Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

If you don't make anything else from this blog, find time to make this Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe! And then make a whole bunch of chicken salad sandwiches!

In this chicken salad recipe, lean, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are poached in a "secret" ingredient, then pulsed in a food processor with seasonings, crisp vegetables, pickle relish, and hard boiled eggs to make the ultimate chicken salad sandwich spread. It's delicious on whole grain bread, crackers, or even eaten with spoon!

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (1)


Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (2)

A few years back, I helped out my neighbors by working at their family owned Chick-fil-A restaurant for a short time. I handed out freebies and chicken samples for just a few months. It was fun! And, of course, I got to sample all of the goods myself.
One of the items I really enjoyed was their chicken salad. I heard the chicken salad sandwich isn't available at Chick-fil-A anymore. All good things come to an end, I suppose.
I've always been a huge fan of chicken salad. One of my all time favorite recipes for chicken salad is this Waldorf Style Chicken Salad. It's full of big crunch from apples and walnuts! And, I do love this not-so-ordinary Blueberry Pecan Chicken Salad too!
But, neither of these chicken salad recipes, as good as they are, are really suited for sandwiches. They are chunky and crunchy, not smooth and hom*ogeneous.

This chicken salad recipe I'm sharing today, is perfectly suited for sandwiches. It reminds me a lot of the chicken salad recipe I enjoyed at Chick-fil-A. I wouldn't say it's a copycat recipe, but I would say it's pretty darn close!
It's a southern style chicken salad, full of crisp celery and onion, pickle relish, and yes, eggs! That's right, this Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe has eggs in it! Have you ever had chicken salad with eggs?

If not, you are in for a treat!

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (3)

But first things first, let's talk about cooking chicken breasts for this chicken salad recipe.

How to cook chicken breasts for salad recipes:

My favorite method for cooking chicken breasts for salad recipes is poaching. By definition, "poach" means to cook something by simmering it in a small amount of liquid. I find this method is best because it leaves the entire chicken breast soft and moist.

This is the texture you want for chicken salad recipes like this one. This method works well for boneless and bone in chicken breasts. But I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breasts when I make chicken salad.

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (4)


What kind of liquid can I use to poach chicken breasts for chicken salad?

You can use just about any liquid you like to poach chicken breasts. Water is fine, but chicken broth is better. Even fruit juices and milk make great poaching liquids! You can also add aromatics to the poaching liquid to give the chicken different flavor profiles. Sliced lemons, black peppercorns, and bay leaves are popular additions.

My secret ingredient is Sprite! I love poaching chicken breasts in Sprite! The lemon lime soda leaves a slightly sweet citrus flavor to the chicken which I think is just perfect in this chicken salad recipe!

How to poach chicken breasts for chicken salad recipes:


  1. Add chicken breasts to skillet with a lid. Sprinkle with salt.
  2. Add enough poaching liquid to the pan to completely cover the chicken breasts.
  3. Turn on heat and bring liquid up to just boiling.
  4. Cover pan and turn heat down to simmer.
  5. Simmer until internal temperature of chicken breasts reach 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the meat.
  6. Remove chicken from poaching liquid and allow to cool enough to handle. If poaching for this chicken salad recipe, let cool completely before turning them into chicken salad.

Of course, if you don't want to or feel like poaching the chicken for this recipe any diced leftover chicken breast would work in any chicken salad recipe here on my blog.

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (5)


How do you make homemade chicken salad?

Once the chicken breasts are completely cooled the food processor will make easy work of combining everything. For best results, cube cooled chicken, hard boiled egg, celery, and onion to about the same size before adding to the food processor.

Make sure you use a food processor that is 6 - 9 cups or bigger for this chicken salad recipe. This recipe does make a lot of chicken salad! But, this recipe is also suitable to be halved to make a smaller amount if you like.

Can chicken salad be frozen?


Chicken Salad cannot be frozen. The mayonnaise in the salad will not hold up and will break. The salad will be slimy and unappealing when defrosted.

Even more salad sandwiches to love!

chicken salad recipe, chicken salad with egg, southern chicken salad

Main Course

American

Yield: 12 servings

Author: Renee Paj

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (6)

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe is boneless, skinless chicken breasts are poached Sprite, then pulsed in a food processor with seasonings, crisp vegetables, pickle relish, and hard boiled eggs to make the ultimate chicken salad sandwich spread.

Ingredients

  • 2 - 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, poached, cooled and diced into 2" cubes (see poaching instructions in text above)
  • 2 large stalks of celery, cut into 2" pieces
  • 1/2 medium sweet onion, cut into 2" pieces
  • 1/4 cup pickle relish (sweet or dill)
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup Mayonnaise made with Olive Oil
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 tsp. celery salt
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. In 6 cup (or bigger) food processor or larger fitted with blade, add all ingredients. Process for several seconds, then scrape down sides and process until desired consistency.
  2. Store covered, in refrigerator.

