How to Make a Classic Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

The first chicken salad was created in 1863 in Wakefield, RI. It was the brainchild of the founder of Town Meats, Liam Gray, who somehow thought it would be a good idea to mix leftover chicken with mayonnaise, tarragon, and grapes.

The product was a huge hit. It was so popular that Gray’s meat market became a delicatessen famous for serving the dish. The recipe was further popularized in the fabulous 1950s.

The dish remains popular today due to its health benefits and the wide range of options you can choose from when preparing it.

Chicken is known to be one of the healthiest, leanest meats around. It is packed with protein, calcium, and phosphorus. It can aid in weight loss, boost immunity, promote healthy bones, and relieve stress.

There are several variations on the chicken salad recipe. You can substitute the mayo with a lower-fat version or even use Greek yogurt for lower-fat options. You can also add healthy ingredients like fruits, vegetables, nuts, scallops…. and the list goes on!

There is also a variety of choices when thinking of how to serve chicken salad. It canbe added to a salad with other ingredients or topped on wheat bread, rye, or even a bagel sandwich.

Chicken Salad Ideas

One great idea for serving chicken salad is to include it as the featured ingredient in a salad. Would that be then called a chicken salad salad? Rather than trying to find the answer to this existential question of the ages, let’s discuss how we could make a yummy chicken salad…um, salad.

Lettuce, of course, makes a great base for any salad, but if you want to get a bit more adventurous, and healthier, start with a bed of kale, mixed greens, or spinach.

Of course, veggies are always a great addition. Try adding in carrots, tomatoes, or cucumbers. Even hot peppers can work for those who love spice.

You can add a hard-boiled egg if you want to ramp up your protein. Cheese can also work as a delicious and healthy addition for dairy lovers.

A popular dish in many restaurants is a salad with various salads. For instance, some can include not only chicken salad but tuna salad and turkey salad. This is a great way to get a sampling of many tasty options.

When it comes to dressing, it is best to avoid using anything too heavy since the chicken salad will already contain mayonnaise. Italian or vinaigrette dressings may be better choices.

To save time, you can make a bunch of salad early in the week and dispense it as needed for meals. However, storing your salad ingredients and chicken salad separately is a good idea, as the mayonnaise from the chicken salad can make your greens soggy.

How Long Will Chicken Salad Last?

If you're going to be meal prepping chicken salad, then you're going to need to know how long it will last in storage! The last thing you want is to pull out some chicken salad for dinner and find it's gone bad… yuck!

Anything with mayo in it is not going to last forever. You've probably heard time and time again that mayo is vulnerable to spoilage, and that's very true! Chicken salad will last for around three to four days in the fridge. Your fridge needs to be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder for chicken salad to last properly.

If you choose not to use mayo in your chicken salad, you could probably get away with an extra day or two in the fridge. The FDA, however, recommends consuming chicken salad within four days regardless of whether it has mayo.

Make sure you store your chicken salad in a sealed container. When you take it out to eat, check it to see if it's still good. If it has an off color, odor, or otherwise doesn't look right, discard it. When it comes to meat and mayo, you don't want to play around. Both of these foods can cause some nasty symptoms if eaten after spoilage. If it looks and smells okay, give it a quick taste. If it tastes off, throw it out. If it tastes okay, serve it! Of course, always trust your judgment. If it doesn't feel right, then it's better to be safe than sorry.

Chicken Salad Sandwich Variations

Of course, those with heartier tastes may prefer to enjoy chicken salad in a sandwich. A great chicken salad sandwich starts with the right type of bread.

Preferences for bread may vary, and toasted white bread has long been a popular choice, but many say untoasted multi-grain bread is ideal because it holds up better to the moisture of the chicken salad without needing to be toasted. It’s healthier too!

There are a variety of ingredients you can use in your chicken salad. Our recipe includes celery and eggs, but you don’t need to limit yourself to these additions. Others worth mentioning include tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, fennel, and many more.

Once your chicken salad sandwich is prepared, you can serve it with any side you prefer. Chips are great for adding crunch to your meal. A soup or salad can be served to complete a healthy dish. Or if you are going on the lighter side, add a pickle!

While we could have put any chicken salad recipe on our site, we chose to pay homage to the classic recipes of the 1950s. Not dry, not filled with fruit salad…this is the real deal.

When they served chicken salad in perfectly cored tomatoes, presentation and taste were perfect. We’ve upped the game by serving it in butter croissants.

From shredding the chicken breast by hand to adding just the right amount of mayo with hard-boiled eggs…this recipe is worthy of the finest women’s club menu offerings. Try serving it to your family today!

If you enjoyed this recipe, check out our Broccoli Noodles Supreme Recipe and our Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken Recipe.

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