Southern Chicken Salad

This is the best southern chicken salad recipe with grapes and pecans. Simple to make yet loaded with taste, its way better than traditional chicken salad.

While you can’t beat a classic recipe, yet you can improve a fan favorite. With this easy recipe, chicken salad sandwiches are about to get a much needed makeover.

This Southern chicken salad recipe is loaded with tender chunks of chicken, sweet dried cranberries, juicy grapes, celery, and pecans.

Held together with a creamy mayonnaise dressing, every bite of this perfect meal has both sweet and savory flavors.

There is just so much flavor with this chicken salad, that you won’t ever make the traditional kind again.

Enjoy this southern salad on it’s own with a spoon, served on a bed of lettuce, or in a sandwich with a side of fruit and potato chips. Then fall in love again with leftovers the next day.

Summertime is here and we are in need of quick meals that fill the belly, yet don’t take a lot of time to make. Plus, no one wants to turn on the oven and heat up the house even more.

I love this homemade chicken salad for being so versatile whether at home, at a potluck, or on a day trip with the kids. Served alone or in a sandwich, the options for sides are endless.

So if you think chicken salad has to be boring or average, think again. This southern chicken salad has the best flavor and textures, in a ruch creamy dressing.

This creamy chicken salad recipe truly delivers on all levels!

Ingredient Notes

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you’ll need to prepare this delicious chicken salad. The full measurements and instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Cooked Chicken: I like to use leftover chicken breasts or a rotisserie chicken (whole chicken) from the grocery store. You can use shredded chicken, yet I prefer cubed for hearty chunks. I personally only use white meat for this recipe, and not dark meat.
• Celery: for color and the perfect amount of crunch.
• Dried Cranberries and Red Grapes: sweet fruit to give a delicious contrast to the savory chicken and dressing.
• Pecans: Chopped small for that bit of crunch and slight nutty flavor.
• Mayonnaise: creamy, and pulls it all together.
• Green Onions: for color and taste.
• Sweet Pickle Relish and Dijon Mustard: for that slight acidic addition and boldness.
• Onion Powder, Salt, and Black Pepper: simple seasonings to taste.

How to Make Chicken Salad

This best chicken salad recipe calls for cooked diced chicken, so tuck this recipe away for when you have leftovers or want to use up a rotisserie chicken.

When you have cooked chicken on hand, this recipe can be entirely made in under 15 minutes with no baking or cooking required.

This may just be the easiest 3-step salad ever.

STEP 1 – Add Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add in all the ingredients.

STEP 2 – Mix. Using a wooden spoon or ladle, mix well to combine.

STEP 3 – Chill. Cover the combined salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. It brings out the flavours and has best results when everything combined is cool.

How To Serve Chicken Salad

This salad is great option as a snack, for an easy lunch, light dinner, potluck option, picnic addition, or for an easy meal on the go.

There are so many great ways to enjoy this southern chicken salad with grapes recipe. Here are some ways to serve:

• Quick snack on crackers
• Set out the salad in a bowl and served with crackers for scooping.
• Make the best chicken salad sandwich ever using bread, sourdough bread, French bread or croissants. My personal favourite is on buttery croissants. Mmmm.
• Scoop onto a bed of lettuce for a chicken salad … salad.
• Make a chicken salad wrap using a tortilla with lettuce and tomato.
• Make lettuce wraps for a low carb meal.

What to Serve with a Chicken Salad Sandwich

I love making chicken salad sandwiches on bread, croissants, rolls, or biscuits. Here are the simple sides that pair well with this classic tasty sandwich.

• Potato Chips
• Roasted Red Potato Salad
• Caesar Salad
• Fresh Fruit – strawberries, cherries, melon
• Strawberry Fluff Salad
• Fruit Salad
• Dill pickles
• Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
• Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
• Classic Potato Salad

Storage:

You can prepare this salad 1- 24 hours in advance. It keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or covered well with plastic wrap.

If stored properly, homemade chicken salad will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Substitutions and Variations:

• Cutting Calories? Use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of mayonnaise.
• Hardboiled Eggs: Add some chopped hard boiled eggs for more protein, they are a delicious addition.
• Fresh Herbs: options include fresh parsley, fresh dill, fresh rosemary, or basil. Fresh ingredients are always best, yet you can use dried in a pinch.
• Mustard Swap: Omit entirely; or try yellow mustard, or honey mustard. If you omit the mustard, I suggest adding a squeeze of lemon juice instead.
• Pecan Swap: Omit entirely; or try walnuts, almonds or cashews.
• No Green Onion? Try red onion, or omit entirely if you want.

Recipe Tips:

• If serving a crowd, serve the pecans in a small bowl on the side for those with allergies or just preference. They can be easily sprinkled on top when serving.
• After chilling for an hour, taste and adjust if necessary. It’s simple to add more of something and re-mix if needed.
• This easy chicken salad recipe has room for your favorite ingredients and cutting out those that aren’t preferred.
• For meal planning: Make a large chicken dinner so that you have leftover roast chicken, to make perfect chicken salad the next day.