Easy Homemade Chicken Salad Recipe: Tastiest Lunch in Minutes

Chicken salad represents a versatile culinary delight that converts ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

Light, refreshing, and packed with protein, this classic dish offers numerous delightful variations to suit different palates.

Home cooks appreciate its simplicity and adaptability, making it a go-to meal for quick lunches or casual gatherings.

The combination of tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy dressing creates a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Families and friends often gather around this crowd-pleasing recipe, sharing moments of joy and satisfaction.

Each bite promises a delightful experience that balances nutrition with incredible taste.

You’ll find this recipe both comforting and exciting, perfect for those seeking a delicious yet uncomplicated meal.

Fresh, Simple, and Perfect for Any Meal

• Unlock Tender Chicken Magic: Poaching chicken creates incredibly moist, delicate meat without drying out, ensuring each bite bursts with juicy flavor and perfect texture.
• Vibrant Flavor Symphony: The clever combination of sweet preserves, tangy lemon juice, crisp vegetables, and tender chicken creates a delightful taste explosion that dances across your palate.
• Quick and Easy Meal Prep: This recipe takes just 30 minutes from start to finish, making it an ideal solution for busy weeknight dinners or quick lunch preparations that don't compromise on taste or nutrition.
• Customizable Culinary Canvas: Easily swap ingredients to match your mood or pantry- substitute different fruits, vegetables, or herbs to create your own unique version of this versatile chicken salad.

Everything You Need for This Go-To Chicken Salad

• Chicken Breast: Lean, tender meat that provides the main protein source for the salad, best when fresh and boneless.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that binds the salad ingredients together, choose a high-quality, smooth variety.
• Preserves: Adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor, fruity jam works well.
• Lemon Juice: Bright, acidic element that balances the richness and adds freshness.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor profile.

• Celery, Bell Pepper: Crisp vegetables that provide crunch and fresh texture to the salad.
• Red Onion: Sharp, tangy flavor that adds a zesty kick to the mixture.
• Apple: Sweet and crisp fruit that introduces a subtle sweetness and additional texture.
• Olives: Briny, salty component that adds complexity to the flavor.
• Iceberg Lettuce: Provides a cool, crisp base for serving, adds volume and freshness.

How to Toss a Flavorful Chicken Salad Every Time

Step 1: Prepare Poaching Liquid

Fill a pot with water and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat.

• Water (2 quarts)
• Salt (1 tablespoon)

Step 2: Cook Chicken Gently

Add chicken chunks to boiling water. Reduce heat to simmer, then turn off heat. Cover pot and let chicken sit for 15 minutes.

Step 3: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Fruit preserves
• Lemon juice

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4: Chop Fresh Ingredients

• Celery
• Bell pepper
• Olives
• Red onion
• Apple

Step 5: Combine Chicken and Vegetables

Remove chicken from water and cut into bite-sized pieces. Add diced chicken to the dressing bowl. Gently mix in chopped vegetables.

Step 6: Finish With Crisp Lettuce

Just before serving, fold in freshly chopped iceberg lettuce for extra crunch.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer salad to serving dish. Can be enjoyed immediately or chilled for enhanced flavor.

Tips for Juicy Chicken and Crunchy Veggies

• Poach Perfectly: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F without overcooking, keeping it tender and juicy.
• Chill for Flavor: Refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to meld and develop a richer taste profile.
• Customize Crunch: Experiment with different chopped vegetables like jicama or radishes to add unique texture and freshness.
• Dress Strategically: Add lettuce just before serving to prevent wilting and maintain a crisp, vibrant texture.
• Balance Moisture: Drain excess liquid from fruits and vegetables to prevent the salad from becoming watery and losing its creamy consistency.

Storage and Make-Ahead Advice That Works

• Refrigeration: Store chicken salad in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Keep lettuce separate to prevent soggy texture.
• Freezing: Not recommended due to mayonnaise-based dressing, which can separate and lose creamy consistency when thawed.
• Reheating: Best enjoyed cold. If desired, gently warm chicken mixture in microwave for 30 seconds, stirring midway. Add fresh lettuce after warming to maintain crisp texture.

