Classic Chicken Salad Your Way

It's chicken salad season! . . . well, not officially, but summer is the time for craving something cold and light with protein to satisfy on-the-go appetites. But this salad is fitting for any season.

For another chilled salad, try this Best Fresh Fruit Salad with a Creamy Dressing. The whipped cream dressing is flavored with cream cheese and a little sweetness, then tossed with seven fresh fruits. It's a refreshing, creamy fruit dish that's easy to make and no-cook.

What Do You Need To Make Chicken Salad?

The chicken salad starts with one thing. Chicken.

I give many thanks to Ina Garten for teaching me how to roast bone-in chicken breasts. This process makes it easy to prepare when you need cooked chicken. No more boiling water in a large pot on the stove. All you do is put the breasts on a baking sheet, rub them with olive oil, sprinkle them with salt, and bake them skin-side up at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I go a few steps further, lining the pan with parchment paper and salting it before and after rubbing it with olive oil. Right after it's cooked, I cover it with foil and let it cool. This keeps the meat nice and juicy.

Ingredients for this delicious Chicken Salad Your Way.

• chicken - cooked and cubed protein
• celery - chopped into small crunchy bites
• mayonnaise - adds needed creaminess and taste
• heavy whipping cream - sweet cream thickens the sauce
• lemon juice - to brighten the taste
• lemon zest - gives more concentrated lemon flavor
• onion - grated fresh oniony flavor permeates the whole salad
• sweet pickle relish - add sweet pickle flavor
• salt - for flavor
• white pepper - white pepper has a smoother peppery flavor

Other Optional Ingredients

• nuts - your favorite nut, chopped
• pepper jack cheese - shredded or cut into small cubes
• fruit - any single or combination of sliced grapes, mandarin orange segments, blueberries, pineapple chunks, diced apple, avocado, and/or dried cranberries

The specific amounts of ingredients are listed in the recipe card below.

How To Make Classic Chicken Salad

After the chicken breasts are cooked, cooled, and deboned, it's time to chop the celery and combine it with the chicken. Next, make the dressing with mayonnaise, cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, onion, relish, and seasonings.

For an added zip, use Simple Cajun Aioli: The Spicy Garlic Mayo Sauce instead of mayonnaise. It's a treat!

Then pour it over the meat and celery, stir together, and enjoy this yummy, creamy salad that's full of flavor just like it is.

Or add your favorite ingredients to make it suit your taste.

I've listed some delicious combinations in the recipe below, but the sky's the limit on this one.

What To Serve With Chicken Salad?

Chicken salad is so light and versatile that you can serve it as a main dish, a side dish, a snack, or an appetizer. Serving it with bread, crackers, pita bread, wraps, or on a bed of lettuce enhances its convenience and complements its flavor.

Not only is it easy to make, but it's portable too. This is great when taking food to a friend, for a potluck, on a picnic, or on the road with you.

You can also serve another salad alongside the chicken salad, like this Easy Crab Salad, for seafood lovers.