Description
This Best Chicken Salad Ever is a quick, easy, and delicious recipe that combines tender cooked chicken with crunchy celery, sharp red onions, and a creamy dressing of mayonnaise, sour cream, and lemon juice. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or as a salad on its own, this versatile dish comes together in just 15 minutes with no cooking required.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken (leftover shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken, or 2 cans Costco canned chicken)
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 pieces of celery (including leafy tops), chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop the vegetables: Finely chop the red onion and celery, including the leafy tops, to add crunch and freshness to the salad.
- Prepare the chicken: In a medium bowl, break up, finely chop, or shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Mix the ingredients: Add the chopped onion and celery, lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the chicken. Stir everything together until well combined and creamy.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad until ready to use to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled as a sandwich filling, on a bed of lettuce, or your preferred way.
Notes
- This chicken salad can be made with leftover roast chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or canned chicken for convenience.
- Adjust the amount of mayonnaise and sour cream for a creamier or lighter texture based on personal preference.
- Adding fresh lemon juice helps to brighten the flavors and prevent the chicken from tasting bland.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a healthier twist, swap out some or all of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
