What are some other chicken salad mix-in ideas?

I asked on Instagram and you guys had the best ideas! Thank you for sharing! - salt and vinegar chips (or any chips, let's be honest) - apples - wild rice - sweet pickled jalapeños - fried onions - crushed ramen noodles - bacon - sweet corn

Can you omit or replace the celery?

Yes, you can omit the celery! This is your own adventure. I would suggest adding a crunchy diced or sliced vegetable in its place - water chestnuts (polarizing!), radishes, jicama, or bell pepper! Fennel is very similar to celery but it is sometimes tolerated better by celery-haters, so that's another option! It gives you a similar crunch and flavor.

Could you use your air fryer chicken in this?

Yes! Yummy. I would just cut it into cubes after you cook it in the air fryer! Here's that recipe . Keep in mind that there's a lot of seasoning on the exterior of that chicken so it will likely transfer into the sauce, making it more colored than the version here in the pictures.

How can I make this chicken salad dairy-free?

Use a dairy free plain yogurt! Almost all mayo should be naturally dairy free.

What other nut could I use instead of cashews?

SO many options. Walnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, and almonds come to mind!

How long does this chicken salad keep in the refrigerator?

I like it best within 3 days! The USDA recommends eating leftover rotisserie chicken (stored in the refrigerator) within 3-4 days.

How do you serve this chicken salad?

In a sandwich (croissants are the bomb), in a wrap (whole wheat wrap or a lettuce wrap! yum), on top of some greens, or as a dip for crackers! Or just plain, straight out of the fridge. :)

Can you make this recipe without mayonnaise?

You could use all Greek yogurt but I find that the mayo is really helpful for the overall flavor and texture. It gives a silkiness and a lusciousness that you can't get from the thick, tangy Greek yogurt. Some people like to make their chicken salad with sour cream, so that's another option, but I find a base of tangy Greek yogurt + the buttery-ness of a little mayo to be the ideal combo!

Super Yummy Chicken Salad Recipe

Description

This Chicken Salad is so good! Protein-packed with a delicious creamy dressing, and perfect for an on-the-go lunch in a sandwich or wrap.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken Salad Dressing:

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (I prefer 2% milkfat or higher)
1/4 cup mayo
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons sugar (more or less to taste – and honey also works!)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Chicken Salad Base:

2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or diced (I use rotisserie chicken breast)
1 1/2 cups red grapes, sliced
1 cup finely diced celery (about 2-3 stalks)
1 cup roasted cashew halves and pieces
any extra seasonings you like (dried herbs, fresh herbs, salt and pepper, etc. – I typically add dried chives!)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Dressing: Whisk the dressing ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust, keeping in mind that it should taste salty / concentrated as it will distribute amongst all the other ingredients.
Mix: Toss your mix-ins (chicken, grapes, celery, and cashews) with as much of the dressing as you like.
Season: Taste, adjust, and zhuzh to your heart’s content. I usually stir in some freeze-dried chives and white pepper.
You’re Done! Yum! Eat on a whole wheat wrap, lettuce wrap, sandwich, toast, dipped with crackers or just PLAIN! Delicious, cold, creamy, I love it. Store leftovers in an airtight container the fridge for up to 4 days.

Notes

Dressing Amounts: You may not need all of the dressing depending on how much creaminess you like – I typically have a few tablespoons left over and I save them to toss with the leftovers so they are freshly creamy again!

Herbs: Fresh herbs work, but my complaint with them is that they don’t hold up as well in the fridge / after they get mixed in, which is why I like freeze dried herbs (in my case, I use chives).

White Pepper: Regular freshly ground black pepper works just fine, but it darkens the color a bit with the black flecks and I care about these things so I go for the white pepper!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Lunch
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken salad, chicken salad recipe, chicken salad sandwich, easy lunch recipe, high protein lunch