Great Matches for Chicken Salad Meals

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Complement the light, fresh chicken salad with a chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, enhancing the dish's delicate flavors and cutting through the creamy mayonnaise.
• Serve with Crunchy Accompaniments: Add toasted sourdough bread or buttery crackers to provide a satisfying textural contrast to the soft chicken and smooth dressing.
• Match with Refreshing Side Salad: Create a zesty green salad with mixed herbs and a light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the chicken salad and add extra nutrition.
• Enjoy with Sparkling Water: Elevate the meal with a citrus-infused sparkling water that echoes the lemon juice in the dressing and cleanses the palate between bites.

Add-Ins and Dressing Tweaks to Try

• Mediterranean Makeover: Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, add kalamata olives, fresh dill, and crumbled feta cheese for a tangy Mediterranean-inspired chicken salad.
• Spicy Southwest Spin: Incorporate diced jalapeños, corn kernels, black beans, and replace lemon juice with lime juice. Sprinkle in cumin and chili powder for a zesty southwestern flavor profile.
• Curry Coconut Crunch: Mix in mild curry powder, shredded coconut, chopped cashews, and golden raisins. Replace standard mayonnaise with coconut-based dressing for an exotic tropical taste experience.
• Herb Garden Fresh: Add fresh chopped basil, tarragon, and chives. Include toasted pine nuts and swap apple with fresh grapes for a bright, herbaceous version of the classic recipe.

Simple Chicken Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Crisp Mediterranean chicken salad brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to your plate with juicy grilled chicken nestled among fresh greens and tangy feta. Drizzled with herbed olive oil and sprinkled with kalamata olives, you’ll savor each refreshing bite of this light yet satisfying meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 pound (454 grams) raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2 ½-inch chunks
• 2 to 3 cups cooked chicken meat

Vegetables and Extras:

• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• ½ red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 4 to 6 green olives, pitted and minced
• ¼ cup chopped red onion
• ½ to 1 apple, cored and chopped
• ⅓ head iceberg lettuce, sliced and chopped

Dressing:

• 5 tablespoons (75 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) plum preserves or any sweet berry preserve
• 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Prepare a generously salted water bath in a deep pot, bringing it to a rolling boil for poaching chicken breast chunks.
2. Submerge chicken pieces into the hot liquid, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, then immediately remove from heat and cover the pot.
3. Allow chicken to cook slowly in the residual warmth for approximately 15 minutes, ensuring tender and moist meat.
4. Create a vibrant dressing by whisking together tangy mayonnaise, sweet preserves, and zesty lemon juice in a spacious mixing bowl.
5. Fine-tune the dressing’s flavor profile by carefully adjusting seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
6. Incorporate a colorful medley of crisp vegetables and fruits: diced celery, vibrant bell peppers, briny olives, sharp red onion, and sweet apple chunks into the creamy dressing.
7. Extract poached chicken from its cooking liquid, allowing it to cool briefly before meticulously dicing into bite-sized pieces.
8. Gently fold the diced chicken into the dressed vegetable mixture, ensuring even distribution of flavors and textures.
9. When ready to serve, delicately integrate fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce, torn or chopped, to maintain its crunch and provide a refreshing base for the salad.

Notes

• Perfectly poach chicken by using well-salted water and gentle heat to keep the meat tender and juicy.
• Create a balanced dressing that combines creamy mayonnaise with sweet preserves and bright lemon juice for complex flavor profiles.
• Chop vegetables and fruits uniformly to ensure each bite has a consistent texture and balanced taste.
• Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop deeper complexity.
• Serve immediately after adding lettuce to maintain its crisp texture and prevent wilting.
• Customize the recipe by experimenting with different fruits, nuts, or herbs to match personal taste preferences.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Poaching
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg