Classic Chicken Salad

Directions

A straightforward rooster salad recipe loaded with apple, raisins, and walnuts. Use rotisserie rooster or canned rooster for a fast shortcut! Excellent for lunch by itself, atop a mattress of lettuce or in a croissant.

My mother has been making a model of this rooster salad for so long as I can keep in mind, loading it up with plenty of “extras” that I simply love. I rediscovered my love for it when my husband and I did a Whole30 a number of years in the past. It was a fast and straightforward choice for lunches and snacks, and continues to be a recipe I really like consuming.

I routinely make it if we’re going to have firm for lunch, because it’s extremely simple to arrange and is sort of versatile in relation to serving – it could possibly be positioned on a mattress of lettuce (wholesome choice) or stuffed within a croissant (my favourite indulgent choice). Add some fruit and/or kettle chips and it makes an awesome lunch for friends. A fantastic choice for those who’re internet hosting for Mom’s Day this weekend, too!

Table of Contents Recipes by Viki

What Makes This Hen Salad the Finest

I really like, love, love this recipe as a result of it’s so unbelievably versatile; you possibly can mess around with all the elements and make tons of substitutions to fit your preferences. Some concepts:

Pears as a substitute of apples.
Dried cranberries as a substitute of raisins.
Contemporary halved grapes as a substitute of raisins.
Pecans or cashews as a substitute of walnuts.

So many scrumptious variations!

Components in This Basic Hen Salad

There’s a very small ingredient listing for this salad, and also you very probably have already got the whole lot you want!

Hen (in fact!) – There are such a lot of choices for what you should use – poached, grilled, rotisserie rooster, canned rooster. Be at liberty to make use of no matter you want greatest or is most handy. My husband really prefers the consistency of canned rooster; after I use that I purchase the natural Valley Contemporary model.
Mayonnaise – Once more, use your favourite! You’ll actually style it (clearly), so ensure it’s one thing you want.
Apples – Any selection will do right here (my favorites are honeycrisp and gala), and as talked about above, you possibly can even substitute pear for those who’d like.
Raisins – I really like the candy taste and tender texture these present, however you might additionally use halved seedless grapes (I do that typically!) or dried cranberries.
Walnuts – The compulsory crunch that each good rooster salad wants. Be at liberty to substitute in your favourite nuts (I personally love cashews or pecans right here).
Apple Cider Vinegar – Helps to chop the thickness of the mayonnaise and provides the salad a pleasant little tang with out tasting too vinegar-y.
Salt and pepper – Extra taste!

The best way to Make the Hen Salad

It solely takes a number of simple steps to get this rooster salad thrown collectively and prepared for lunch!

Put together the rooster and shred. I want shredded rooster right here as a substitute of cubed, as I really feel prefer it integrates with the remainder of the elements a lot better.
Mix the rooster and mayonnaise. You wish to be sure that all the rooster has a pleasant coating of mayonnaise on it so it doesn’t dry out.
Add the remainder of the elements and toss to mix. Throw in your apples, raisins, walnuts, salt and pepper and actually combine it up to verify the whole lot is properly mixed.

That’s it! Whereas this may be served instantly, I feel it actually shines when it’s left to take a seat within the fridge for no less than an hour earlier than serving.

That is certainly one of my favourite fast meal prep recipes as a result of it may be thrown collectively so shortly (thanks, rotisserie chickens and canned rooster!) and retains properly all week, though this by no means lasts that lengthy in our home!

Eat it plain, atop a mattress of lettuce, or pair it with buttery croissants for lunch friends (or your self, as a result of everybody deserves a croissant).

Extra Favourite Lunch Recipes

When you’re within the temper for a sandwich lunch or want some brunch concepts, you’ll love these:

5 years in the past: Neapolitan Cake
Six years in the past: Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Seven years in the past: Cinnamon-Almond French Toast

Basic Hen Salad

Yield: 4 to six servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Complete Time: 15 minutes

2 kilos (907.18 g) cooked rooster, shredded
½ cup (112 g) mayonnaise
2 massive apples, your favourite selection, peeled, cored and diced
⅓ cup (48.33 g) raisins
⅓ cup (39 g) chopped walnuts
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper, to style

Place the rooster in a big bowl and mix with the mayonnaise, stirring properly to make sure that all the rooster has been coated.
Add the apples, raisins, walnuts and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, to style. Toss to completely mix. The rooster salad could be served instantly or saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.

You’ll be able to substitute pear for the apple.
You’ll be able to substitute halved grapes or dried cranberries for the raisins.
You’ll be able to substitute different nuts (cashews or pecans could be nice!) for the walnuts.
If you’re doing a Whole30, Primal Kitchen mayonnaise is compliant.
This salad could be served instantly, however if in case you have time, refrigerate for no less than 1 hour so the flavors can meld collectively.

Dietary values are based mostly on one serving

Energy: 453kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 37g, Fats: 25g, Saturated Fats: 6g, Ldl cholesterol: 116mg, Sodium: 270mg, Potassium: 495mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 160IU, Vitamin C: 3.2mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 2.4mg

Course: Salad

Delicacies: American

(Recipe tailored from The Whole30)

Replace Notes: This recipe was initially printed in January 2016; it was up to date in Might 2019 with new pictures and extra in depth recipe success ideas.

[photos by Ari of Well Seasoned]