Easy recipe for creamy Southern-style chicken salad is ready in 10 minutes and uses simple ingredients. Perfect for sandwiches or crackers.
A traditional chicken salad should not have pickles, relish, fruit, or nuts added.
From a purist standpoint, it should never have any more additions besides chicken, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, celery, and some added acidity!
Adding Acid
Acid brightens the flavors in all recipes and this recipe is no exception.
I use sour cream or Greek yogurt for the acid here. They both provide an extra creaminess without overwhelming it with mayonnaise.
If you need to avoid adding dairy, a squeeze of lemon juice will do the trick.
Southern-Style
A Southern version usually contains an addition of chopped boiled eggs and diced sweet pickles, or sweet pickle relish added.
I have run into some versions with dill pickles too.
Fruit can be added but I prefer a whipping cream base for those times when I add fruit. There is nothing wrong with adding fruit to this base recipe. Try adding grapes and almonds for a beautiful brunch salad.
Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?
Sure! I do all the time. Cut it into cubes rather than shredding it.
You might even find that you prefer the texture of it over traditional poached chicken.
Use any extra chicken to make some chicken noodle soup.
The carcass, skin, and juices from the bottom of the rotisserie container can add some extra flavor to the broth.
Can I Use Leftover Baked Chicken?
Absolutely! Just make sure it isn’t overbaked and dried out. Any form of cooked chicken can be used.
The only kind I probably wouldn’t use is leftover ground chicken. That’s probably best left for something like chicken lettuce wraps.
Leftover turkey can be substituted for the chicken. Turkey salad is a great way to get rid of holiday leftovers!
Can it be eaten right away?
Yes! You can eat it immediately after making it. The flavor will improve after refrigeration though.
I try to make this at least 4 hours ahead of time.
Storing
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Federal food safety guidelines recommend discarding chicken salad after 3 to 5 days and getting rid of it after it has been at room temperature for 2 hours.
This is a pretty big window as far as chicken goes, so I usually toss mine after day 3.
I have never frozen this since mayonnaise should not be frozen, it tends to separate. You could try it and remix the salad or add more mayonnaise.
Honestly, I would just freeze leftover chicken separately and make fresh salad after it has thawed.
Serving Suggestions
- Stuffed in Tomatoes
- With Saltine Crackers, Club Crackers, Butter Crackers
- In a Sandwich, My favorite is Toasted Bread with a slice of red onion!
- With Crostini
MORE CHICKEN RECIPES YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE
French Chicken in White Wine Sauce
Southern Chicken and Dumplings
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Basic Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups Diced chicken cooked
- 1 cup Mayonnaise not dressing
- 1/3 cup Sour Cream
- 4 stalks Celery diced finely
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- If using precooked chicken skip the steps for cooking the chicken.
- Place chicken in a pan and fill with enough water to completely cover chicken.
- Place over high heat and heat until water boils.
- Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer until chicken is done. (30 to 60 minutes)
- Turn off heat and allow the chicken to cool slightly in the pan. (About an hour)
- Drain water from chicken.
- Removed skin and bones from chicken and discard.
- Cut chicken meat into small dice, or larger if you like.
- Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
- Chill until cold.
- Serve on crackers, bread, or stuffed in a tomato.
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