18 Chicken Salad Recipes That Are Just Right for Lunch or Dinner (2024)

Transform plain cooked chicken into a fresh and lively salad that's ideal for a picnic, an elegant luncheon, or even dinner by whipping up one of our creamy recipes. Whether you prefer a classic chicken salad wrapped in mayonnaise, or a mesclun mix adorned with chicken coated in Greek yogurt and lemon, there's no denying that the protein-packed salad has become a mealtime staple.

All of our chicken salad ideas taste great atop a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich using the bread of your choice. Get ready to discover a chicken salad recipe in our collection that's so good, you'll want to make it on the regular.

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Chicken Salad with Apricots and Almonds Sandwich

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Simple and tasty, the addition of apricots and almonds bring more protein and a touch of sweetness to this classic chicken salad. Enjoy it as an open-face sandwich or over greens.

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Summer Waldorf with Yogurt-Tarragon Dressing

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Our main dish Waldorf salad features sliced chicken breast. Juicy sweet slices of plum and toasted chopped almonds stand in for the usual apples and walnuts. In place of the mayo we've got a most delectable, and much lighter, yogurt-tarragon dressing.

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Chicken and Grape Salad

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Starting with a rotisserie chicken makes this salad fast to put together. (As the recipe uses half a chicken, it's also a recipe you can make with leftover roast chicken or grilled chicken.). The combination of red leaf lettuce, red grapes, and bacon makes for a salty-sweet-slightly bitter flavor that's balanced by an easy blue cheese-yogurt dressing.

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Chicken Tostada Salad

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Use leftover roast or rotisserie chicken for this quick and tasty chicken salad. Tortillas are baked till golden and crispy, then topped with Monterey Jack heese and baked briefly to melt the cheese. They're topped with warmed chicken seasoned with chili powder and lime, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and plenty of cilantro.

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Chicken Club Salad

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Chunks of baked chicken, crumbled bacon, and chopped tomato and red onion mingle with light mayonnaise and white-wine vinegar in this deconstructed club sandwich. Pile the chicken salad on lettuce leaves or toasted sourdough bread to serve. You can prepare the components for this satisfying main-course salad ahead of time but arrange them just before serving.

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Chicken Salad with Apples and Walnuts

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A Waldorf salad by another name: Apples and walnuts add a satisfying crunch when paired with tender chicken and a tangy, reduced-fat mayonnaise-based dressing.

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Chicken Salad with Scallions and Yogurt

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We use plain low-fat yogurt in place of the usual mayonnaise to make this light and flavorful chicken salad. Mix in chopped celery, scallions, and basil, and serve on fresh rolls or salad greens.

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Chicken, Chickpea, and Pesto Salad

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Toss chickpeas, sliced English cucumber, celery, and shredded chicken breasts in homemade or purchased basil pesto to make this hearty chicken salad. Chopped tomatoes and bell peppers would also be wonderful additions.

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Tandoori Chicken Salad

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This Indian-inspired chicken salad from cookbook author Padma Lakshmi features yogurt-marinated chicken breasts seasoned with garam masala, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and jalapeño. Toss the sautéed chicken with iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, plum tomatoes, radishes, cucumber, scallions, jicama, and cilantro, then dress with lemon juice and the chicken pan juices.

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Lighter Chicken Salad

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Buttermilk, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and hot sauce create the creamy, zesty dressing for this light version of classic chicken salad. Stir the dressing into chopped celery, onion, parsley, and shredded poached chicken.

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Apricot-Basil Chicken Salad

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Dried apricots, fresh basil, and slivered almonds make this chicken salad worthy of an elegant shower luncheon or a picnic basket. Combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, paprika, minced garlic, and champagne vinegar to make the tangy, flavorful dressing.

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Curried Chicken Salad on Whole-Wheat Pitas

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Mix nonfat Greek yogurt with curry powder, lemon juice, and just a touch of mayonnaise to make the light and spicy dressing for these open-faced chicken salad sandwiches. Stir in sliced almonds, cubed Granny Smith apple, and poached chicken breast, and serve on toasted whole-wheat pita bread.

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Chutney Chicken Salad

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Major Grey's mango chutney—a compelling combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors—adds zing to the sour cream-mayonnaise dressing for this easy chicken salad. Stir raisins and sliced scallions in and serve on toast or a bed of greens.

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Roasted Chicken Salad

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It's quick and easy to make this sophisticated chicken salad when you start with a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Add toasted pecans, sliced celery and scallions, raisins, oregano, and chopped Fuji or lady apples, and coat with a tangy sour cream dressing. If you'd like to bring this chicken salad on a picnic, be sure to pack it in an airtight container and keep it fresh in a cooler.

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Tarragon Chicken Salad

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To cook chicken breasts with no added fat, gently poach them in simmering salted water. Shred the cooled chicken and combine with celery, fresh tarragon, white-wine vinegar, and olive oil to make this light and refreshing herbed chicken salad.

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Mango Chicken Salad

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Shredded chicken and diced mango are combined in a spicy yogurt dressing seasoned with Major Grey's mango chutney, lime juice, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and fresh cilantro for a sweet and spicy chicken salad. Serve it on a bed of spinach, sprinkled with toasted coconut.

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Fennel and Apple Chicken Salad

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Diced fennel, Granny Smith apple, celery, and red grapes add a wonderfully fresh, sweet crunch to this chicken salad. Toss the mixture in a light yogurt dressing and pile on slices of pumpernickel bread topped with watercress or simply serve over watercress.

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Chicken Salad Pitas

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Poach chicken breasts, then shred the cooled meat to make this sweet-and-savory chicken salad. Mix mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, slivered almonds, canned mandarin orange segments, and celery with the shredded chicken, then stuff the mixture in pita pockets with lettuce leaves.

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