrees or lower).

What are the five types of salads? ›

salad, any of a wide variety of dishes that fall into the following principal categories: green salads; vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads.

Why is chicken salad called salad? ›

The basis for the word salad is 'sal', meaning salt. This was chosen because in ancient times, salt was often an ingredient in the dressing.

Who is the chicken salad girl? ›

Her voice helped her neighborhood deli's chicken salad go viral. Now, Tanisha Godfrey is promoting her own recipe for success after securing brand deals. Tanisha Godfrey is the voice behind the sound that has everyone running to E.

Where is the chicken salad meme from? ›

Deli in Cleveland, Ohio. In the video, Cleveland native Tanisha Godfrey has a chicken salad in front of her and says, “Y'all better come up here and get one of these.” Someone off camera asks her what it is, and she responds, “It's a chicken salad," then shares where she got it from ("81st Deli …

What is Russian salad made of? ›

Boiled potatoes, boiled carrots and mayo are the most basic ingredients, while everything else is optional. Sausage/ham is the most common ingredient of the Russian salad (Olivier salad) with meat, but chicken and beef are also popular options. Canned peas are common too.

What is the healthiest salad to eat? ›

When it comes to leafy greens, darker is better. They have the most nutrients. Case in point: Kale and spinach have over 10 times more immune-boosting vitamins A and C than iceberg lettuce.

What do Americans call salad? ›

The answer is simple — because of the dressing. Today's definition of salad is a variety of cold dishes that include small pieces of food (such as pasta, meat, fruit, or vegetables) mixed with a dressing or mayonnaise. To put it simply, if it's dressed you can feel confident calling it a salad!

Is chicken salad American? ›

One of the first American forms of chicken salad was served by Town Meats in Wakefield, Rhode Island, in 1863. The original owner, Liam Gray, mixed his leftover chicken with mayonnaise, tarragon, and grapes. This became such a popular item that the meat market was converted to a delicatessen.

Do you eat chicken salad by itself? ›

Serve It at Room Temperature: I prefer to eat this chicken salad at room temperature, which ensures the flavors of the chili crisp pop. However, it's also nice served chilled in the warmer weather. Eat as You Like: It's hearty enough to eat on its own, but you can also serve it over greens or steamed rice.

Where did Chicken Salad Chick come from? ›

Stacy Brown and her husband Kevin Brown founded Chicken Salad Chick in 2008 in Auburn, AL. The business idea came out of her love for making and serving chicken salad, a recipe that was passed down from her grandmother.

Where did the Jennifer Aniston salad come from? ›

Her co-star Courtney Cox has been quoted saying that she, Jennifer, and Lisa ate something reminiscent of a Cobb salad. “Jennifer and Lisa [Kudrow] and I ate lunch together every single day for 10 years. And we always had the same thing — a Cobb salad.

Where is the Kardashian salad from? ›

This viral La Scala Chopped Salad was made famous by none other than the Kardashians, so you know I needed to give it a try. All of the great flavours from an Italian cold cut but in a salad format. The best part is how customizable it is; grab what you love, give it a quick chop, and enjoy!

Who bought Chicken Salad Chick? ›

The restaurant is partially owned by private equity firm Brentwood Associates, who also have investments in Blaze Pizza and Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar.

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