Chicken salad can be a go-to meal when you are looking for something quick, easy, and healthy. It’s a perfect dish for a busy weekday lunch, a picnic, or a potluck.
The best part about chicken salad is that it’s incredibly versatile, ranging from classic and traditional to modern and unique.
In this blog post, we’ve rounded up 25 easy and delicious chicken salad recipes for you to try out. We’ve got a variety of options, from sweet and fruity to savory and spicy, so there’s something for everyone. Let’s dive in!
25 Easy Chicken Salad Recipes
1. Classic Chicken Salad
Let’s start with a classic. In a mixing bowl, combine cooked and shredded chicken breast, chopped celery, chopped red onion, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and serve chilled.
You can also add some grapes, apples, or pecans for a sweet twist.
2. Avocado Chicken Salad
This healthy and creamy chicken salad recipe is a great alternative to the classic version.
Simply mix avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, salt, and cilantro, and then add cooked and shredded chicken. Serve on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
3. Buffalo Chicken Salad
If you love spicy food, then this buffalo chicken salad is for you. Make your own buffalo sauce by mixing hot sauce, melted butter, and garlic powder.
Toss the sauce with cooked and shredded chicken, celery, and blue cheese. Serve with a side of blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
4. Curry Chicken Salad
Add some exotic flavors to your chicken salad by adding curry powder, cilantro, and raisins.
Mix the cooked and shredded chicken with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, curry powder, salt, pepper, and chopped cilantro. Add some raisins and chopped almonds for extra texture and sweetness.
5. Caprese Chicken Salad
This Italian-inspired chicken salad is perfect for summer.
Simply mix cooked and shredded chicken with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar. Serve on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
6. Chinese Chicken Salad
This Asian-inspired chicken salad is crunchy, sweet, and tangy. Make your own dressing by mixing soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, grated ginger, and garlic.
Toss the dressing with cooked and shredded chicken, shredded cabbage, carrots, red peppers, and sliced almonds. Serve with crispy wonton strips.
7. Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
This sweet and crunchy chicken salad is perfect for fall.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with cranberries, pecans, celery, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
8. Greek Chicken Salad
This fresh and healthy chicken salad is perfect for a summer lunch.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onion, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Serve with pita bread.
9. Santa Fe Chicken Salad
Add some spice to your life with this Tex-Mex inspired chicken salad.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with black beans, corn, chopped red onion, lime juice, cilantro, and cumin. Serve on a bed of greens or with tortilla chips.
10. Waldorf Chicken Salad
This sweet and fruity chicken salad is a classic for a reason. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped apples, grapes, walnuts, celery, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
11. Broccoli Chicken Salad
This veggie-packed chicken salad is a great way to sneak in some greens.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped broccoli, red onion, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
12. Cobb Salad
This hearty chicken salad is packed with protein and veggies.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped hard-boiled egg, avocado, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, bacon, and cucumber. Serve on a bed of greens with your favorite dressing.
13. Cranberry Apple Chicken Salad
This sweet and tart chicken salad is perfect for the holidays. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped apples, dried cranberries, celery, walnuts, plain yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
14. Mediterranean Chicken Salad
This fresh and colorful chicken salad is full of flavor. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped red pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Serve with pita bread.
15. Caesar Chicken Salad
This twist on a classic Caesar salad is perfect for lunch or dinner. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and Caesar dressing. Serve chilled.
16. Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
This low-carb and gluten-free chicken salad recipe is perfect for a quick and healthy lunch.
Wrap cooked and shredded chicken with lettuce leaves, chopped red onion, tomato, and avocado. Drizzle with your favorite dressing.
17. Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken Salad
This fresh and tangy chicken salad is perfect for spring. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with poppy seeds, lemon juice, honey, Greek yogurt, salt, and pepper.
Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
18. Balsamic Chicken Salad
This Italian-inspired chicken salad is packed with flavor.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped red onion, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Serve on a bed of greens with toasted bread.
19. Ranch Chicken Salad
This creamy and savory chicken salad is a classic.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped celery, chopped green onion, sour cream, mayonnaise, dried dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
20. Pesto Chicken Salad
This Italian-inspired chicken salad is fresh and herbaceous.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, pine nuts, pesto, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
21. BBQ Chicken Salad
This sweet and smoky chicken salad is perfect for a summer barbecue.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped red onion, canned corn, canned black beans, barbecue sauce, and diced pickles. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
22. Tarragon Chicken Salad
This French-inspired chicken salad is light and flavorful. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped celery, chopped shallots, chopped fresh tarragon, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
23. Thai Chicken Salad
This spicy and refreshing chicken salad is perfect for a hot summer day.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped red pepper, chopped cucumber, chopped mango, chopped fresh mint, chopped fresh cilantro, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with rice noodles.
24. Tahini Chicken Salad
This Middle Eastern-inspired chicken salad is creamy and nutty.
Mix cooked and shredded chicken with chopped cucumber, chopped tomato, chopped red onion, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with pita bread.
25. Jerk Chicken Salad
This Caribbean-inspired chicken salad is spicy and flavorful. Mix cooked and shredded chicken with jerk seasoning, chopped mango, chopped red onion, and chopped fresh cilantro.
Serve chilled on a bed of greens or with sliced bread.
Final Thoughts,
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of 25 easy and delicious chicken salad recipes. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, spicy or mild, classic or creative, there’s a chicken salad for everyone on this list.
So next time you’re in need of a quick and healthy meal, consider making one of these recipes. Happy cooking!
