Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

This Classic Chicken Salad is creamy, flavorful, and loaded with tender chicken, crunchy celery, red onion, and a simple homemade dressing. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, crackers, or lettuce cups, it's an easy recipe that's great for lunch, meal prep, picnics, and light dinners.

Whether you're using leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, this recipe comes together in minutes.

The Origins of Chicken Salad

Chicken salad dates back to the 1800s and quickly became popular as a way to transform leftover cooked chicken into a fresh and satisfying meal. Over the years, countless variations have emerged, but the classic combination of chicken, mayonnaise, celery, and seasonings remains a favorite.

Today, chicken salad is one of America's most popular lunch recipes.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Perfect for meal prep

Ready in 15 minutes

Great use for leftover chicken

High-protein lunch option

Easy to customize

Ingredients

For the Chicken Salad

4 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

¼ cup red onion, finely diced

½ cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons sour cream

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Shred or dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside. You can use freshly cooked chicken, leftover chicken, or rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Dressing

In a large mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until the dressing is smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Add the Chicken and Vegetables

Add the prepared chicken, chopped celery, red onion, and fresh parsley directly to the bowl with the dressing. Gently stir until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated.

Taste the chicken salad and adjust the salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.

Step 4: Chill the Chicken Salad

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to come together and makes the salad taste even better.

Step 5: Serve

Give the chicken salad one final stir before serving. Spoon it onto buttery croissants or sandwich bread for a classic chicken salad sandwich, or serve it with crackers for an easy lunch or snack.

You can also serve chicken salad in lettuce wraps, on toasted bagels, or over a bed of fresh greens.

What to Serve with Chicken Salad

Chicken salad pairs especially well with simple, fresh sides. Try it with corn salad, watermelon feta salad, pasta salad, fresh fruit, potato chips, pickles, or a warm bowl of soup for a complete lunch or light dinner.

Variations

Southern Chicken Salad

Add:

Sweet pickle relish

Chopped boiled eggs

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Add:

Dried cranberries

Pecans

Grape Chicken Salad

Add:

Halved red grapes

Sliced almonds

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Do not freeze.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Yes. Rotisserie chicken is one of the easiest and most flavorful options.

What is the best chicken for chicken salad?

Cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken works best.

Can I make chicken salad ahead of time?

Absolutely. The flavors actually improve after chilling.

Final Thoughts

This Classic Chicken Salad is creamy, satisfying, and incredibly easy to make. Whether served on a sandwich, wrapped in lettuce, or enjoyed with crackers, it's a timeless recipe you'll come back to again and again.

More Salad Recipes You'll Love

Cobb Salad

Tuna Salad

Egg Salad

Tex Mex Salad

Italian Pasta Salad

Watermelon Feta Salad

Corn Salad