Description
This classic Chicken Salad recipe is a quick and easy dish combining cooked chicken, fresh apple, celery, and onion with creamy mayo and simple seasonings. Perfect for a light lunch or picnic, it can be served in sandwiches or with crackers and is best chilled before serving to enhance the flavors.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb cooked chopped chicken
- ⅔ cup chopped apple
- ⅓ cup finely diced yellow onion
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt (plus more to taste)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
- Bread or croissants for making sandwiches
- Lettuce for sandwiches (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chopped chicken, chopped apple, finely diced yellow onion, chopped celery, mayo, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until all the ingredients are well mixed and evenly coated with the mayonnaise.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the mixture and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. This resting time allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a more flavorful chicken salad.
- Serve: Once chilled, taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve cold on sliced bread, croissants, or buns to make sandwiches. Alternatively, scoop the salad with crackers for a light snack. Optionally, add lettuce to sandwiches for extra crunch and freshness.
Notes
- Using tart apple varieties like Granny Smith adds a nice crispness and a tart contrast to the creamy mayo.
- Chicken can be leftover roasted or poached chicken; using fresh cooked chicken is best for texture.
- To make the salad more vibrant, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent the apple from browning.
- This salad can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Lettuce is optional but recommended if making sandwiches for added texture and freshness.