10 Best Chicken Salad Recipe Ideas for Easy Meals

By Ariel Knutson

June 7, 2024

Courtesy of Mad About Food

There are so many reasons to love chicken salad: It’s delicious. It’s easy to make (and make-ahead). Plus, it’s adaptable, and generally a healthy, protein-packed meal. Though it’s great with just some celery, onion, and mayo, there are so many ways to make it feel special without much extra effort. Here are the best chicken salad recipe ideas for any time of day, whatever kind of flavor you’re craving.

1. Guacamole Chicken Salad

Fresh guacamole = instant party. So, why not make your lunch more fun and combine everyone’s favorite appetizer with chicken salad? If you’ve got some pre-made guacamole and a rotisserie chicken, this recipe practically makes itself.

Try this recipe from Paleo Running Momma.

2. Tarragon Chicken Salad

When it comes to chicken salad recipe ideas, a unique dressing can make all the difference. This one includes fresh tarragon, lemon juice, and a dash of vanilla extract to give it something extra. Serve it on a sandwich or on top of greens.

Try this recipe from Little Pine Kitchen.

3. Curried Chicken Salad

It’s incredible what a little bit of curry powder can do for something as simple as chicken salad. This recipe also uses Greek yogurt as a creamy base, and includes golden raisins and celery for some added flavor and texture.

Try this recipe from The Modern Proper.

4. Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Salad

This pantry-friendly chicken salad is rich and tangy thanks to a healthy dose of sun-dried tomatoes and plenty of capers. Stuff it inside a wrap or serve over a bed of your favorite leafy greens.

Try this recipe from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen.

5. Whole30 BLT Chicken Salad

This Whole30-friendly BLT chicken salad combines two great lunches into one. All you really need besides the traditional mayo and chicken are cherry tomatoes, crumbled bacon, and scallions. And, as with most chicken salad recipes, you can use rotisserie chicken to make things even easier.

Try this recipe from Mad About Food.

6. Waldorf Chicken Salad

Apple, celery, grapes, walnuts — every bite of a classic Waldorf salad is full of different textures and flavors. Adding chicken makes it a meal. You’ll love this for lunch, or you can spoon some into endive or radicchio leaves and serve it at a party.

Try this recipe from All the Healthy Things.

7. Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is the perfect base for creativity, and this recipe is proof. With jalapeños, bacon, and scallions to mimic jalapeños poppers, it’s loaded with flavor and heat. Toss in some pickled jalapeños, too, if you like.

Try this recipe from Healthy Little Peach.

8. Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

This humble chicken salad has four main ingredients: chicken, pecans, dried cranberries, and scallion. Where things go off script is with the dressing, which is a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds.

Try this recipe from Julia’s Album.

9. Pesto Chicken Salad

Pesto is a classic addition to chicken salad, and the key to making it extra delicious is by using the very best pesto. It’s worth the effort to make it yourself instead of getting the store bought stuff. This recipe also adds red onion, pine nuts, and a little lemon juice to brighten things up.

Try this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.

10. Greek Avocado Chicken Salad

This Greek-inspired chicken salad is loaded with all sorts of delicious things: avocado, kalamata olives, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy dressing made with fresh dill. It’s great on a sandwich or salad, but it’s so flavorful, you can just enjoy it out of a bowl with a fork.

Try this recipe from Creme de la Crumb.