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Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

Classic Chicken Salad – Shredded chicken, dill pickles, and crunchy celery smothered in a deliciously creamy dressing. You’ll love how easy this is to throw together for your next picnic or summer party. 

CLASSIC CHICKEN SALAD

Creamy and crunchy Chicken Salad perfectly served on rolls and croissants, or on top of lettuce wraps for a low carb option.

Healthy and filling, a Classic Chicken Salad is not only packed with awesome flavors, but it’s also a Keto-friendly bowl full of protein and fiber. 

This salad can be found in my fridge year round because it serves as a grab-and-go lunch, or an in-between-meals snack. I’ve been having this salad for lunch, like, all week. It’s addictive.

Usually, I just go it alone, savoring bite after bite, and keeping on track with that low carb livin’. 

Salad with chicken, celery, and dill pickles.

HOW TO MAKE A CHICKEN SALAD

Basically, this Classic Chicken Salad is a high pile of deliciousness mixed with a very appropriate creamy dressing that brings everything together. It is a great recipe to serve alongside grilled meats, but also good as a meal prep option. 

  1. First thing I do is either shred these Grilled Lemon Chicken Breasts OR pick up a Rotisserie chicken from the market. Then, shred it. 
  2. You will also need to dice up some good old dill pickles and celery sticks. I use about 4 celery sticks and around 1/3 cup diced pickles. Most of the time, I just eyeball it. 
  3. Next, chop up about 3 cups iceberg lettuce and combine all the ingredients in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Stir in some lemon juice, too, and a little lemon zest.
  4. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, and dijon mustard over the salad; mix and stir until thoroughly combined. 
  5. Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge until ready to use. 

Dill pickles, shredded chicken, celery, and mayo dressing inside a salad bowl.

WHAT CAN I ADD TO A CHICKEN SALAD

You can always add in other things like;

  • diced carrots
  • green onions
  • almonds
  • or walnuts
  • grapes
  • mandarins, etc…

Then, there’s always my Creamy Dill Chicken Salad that you’ve GOT to try.

Classic Chicken Salad in a salad bowl.

COOK’S NOTES

  • Do not dress chicken when warm because it will absorb a lot of the dressing. Wait for your chicken to cool before using it in the salad. 
  • Finely dice all the veggies (and other add-ins, if using) and keep them at around the same size.  

HOW TO STORE CREAMY CHICKEN SALAD

  • Always store the salad in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

CAN I FREEZE CHICKEN SALAD

  • If you plan to freeze the salad, please do not add in the mayonnaise because it will separate once you defrost it. Instead, I suggest to freeze the salad without the dressing. You can always dress it afterwards.
  • Chicken Salad can stay in the freezer for 3 months.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches.

Don’t you just want to bite into that?! I sure DO! 

MORE CREAMY CHICKEN SALAD RECIPES

ENJOY!

TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE

Chicken Salad in a bowl with spoons.

Classic Chicken Salad 

Katerina | Diethood
Shredded chicken, dill pickles, and crunchy celery smothered in a deliciously creamy dressing.
5 from 5 votes
Servings : 6 serves
Prep Time 10 mins
Refrigeration Time 1 hr

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups cooked skinless, boneless chicken breasts, shredded
  • 4 celery ribs, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup finely diced dill pickles
  • 3 to 4 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
  • sliced green onions, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl combine prepared chicken, celery, pickles, lettuce, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and lemon zest; stir to combine.
  • Add sour cream, mayonnaise, and dijon mustard; mix until thoroughly incorporated.
  • Taste for seasonings and flavors; adjust accordingly.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
  • Or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Garnish with parsley and green onions; serve.

Notes

WW FREESTYLE POINTS: 3
 
NET CARBS: 3 g
 
CAN I FREEZE CHICKEN SALAD
  • If you plan to freeze the salad, please do not add in the mayonnaise because it will separate once you defrost it. Instead, I suggest to freeze the salad without the dressing. You can always dress it afterwards.
  • Chicken Salad can stay in the freezer for 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 190 kcal | Carbohydrates: 5 g | Protein: 17 g | Fat: 11 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 57 mg | Sodium: 1057 mg | Potassium: 500 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 580 IU | Vitamin C: 4.6 mg | Calcium: 65 mg | Iron: 0.8 mg | Net Carbs: 3 g

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, American/Southern
Keyword: celery, chicken salad recipe, classic chicken salad, creamy chicken, easy chicken salad recipe, holiday recipes, pickles, potluck recipes, salad dressings, summer picnic recipe
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7 comments on “Classic Chicken Salad Recipe”

  1. This is my daughter’s favorite thing to pick out from the deli at our local grocery store! She’s going to be thrilled now that I can make this for her; delicious!

  2. Yummm! I love dill pickles in my chicken salad. Instead of sour cream I used nonfat Greek yogurt and it turned out great.

  3. This classic chicken salad recipe looks so perfect for this hot weather. I can’t wait to try it. I am pinning it for later. It is just my type of food and then I saw the jalepeno popper chicken recipe too and that is just my hubby’s type of food. LOL!

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