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Simple Chicken Salad Recipe

This simple chicken salad recipe comes together in just 15 minutes using a handful of simple ingredients – perfect for meal prep or a quick lunch on a croissant! Itโ€™s creamy, crunchy, and a little tangy with sweet grapes, crisp celery, and toasty almonds.

Bowl of rotisserie chicken salad with grapes and almonds.
Photos byย Bea Moreno

Easy Rotisserie Chicken Salad Recipe

  • Ready in just 15 minutes with no cooking required
  • Creamy, crunchy, and bursting with flavor from sweet grapes and toasty almonds
Bowls of ingredients to make a simple chicken salad recipe.

Ingredients for Chicken Salad

  • Shredded Rotisserie Chicken: A convenient shortcut for juicy, flavorful chicken. You can also use leftover roasted or poached chicken.
  • Red Grapes: Add a juicy sweetness and pop of color. Green grapes work too, or try chopped apples for a crunchier variation.
  • Celery: Brings fresh crunch and a slight peppery bite. Cucumber or jicama could be used as alternatives.
  • Almonds: Add nuttiness and crunch. Pecans or walnuts would also work well here.
  • Red Onion: Offers a sharp bite to balance the creamy dressing. Shallots or green onions are other delicious options.
  • Mayonnaise: Creates the creamy base for the dressing. Stick with full-fat for the best flavor and texture. Duke’s is our family’s favorite brand!
  • Sour Cream: Adds richness and tang to the dressing. Plain Greek yogurt works here too. Again, stick with full-fat.
  • Dijon Mustard: Brings depth and a subtle tang. Yellow mustard or whole grain mustard are solid substitutes.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Adds brightness and cuts through the richness. Try white wine vinegar or lemon juice if needed.
  • Croissants for Serving: Buttery and flakyโ€”perfect for sandwiching this chicken salad. Serve on sandwich rolls, in lettuce cups, or over greens instead.

How to Make Chicken Salad

Combine the chicken and mix-ins. Add chicken, grapes, celery, almonds, and red onion to a large bowl.

Bowl filled with rotisserie chicken, almonds, onion, grapes, and celery.

Whisk together the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, and a few large pinches of salt and pepper.

Simple dressing for homemade chicken salad.

Toss to coat. Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and toss until everything is well coated.

Chicken salad with a creamy dressing drizzled over it.

Season to taste. Add more salt and pepper if needed.

Close up shot of a bowl of homemade chicken salad.

Serve and enjoy. Scoop onto fresh croissants or your favorite bread and dig in!

Chicken salad on 2 crossiants sliced lengthwise.

Tips for Making Chicken Salad

  • Chill before serving for the best flavor – 30 minutes in the fridge makes a big difference.
  • Toast the almonds for extra crunch and flavor.
  • Use a mix of white and dark meat for the juiciest texture.

Make-Ahead Instructions

  • You can make this rotisserie chicken salad up to 2 days in advance.
  • Store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Give it a good stir and season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover chicken salad in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Serving Suggestions

Try these easy chicken recipes next!

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Simple Chicken Salad Recipe

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This simple chicken salad recipe comes together in just 15 minutes using a handful of simple ingredients – perfect for meal prep or a quick lunch on a croissant! Itโ€™s creamy, crunchy, and a little tangy with sweet grapes, crisp celery, and toasty almonds.

  • Author: Kylie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 3/4 cup halved red grapes
  • 3/4 cup finely diced celery
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
  • 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • Kosher salt
  • fresh cracked pepper
  • croissants for serving

Instructions

  1. Add chicken, grapes, celery, almonds, and red onion to a large bowl.
  2. Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, and a few large pinches of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
  3. Pour dressing over the chicken salad mixture and toss to combine until everything is well coated.
  4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Serve on fresh buttery croissants and enjoy!
  6. If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star rating and review below!

Notes

    • Chill before serving for the best flavor – 30 minutes in the fridge makes a big difference.

    • Toast the almonds for extra crunch and flavor.

    • Use a mix of white and dark meat for the juiciest texture.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/8 of the chicken salad
  • Calories: 292
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 201.6 mg
  • Fat: 22.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5.8 g
  • Fiber: 1.5 g
  • Protein: 15.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 49.6 mg

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