Hello everyone! Today, I want to share some incredibly easy chicken salad recipes with you. Chicken salad is such a versatile dish, perfect for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or feeding a crowd.
I’ve gathered five simple chicken salad ideas that are packed with flavor and come together fast. You’ll find options for every taste, whether you like a little heat, a sweet crunch, or something tangy. Let’s make some delicious chicken salad!
Jump to Recipe:
- 1. Easy Honey Hot Chicken Salad Recipe
- 2. Easy Mexican Chicken Salad Recipe
- 3. Easy Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe
- 4. Easy Sesame Chicken Salad Recipe
- 5. Easy Sonoma Chicken Salad Recipe
Easy Honey Hot Chicken Salad for a Kick
This sweet and spicy chicken salad recipe is quick to make and full of flavor. It’s perfect for a satisfying lunch or a light dinner with a bit of a kick.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Honey Hot Chicken Salad
- Honey Hot Sauce Base: Use your favorite hot sauce and mix it with a touch of honey to get that perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
- Shredded Chicken: Rotisserie chicken makes this recipe super fast. Just shred it up and you are ready to go.
- Chill for Flavor: Letting the salad chill for a bit helps all the flavors come together even better.
What You Need for Honey Hot Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce (to taste)
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
⏱️ Time: 20 min🍽️ Yields: 4 servings
How to Make Honey Hot Chicken Salad
Step 1: Prep the Chicken
Take your cooked chicken and shred it into a big mixing bowl. Make sure it’s cooled if you cooked it fresh.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
In a smaller bowl, combine the mayonnaise, honey, and hot sauce. Stir them together until the dressing is smooth.
Step 3: Combine Ingredients
Pour the honey hot dressing over the shredded chicken. Add the chopped celery and sliced green onions. Mix everything until the chicken is fully coated.
Step 4: Season and Serve
Taste your chicken salad and add salt and black pepper as you like. Serve it on bread, crackers, or lettuce cups.
📝 Final Note
You can store this chicken salad in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. It tastes great cold!
Easy Mexican Chicken Salad for Fresh Flavor
This Mexican chicken salad brings vibrant, fresh flavors to your plate, making it a lively meal. It’s a fantastic choice for wraps, tacos, or as a flavorful dip with chips.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Mexican Chicken Salad
- Canned Beans and Corn: Always drain and rinse canned black beans and corn well before adding them to your salad for the best taste.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice really brightens up all the flavors in this salad.
- Avocado Timing: If you’re adding avocado, stir it in just before you serve to keep it from turning brown.
What You Need for Mexican Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn (canned, frozen, or fresh)
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt to taste
⏱️ Time: 25 min🍽️ Yields: 4-5 servings
How to Make Mexican Chicken Salad
Step 1: Prepare Chicken
Place your cooked chicken, shredded or diced, into a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add Vegetables
Stir in the rinsed and drained black beans, corn, finely chopped red onion, and fresh cilantro to the chicken.
Step 3: Make the Dressing
In a separate small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, and ground cumin. Mix them well until smooth.
Step 4: Mix and Serve
Pour the dressing over the chicken and vegetable mixture. Stir everything gently until it is nicely coated. Taste and add salt as you like. Serve with tortilla chips or in lettuce wraps.
📝 Final Note
For the best taste, let this Mexican chicken salad sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend.
Easy Pecan Chicken Salad: A Classic Crunch
This is a classic chicken salad recipe featuring the pleasant crunch of pecans. It’s simple, satisfying, and absolutely wonderful for sandwiches or stuffed in tomatoes.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Pecan Chicken Salad
- Toasted Pecans: Lightly toasting your pecans before adding them makes their flavor deeper and their crunch even better.
- Crisp Celery: Celery adds a refreshing, crisp texture that contrasts nicely with the creamy dressing and chicken.
- Sweet Addition: If you like a hint of sweetness, try adding a quarter cup of halved red grapes.
What You Need for Pecan Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped (lightly toasted optional)
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
⏱️ Time: 15 min🍽️ Yields: 3-4 servings
How to Make Pecan Chicken Salad
Step 1: Prepare Chicken and Nuts
Shred or dice your cooked chicken into a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped pecans, celery, and red onion to the bowl.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard until smooth.
Step 3: Combine and Mix
Pour the dressing over the chicken and other ingredients in the large bowl. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
Step 4: Season and Serve
Taste and season your chicken salad with salt and black pepper as you like. Serve immediately or chill for later.
📝 Final Note
If you like, you can add a tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley for extra color and a little fresh taste.
Easy Sesame Chicken Salad with Asian-Inspired Flavors
This chicken salad has a wonderful Asian-inspired flavor profile that is light and fresh. It’s a perfect option for a quick and different meal any day of the week.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Sesame Chicken Salad
- Sesame Oil Power: A tiny bit of toasted sesame oil gives this salad its distinct, deep sesame taste. Don’t use too much!
- Rice Vinegar Balance: Rice vinegar is important here because it adds a pleasant tang that brightens all the other flavors.
- Shredded Cabbage: For an extra layer of crunch and freshness, stir in some finely shredded cabbage.
What You Need for Sesame Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
⏱️ Time: 20 min🍽️ Yields: 3-4 servings
How to Make Sesame Chicken Salad
Step 1: Prep Chicken and Veggies
Place your shredded cooked chicken in a large mixing bowl. Add the shredded carrots and sliced green onions to the bowl.
Step 2: Create the Dressing
In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, and soy sauce until everything is well combined.
Step 3: Mix the Salad
Pour the sesame dressing over the chicken and vegetables. Stir everything gently until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle with sesame seeds right before you serve your chicken salad. It’s great in lettuce cups or on crackers.
📝 Final Note
This sesame chicken salad is lovely served in crisp lettuce cups for a light, low-carb meal option.
Easy Sonoma Chicken Salad with Sweet Grapes
This Sonoma chicken salad is a sweet and flavorful choice, often featuring grapes and almonds. It’s a refreshing option for picnics, light lunches, or a simple snack.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Sonoma Chicken Salad
- Red Grapes: Halved red grapes add wonderful bursts of sweet juiciness to every bite of this salad.
- Toasted Almonds: Lightly toast sliced almonds to bring out their nutty flavor and add a nice crunch.
- Fresh Herbs: A tiny bit of fresh tarragon or chives can really make the flavors pop.
What You Need for Sonoma Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup red grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, chopped (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
⏱️ Time: 18 min🍽️ Yields: 4 servings
How to Make Sonoma Chicken Salad
Step 1: Prep Chicken and Mix-ins
Dice or shred your cooked chicken into a large bowl. Add the halved red grapes, toasted sliced almonds, chopped celery, and sliced green onions. If using, add chopped fresh tarragon.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
In a separate medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir well.
Step 3: Combine Everything
Pour the creamy dressing over the chicken and other ingredients. Mix gently until everything is coated and combined.
Step 4: Chill and Serve
For the best taste, let the chicken salad chill in the fridge for about 15-30 minutes before serving. This lets the flavors meld.
📝 Final Note
If you don’t have almonds, you can easily use chopped pecans or walnuts instead for a similar crunchy texture.