Notes

Nutritional Information is an estimate.Serving size is approximately 1/4 cup

Nutrition Facts

Calories

142

Fat (grams)

5

Carbs (grams)

4

Protein (grams)

19

Copyright © 2018 Renee's Kitchen Adventures


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Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (7)

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Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to give chicken salad more flavor? ›

Add minced fresh herbs like parsley, chives, basil, or tarragon. Add fresh grapes for juicy little bursts of flavor. Add cooked pasta to stretch the chicken salad into a larger meal. (You'll have to increase the amount of mayonnaise mixture to cover the pasta.)

Does chicken salad contain boiled eggs? ›

Classic Chicken Salad with Grapes is filled with tender chicken, hard-boiled eggs, red grapes, sweet relish, crunchy celery and onion. You'll love this salad!

How do you thicken chicken salad? ›

Use Greek yogurt or mayonnaise: Greek yogurt or mayonnaise can be used as a base to thicken chicken salad. Greek yogurt is a healthier option, as it is lower in fat and calories than mayonnaise, but both will provide a creamy texture.

Is chicken salad enough? ›

Although chicken and salad are healthy nutrients, you can gain weight due to the way the chicken is prepared, or the salad is made with high-calorie sauces. Moreover, you can't shed weight with only one food in your diet. Salad with chicken supports your diet in this way, but it isn't enough on its own.

Why does my chicken salad have no taste? ›

Lack of Seasoning: One of the most common reasons for bland chicken salad is insufficient seasoning. Make sure to add enough salt, pepper, and other seasonings like herbs and spices to enhance the flavor. Overcooking the Chicken: Overcooked chicken can become dry and lose its flavor.

What enhances chicken flavor? ›

Marinating not only adds flavor, but the combination of healthy fat and acid in most recipes also helps tenderize the meat. A good marinade is roughly three parts oil to one part acid, plus salt and other seasonings like spices, crushed garlic, or a little natural sugar.

Does chicken salad contain onions? ›

Diced chicken is tossed with a creamy dressing and dotted with crisp celery, green onion, and fresh grapes. It's easy, healthy, bright, flavorful, and will make any summer meal a breeze. When I think of chicken salad, I think of summer's own version of comfort food.

Is there mayo in chicken salad chick? ›

All white meat, shredded chicken, finely minced celery, mayonnaise, & our secret seasoning.

What is chicken salad chick made of? ›

Made Fresh & Served from the Heart

Our chicken salads are made fresh in-house every morning using premium chicken tenderloin, sweet and savory ingredients, and our secret blend of spices and seasonings—you won't find frozen or packaged around here.

What not to do when preparing chicken salad? ›

Overcooked or dry chicken

To ensure that your chicken salad tastes the way that it should, you should avoid using overcooked or dry chicken in your recipe. Unfortunately, as we cook chicken, the moisture of the bird slowly evaporates.

What to do if you put too much mayo in chicken salad? ›

To offset the creaminess (and potentially wetness) of too much mayo, try adding in more of whatever crunchy element you were using. Celery and red onion are some of the most common ones, but you can also try chopped red peppers, bacon bits, carrots, cabbage, apples, chopped nuts, and more.

Why does my homemade chicken salad get watery? ›

Choose low-moisture ingredients whenever possible. Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts over thighs, and opt for low-sodium canned chicken when bulkier meats are called for. Soak up the moisture. Try toasting your nuts, fruits, or vegetables before adding them to the salad.

How good is homemade chicken salad good for? ›

It's tempting to stir up a big batch so that we can enjoy leftovers for a few days. But how long is it safe to keep chicken salad on hand? The short answer is to store chicken salad in a sealed container in the fridge or cooler for no more than four days.

How long is homemade chicken salad? ›

Homemade chicken salad lasts about 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What does chicken salad do to your body? ›

Chicken salad is high in protein

Thus, just one serving of chicken salad might meet nearly one-third of your daily protein requirements. Protein is necessary for bone health and muscle strength, but it also: controls appetite. aids in the healing of your body.

How can I make my salad more flavorful? ›

12 Easy Ways to Make Salad Taste Amazing – Seriously
  1. Make Your Salad a Spectacle. ...
  2. Mix and Match Leaves. ...
  3. Upgrade Your Salad Dressings. ...
  4. Massage Your Salad Greens. ...
  5. Toss in Cooked Veggies. ...
  6. Add Fresh Herbs. ...
  7. Sweeten with Fruit. ...
  8. Heat Your Salad Dressing.
Mar 9, 2022

How can I make store bought chicken salad taste better? ›

Citrus juice and zest

Citrus juice does wonders to brighten the flavor of foods — including lackluster chicken salad. The acidity in citrus juice balances out the fat in the mayonnaise dressing while adding a tangy pop of flavor. The extra moisture from the juice can also help to make the salad tastier.

What to add to a bland salad? ›

7 Ways to Spice Up Your Boring Salad
  1. 1) Get Creative with Dressings. Salad dressings can really make or break a salad. ...
  2. 2) Top It Off With Something Crunchy. ...
  3. 3) Throw in Some Fruit. ...
  4. 4) Mix in Some Grains. ...
  5. 5) Experiment with Different Proteins. ...
  6. 6) Try Some Different Veggies. ...
  7. 7) Add Some Cheese. ...
  8. The Bottom Line.
Feb 21, 2023

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