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Chicken salad sandwich with lettuce on wheat bread
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5 from 4 votes

The Best Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

This easy recipe uses common ingredients. Rotisserie chicken, celery, and onion gets coated in a simple, tangy, mayo-based dressing.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Brunch, Lunch, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken salad recipe, easy chicken salad recipe, how to make chicken salad
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 319kcal
Author: Amanda Finks

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked chicken - pulled or chopped. I use pulled rotisserie chicken*
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
  • For serving: crackers, bread, tortillas, lettuce leaves, etc.

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Add the chicken, celery, and onion. Stir until the chicken is evenly coated in dressing.
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to four days.**

Video

Notes

*If you use rotisserie chicken, wait to add the salt. Some rotisserie chicken is very salty. You may want to skip the salt altogether.
**Chicken salad is best after it has chilled in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4th of the recipe | Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 342mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 104IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg