If there’s one recipe I turn to time and again for lunch, picnics, or light dinners, it’s this Easy Chicken Salad. It’s refreshingly creamy, delightfully crunchy, and packed with bright flavors that never fail to satisfy. Whether you’re piling it high on sandwiches, scooping it onto greens, or serving it alongside your favorite crackers, this salad comes together in minutes and truly delivers on taste. Using everyday ingredients and a little kitchen magic, Easy Chicken Salad transforms leftover or rotisserie chicken into a crave-worthy meal you’ll want to make on repeat.

Easy Chicken Salad Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

This salad is a great reminder that simple ingredients, when brought together just right, become so much more than the sum of their parts. Each element brings something important: color, crunch, creaminess, or savory depth, making your Easy Chicken Salad perfectly balanced in every bite.

Cooked chicken breast (2 cups, shredded or chopped): The star of the show—use rotisserie chicken for unbeatable flavor and convenience.
Mayonnaise (1/2 cup): For that classic creamy texture; sub in Greek yogurt for a lighter twist if you’d like.
Dijon mustard (1 tablespoon): Adds a subtle tang and pops the other flavors beautifully.
Garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon): Provides a gentle, savory punch that ties everything together.
Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Essential for bringing all the flavors forward—taste and add more if needed!
Black pepper (1/4 teaspoon): A little heat and complexity with every bite.
Celery (1/2 cup, finely chopped): Delivers that classic crunch and vibrant green color.
Red onion (1/4 cup, chopped): Adds slight sharpness and color contrast.
Fresh lemon juice (1 tablespoon): Brightens the whole dish and balances the creamy dressing.
Fresh parsley (2 tablespoons, chopped, optional): For a pop of herbaceous freshness and color.

How to Make Easy Chicken Salad

Step 1: Stir Up the Creamy Base

Start by grabbing your largest mixing bowl and whisking together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and fresh lemon juice. Aim for a smooth, unified dressing where everything is well blended—this will be what envelopes each bite with creamy deliciousness. Taste it now to see if you like that tang or want a touch more lemon or mustard!

Step 2: Fold in the Flavorful Goodies

Next, add your shredded or chopped chicken into the bowl, along with the celery, red onion, and parsley if you’re using it. Gently fold everything together—making sure all the wonderful chicken and veggies get coated with that tasty sauce. Folding rather than stirring too vigorously keeps the salad light and the chicken chunky.

Step 3: Taste and Tweak

This is your moment to make it your own! Give the Easy Chicken Salad a taste. Prefer more tang? Add another splash of lemon. Need extra pepper or a pinch more salt? Go for it. These little tweaks always make a difference.

Step 4: Chill for Flavor Fusion

While you technically could dig in right away, chilling your Easy Chicken Salad for at least 30 minutes in the fridge really lets all the flavors mingle. It firms up a bit, the seasonings settle in, and everything tastes even better nice and cold.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Get creative with how you serve it! Mound it onto sandwich bread, fill a lettuce cup, or arrange it next to a pile of crisp crackers. However you choose to indulge, now’s the time to enjoy all your handiwork.

How to Serve Easy Chicken Salad

Garnishes

A handful of fresh parsley, extra sliced celery tops, or a sprinkle of paprika instantly makes your Easy Chicken Salad extra pretty when ready to serve. For a touch of elegance, add a slice of lemon or some microgreens right before bringing it to the table.

Side Dishes

This classic dish pairs perfectly with so many sides! I love serving it next to fresh fruit like grapes or apple slices, a crunchy green salad, potato chips, or even a cup of soup. These all keep the meal light yet satisfying and work for lunches or easy entertaining alike.

Creative Ways to Present

Try your Easy Chicken Salad on croissants for a wonderfully rich bite, or pile it into hollowed-out tomatoes or avocado halves for a low-carb hit. For a fun appetizer twist, top cucumber rounds with dollops of salad or stuff mini pitas and serve at your next gathering.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Your Easy Chicken Salad keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Just give it a good stir before serving again, as the dressing may settle a little over time.

Freezing

While you technically can freeze Easy Chicken Salad, the creamy mayo base may separate and change texture once thawed. For best results, enjoy it fresh or refrigerated, and avoid freezing if you can.

Reheating

Since this is a chilled salad, there’s no need to reheat! In fact, it tastes best straight out of the fridge. If serving from very cold, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften before enjoying.

FAQs

Can I make Easy Chicken Salad ahead of time?

Absolutely! In fact, making it in advance and letting it chill helps the flavors meld together even more. Prepare up to a day ahead, cover tightly, and it’ll be ready when you are.

What kind of chicken is best for Easy Chicken Salad?

Both homemade poached, baked, or grilled chicken breast and rotisserie chicken work beautifully. Rotisserie chicken is a quick, flavorful shortcut, but you can use any cooked, shredded or chopped chicken you like.

How can I make this chicken salad lighter?

For a lighter version, try substituting half or all of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt. You’ll enjoy the same creamy texture but with less fat and a bit more protein.

Can I customize Easy Chicken Salad with add-ins?

Definitely! Stir in halved grapes, chopped apples, toasted almonds, or pecans for extra crunch and sweetness. The basic recipe is endlessly adaptable, so make it your own based on your favorite flavors.

Is Easy Chicken Salad gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free as written. Just be sure to serve on gluten-free bread, wraps, or crackers if you’re avoiding gluten entirely.

Final Thoughts

There’s something about this Easy Chicken Salad that always makes me smile—maybe it’s the ease, the creamy crunch, or just knowing I can whip up a crowd-pleasing meal in no time. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try soon; it’s truly a go-to favorite worth adding to your own kitchen repertoire!

Easy Chicken Salad Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 21 reviews

Author: Emma
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

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Description

This Easy Chicken Salad recipe is a quick and delicious way to enjoy a classic favorite. Made with simple ingredients and bursting with flavor, it’s perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or a light meal on its own.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken Salad:

2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or chopped)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

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Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Stir until smooth.
Add the cooked chicken, celery, red onion, and parsley if using.
Mix well until everything is evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.
Serve on sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, or with crackers.