Chicken salad is a classic dish that is versatile, easy to make, and downright delicious. It can be served as a light lunch, a protein-packed snack, or even an appetizer when scooped on top of crackers or bread. The possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing chicken salad to your preferences with different combinations of veggies fruits spices, and sauces. But where exactly can you find high-quality chicken salad near you when a craving hits? This comprehensive guide covers all your options for getting your hands on chicken salad both at restaurants and by making it yourself at home.
Purchase Chicken Salad from Restaurants and Delis
One of the easiest ways to satisfy a chicken salad craving is to visit a restaurant or deli near you that serves pre-made chicken salad. Many sandwich shops, cafes, and casual dining spots will have chicken salad on their menu in some form, either as a full sandwich or side salad. When deciding where to go for store-bought chicken salad, check out reviews online to determine which spots in your area have the best quality and flavor combinations. Here are some top places to try for delicious grab-and-go chicken salad:
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Local delis – Neighborhood delis often make chicken salad fresh daily and are likely to have classic versions or unique creations with different mix-ins Their chicken salad tends to be more affordable than a restaurant too
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Sandwich and salad shops – Places like Subway, Panera Bread, Jason’s Deli, McAlister’s Deli, Chicken Salad Chick and other similar chains will have chicken salad sandwiches, wraps, and salads on their menus. It’s a quick and easy option for lunch or dinner.
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Grocery store deli counters – Most grocery stores with deli counters sell pre-made chicken salad by the pound or scoop. The flavors are usually pretty basic but you can get it at an inexpensive price point.
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Restaurants with salad bars – If a restaurant near you has a build-your-own salad bar, there’s a good chance they’ll include chicken salad as one of the protein options to top a salad with.
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Food delivery services – Apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash and GrubHub allow you to get chicken salad delivered from local eateries right to your doorstep in no time Browse the menus on the apps to find chicken salad near you.
No matter where you purchase pre-made chicken salad, inspect it closely before buying. Look for chicken salad with chunky, shredded chicken pieces, a minimal amount of filler like celery or onions, and a creamy consistency.
Make Chicken Salad at Home
When you’re able to plan ahead, consider making homemade chicken salad yourself so you can control the ingredients and flavors. While the process does take some time and effort, the end result is fresh, tasty chicken salad customized exactly how you prefer it. Here is a simple overview of steps for how to make classic chicken salad at home:
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Cook the chicken – Bake, grill, or poach skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs until fully cooked. Allow the chicken to cool before chopping or shredding it into bite-size pieces.
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Prepare the add-ins – Rinse, chop, slice or dice any vegetables, fruits or other mix-in ingredients you want in your chicken salad like celery, grapes, almonds, etc.
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Make the dressing – Whisk together the dressing ingredients such as mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, etc. in a small bowl.
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Combine it all – In a large bowl, mix together the chopped chicken, vegetables/fruits, dressing and any seasonings until fully combined.
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Chill before serving – Refrigerate the chicken salad for at least 30 minutes which allows the flavors to meld together.
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Serve or store – Enjoy the chicken salad immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Some easy mix-in ideas for homemade chicken salad are dried cranberries, grapes, sliced almonds, pineapple tidbits, chopped pecans, chopped hard-boiled egg, avocado, bacon bits, shredded cheese, diced apple, and any of your other favorite fruits, veggies or nuts. The fantastic thing about making your own chicken salad is that you can tweak it to your preferences every time.
Convenient Options for Chicken Salad to Go
When you’re pressed for time or just need chicken salad in a hurry, using pre-cooked and packaged chicken salad options can be a real time saver. Here are some quick and convenient chicken salad choices for when you’re on the go:
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Canned chicken salad – Brands like Swanson Premium White Chicken Salad come ready to eat right out of the can. The flavor is mild and the texture isn’t as chunky as homemade but it’s an easy protein option.
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Pre-made pouches – Check your grocer’s deli section for individual serving pouches of pre-made chicken salad you can grab and go. Sabra makes a classic Greek yogurt chicken salad pouch that’s tasty.
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Rotisserie chicken – Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli and use the meat to quickly make your own chicken salad at home. Just chop and mix with desired ingredients.
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Leftover chicken – Shred up leftover cooked chicken from a roast or thighs into a chicken salad the next day for an effortless make-ahead option.
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Canned tuna salad – In a pinch, swap canned tuna for chicken to make a quick tuna salad. The flavor will be different but still delightful.
With so many choices for pre-packaged chicken salad that only requires some light assembly or no prep at all, it’s easy to put together a chicken salad meal or snack in no time flat.
Chicken salad is such a versatile and satisfying dish to add into your lunch rotation or enjoy as an afternoon snack. Whether you purchase pre-made chicken salad from a restaurant or deli, make your own homemade blend, or use convenient pre-cooked chicken salad options, there are endless tasty choices available. So next time you get a hankering for chicken salad, you’ll know exactly where to turn to get your fix! What’s your favorite way to enjoy chicken salad?
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How to Make Chicken Salad
This easy chicken salad comes together so fast in one bowl, which is why it’s the ideal lunch option.
- Toast pecans – Place them on a dry skillet over medium/low heat and toss them frequently until they are golden and fragrant. Do not walk away from them because they can burn easily. Transfer to a cutting board to coarsely chop and set aside to cool, then add to a large bowl.
- Chop Chicken – dice cold chicken breast and add it to the mixing bowl. Note: We prefer the texture of chicken when it’s diced instead of shredded.
- Halve Grapes – Cut grapes in half with a serrated knife and add to the bowl.
- Chop celery and onion – cut celery sticks in half lengthwise then thinly slice and add to the bowl along with the chopped onion.
- Make Dressing – Combine the dressing ingredients in a dish and add dressing to the salad.
- Toss to combine – stir until salad is evenly coated in dressing, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
The Best Chicken Salad Dressing
This is similar to the dressing from my popular Broccoli Apple Salad. It’s creamy and tangy, and adding sour cream makes it lighter than just using mayo.
- Mayonnaise – use real mayo or homemade mayonnaise for the best flavor.
- Sour cream – we use full-fat sour cream, but you can substitute it with low-fat sour cream or fat-free Greek yogurt.
- Lemon juice – be sure to use freshly squeezed and not from concentrate.
- Dill – finely chopped fresh dill is our favorite, but you can substitute with 2 Tbsp of finely chopped fresh parsley. Fresh herbs really elevate this salad.
How to Make Chicken Salad | Get Cookin’ | Allrecipes
FAQ
Does Wendy’s sell chicken salads?
Made fresh daily with our signature lettuce blend, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, cool, creamy avocado, Applewood smoked bacon, and grilled chicken breast …
Does Chick-fil-A offer chicken salad?
Chicken Salad was previously available on the menu at participating Chick-fil-A® restaurants nationwide. Even though it’s no longer on the menu, we’d like to offer the recipe so you can make it in your own kitchen. Learn how to make more of your favorite Chick-fil-A dishes by visiting our Recipes page.
Does McDonald’s sell a chicken salad?
Caesar Crispy Chicken Salad. Our Caesar salad includes crispy breaded chicken breast pieces on a bed of crispy lettuce, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese and garlic-herb flavoured croutons. A Caesar sauce is also available for that extra oomph!
Is chicken salad actually healthy?
Definitely — chicken salad is full of lean proteins, minerals, and vitamins. It is low in sugar, carbs, and fiber while high in protein. Therefore, this low-calorie salad is good for your health.