It’s chicken salad season! . . . well, not officially, but summer is the time for craving something cold and light with protein for satisfying on-the-go appetites. This Chicken Salad recipe is basic, but not bland, with lots of optional ingredients to suit your taste. It’s like that cute black dress you can dress up or down. By mixing and combining fruits, nuts, herbs, and cheese the basic becomes Chicken Salad Your Way!
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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 easy preparation when needing 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 with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and bake skin side up at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
I go a few steps further lining the pan with parchment paper and salting before and after rubbing on the olive oil. Right after it’s cooked I place foil over it and let it cool. This keeps the meat nice and juicy.
Roast more chicken than you need. Store it for later. One large chicken breast equals about 1 1 /2 cups chopped chicken.
Dressing And Add-Ins
After the chicken breasts are cooked, cooled, and deboned it’s time to chop the celery and combine the two. Next, make the dressing with mayonnaise, cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, onion, relish, and seasonings.
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 making it to suit your taste.
I’ve listed some delicious combinations in the recipe below, but the sky’s the limit on this one.
Pepper Jack cheese, avocado, and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro
Apples, dried cranberries, and nuts
Notes
Process the basic recipe in the food processor for a spreadable chicken salad.
Category:Salads
Cuisine:American
Keywords: chicken salad your way
Here is another perfect dish for summer cravings, Chicken Salad With Green Peas. This savory salad has greek yogurt, pecans, black olives, feta cheese and of course, green peas. It’s so good and chicken salad stores well in the refrigerator for days.
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My family is famous for old Fashioned chicken salad with the cooked chicken run through a grinder as well as the seasoning. With a little chopped egg and pickle relish on white bread. But this looks tasty.
Thank you! Your family’s way is similar to the way my grandmother and momma made their chicken salad, but without the egg. I tell about it in my Chicken Salad With Green Peas post. It was a process they went through before a wedding or shower. I’m so grateful for food processors!
I still grind mine the old fashion way for small batches but when making for a party -pull out the food processor.My sister actually like the chunky style(paneras way) better.
Classic & timeless. Love a great base for chicken salad. Grapes are always my favorite add-in!
My family is famous for old Fashioned chicken salad with the cooked chicken run through a grinder as well as the seasoning. With a little chopped egg and pickle relish on white bread. But this looks tasty.
Thank you! Your family’s way is similar to the way my grandmother and momma made their chicken salad, but without the egg. I tell about it in my Chicken Salad With Green Peas post. It was a process they went through before a wedding or shower. I’m so grateful for food processors!
I still grind mine the old fashion way for small batches but when making for a party -pull out the food processor.My sister actually like the chunky style(paneras way) better.
Classic & timeless. Love a great base for chicken salad. Grapes are always my favorite add-in!
Thank you! The fruit makes a pleasant addition when I want to change things up a bit.