The Ultimate Savory Chicken Salad Recipe: Classic Flavor, No Fruit, No Nuts
If you’re tired of chicken salad recipes overloaded with sweet fruits, crunchy nuts, or unexpected ingredients like boiled eggs and sugary relish, you’ve come to the right place. This is *the* savory chicken salad recipe my family adores, and frankly, it’s the only one they’ll eat! We believe this simple, yet incredibly flavorful, version is truly the best chicken salad ever, delivering a satisfying experience with every bite.
Our philosophy for a perfect chicken salad is straightforward: keep it savory, focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients, and let the chicken shine. The secret to the irresistible crunch in our easy chicken salad comes from plenty of crisp celery. If celery isn’t your favorite, then this particular take on chicken salad might not be for you. But for those who appreciate a fresh, herbaceous, and deeply savory profile, prepare to be amazed!
I am supremely confident that once you give this homemade chicken salad recipe a try, you won’t be disappointed. It makes an absolutely fantastic chicken salad sandwich, perfect for lunch, picnics, or a light dinner. This classic chicken salad is a versatile dish that will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.
Watch How to Make This Savory Chicken Salad
To help you visualize each step and ensure you create the most delicious savory chicken salad, we’ve prepared a detailed video tutorial. Follow along to see just how simple it is to whip up this family-favorite recipe.
Crafting Your Perfect Savory Chicken Salad
Creating this incredible savory chicken salad begins with the right chicken. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility – you can use various types of cooked chicken, making it a perfect dish for meal prep or using up leftovers. Here’s how to get started:
Choosing and Preparing Your Chicken
For ultimate convenience and flavor, a whole store-bought rotisserie chicken is an absolute game-changer for this chicken salad. It’s already perfectly seasoned and cooked, saving you valuable time. Simply debone it, and you’re ready to go. The mix of breast and thigh meat from a rotisserie chicken provides a lovely balance of flavor and texture that elevates the entire dish.
However, if you prefer to cook your chicken from scratch, there are several excellent options:
- Slow Cooker Chicken: Our Slow Cooker Roasted Chicken recipe is ideal. It yields incredibly tender, juicy chicken that’s easy to shred and packed with flavor.
- Poached Chicken Breasts: Poaching chicken breasts in seasoned water or broth results in moist, lean meat that’s perfect for chicken salad.
- Roasted Chicken Breasts or Thighs: Roasting chicken with a simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and herbs will give you a delicious base for your salad.
Shredding or Chopping the Chicken
Shredding meat can be a chore, but I’ve discovered a brilliant shortcut: an electric mixer! This tool makes quick work of shredding chicken into perfect, uniform pieces, saving your hands and your patience. Simply place large chunks of cooked chicken into a stand mixer bowl with the paddle attachment, or use a hand mixer in a large bowl, and mix on low speed until the chicken is shredded to your desired consistency. You can also finely chop the chicken with a knife if you prefer a more uniform, diced texture. For this particular recipe, a finely chopped or minced texture helps the flavors meld beautifully.
Assembling Your Savory Chicken Salad
Once your chicken is prepped, the rest is incredibly simple. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded or chopped chicken with the finely diced celery. This is where the magic of the crunch happens! Next, add the creamy mayonnaise, fresh ground black pepper, kosher salt, celery salt, dried dill, and dried parsley. The celery salt is a key ingredient here, enhancing the overall savory profile and complementing the fresh celery without overpowering it.
Mix everything thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the chicken is evenly coated with the dressing. Ensure every piece of chicken and celery is infused with the delightful blend of spices and creamy mayo. This step is crucial for achieving that consistent, rich flavor.
Chilling for Optimal Flavor
Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate your savory chicken salad for at least one hour. This chilling period is not just for cooling; it’s essential for allowing the flavors to meld and deepen. The longer it chills, the more pronounced and harmonious the savory notes become, resulting in a truly exceptional chicken salad.
Serving Suggestions for Your Savory Masterpiece
This savory chicken salad is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in numerous ways. My favorite is piled high on a fresh croissant for a luxurious touch, but here are some other fantastic serving ideas:
- Classic Sandwiches: Serve it on your favorite sandwich bread – white, whole wheat, sourdough, or a hearty multigrain for a classic and satisfying meal.
- Crisp Crackers: A perfect appetizer or snack, especially when entertaining guests.
- Lettuce Wraps or Beds: For a lighter, low-carb option, serve a generous scoop on a bed of crisp lettuce leaves, or use butter lettuce cups as wraps.
- Stuffed Tomatoes or Avocados: Hollow out ripe tomatoes or avocados and fill them with chicken salad for an elegant and healthy presentation.
- Pita Bread or Wraps: Spoon it into pita pockets or tortillas for a portable and delicious lunch.
- Side Dish: Simply enjoy it on its own as a refreshing side dish at potlucks or BBQs.
If you’re like us and prefer a less sweet, more straightforwardly savory chicken salad, you are absolutely going to adore this great recipe. It’s a perfect chicken salad sandwich filler and a wonderful addition to your repertoire of go-to chicken salad recipes.
Important Notes on Seasoning and Salt
We’ve received feedback from several readers regarding the saltiness of this recipe, and it’s an important point to address. My family and I have a higher tolerance for salt, and I also exclusively use kosher salt, which is less dense and therefore less salty by volume compared to table salt.
To ensure your savory chicken salad is perfectly seasoned to your taste, I recommend starting with half the amount of celery salt and kosher salt specified in the recipe. For example, begin with 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt. After mixing and chilling, taste the chicken salad and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can always add more salt, but you can’t take it away!
Remember, there’s a significant difference between kosher salt and table salt. A teaspoon of flaky kosher salt delivers less salty flavor than a teaspoon of table salt, which is more compact and therefore more concentrated in sodium per teaspoon. Always use kosher salt if possible, or adjust accordingly if using table salt.
Explore More Delicious Recipes
Looking for other delightful dishes to add to your menu? Check out these fantastic recipes that are sure to please:
- Smoked Chicken Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
- Shrimp Salad Recipe
- Pan-Seared Salmon Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
Savory Chicken Salad Recipe Card
Savory Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and finely chopped or minced
- 3/4 cup celery, diced small
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon celery salt (start with 1/4 tsp and adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley optional
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (start with 1/4 tsp and adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Start by preparing your chicken. If using a whole cooked chicken (like rotisserie), debone it. For optimal texture, you can place a mix of breast and thigh meat into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until the meat is finely chopped or minced. Alternatively, shred the chicken using an electric mixer or chop it by hand.
- Measure 3 cups of your finely chopped chicken into a large mixing bowl. Add the finely diced celery. For an extra layer of savory flavor and mild oniony kick, consider adding 2 or 3 diced green onions if desired.
- In a separate small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, celery salt (start with 1/4 tsp), dried dill, dried parsley (if using), kosher salt (start with 1/4 tsp), and fresh ground black pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until thoroughly blended, creating a creamy and aromatic dressing.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the chicken and celery mixture in the large bowl. Stir everything gently but thoroughly to ensure the chicken and celery are completely coated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour. This crucial step allows the flavors to deepen and meld, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious savory chicken salad. Before serving, give it a quick stir and taste, adjusting salt or pepper if necessary.