I love chicken salad with extras because it is so simple.
I learned to make chicken salad from my mother and grandmother and they made it delicious but pretty plain.
Yes, it was good, but years later….when I started adding the “extras”, my chicken salad became even better.
The extras I am talking about are celery, pecans, dried cranberries and onion.
Adding the additional ingredients just makes your chicken salad go up a notch.
Plus, you can really get creative and add grape halves and chunks or shreds of apple if you like.
For the chicken, I have boiled my own chicken with seasonings as well as used a rotisserie chicken and both work just fine.
I will say that I like to use the dark meat as well as white meat, as the combination gives it more flavor in my opinion.
Of course you can use only white breast meat if you so desire.
The other day I made this chicken salad for a friend who stopped by and by using croissants and the extra ingredients …my friend thought I really went out of my way…which I did not.
We sat and drank hot tea (a cranberry blend to go with our lunch) and before we knew it…our afternoon tea time was well into the dinner hour. LOL
The recipe is below:
Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used breasts and thighs)
- 1/2 cup mayo (I used miracle whip)
- 1 stalk celery finely chopped
- 1/2-3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onions (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together with a fork until well mixed. Chill for 30 minutes to an hour. Spoon chicken salad onto lettuce cup or onto lettuce placed on a croissant.You can sub any kind of nut from walnuts to almonds and add grape halves or shredded apple. The sky is the limit!
You can serve this chicken salad on Bibb lettuce or on whole wheat toast or on croissants as I did.
I have never had a complaint and I have been making this chicken salad for years.
For something special, serve your chicken salad on on pretty salad plates.
I used red transferware but you could even use paper plates and it would be special.
Blessings Always
Hebrews 13:16
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Kari
Kari, I’m with you. I love all sandwich salad spreads. Serving a tasty chicken salad on a croissant roll on a pretty plate along with a beautiful peony blossom would make anyone feel special. Love the transferware and the pink cloth with the laced edge.
thanks Jan! I could eat salad sandwich spreads all day long. LOL
Are we ready for basketball yet? I know it is early but the transfer portal is certainly active.
We love Chicken Salad made similarly to yours. My son-in-law makes it for all the family on Mother’s Day. All the ladies in our family, including the two granddaughters are mommies now. We look forward to his special lunch every year.
What a wonderful Mothers Day gift Nancy….I’m sure the chicken salad is delish and even more special because of the sentiment behind it. thanks for stopping by and have a great summer my friend.
What? No celery seed in there? Also, use the red seedless grapes and put it on a toasted sourdough bread! There is a restaurant here called ‘Kate’s Kitchen’.
(it’s on n. Oak tfwy). Next time you come out here, you must stop and try their chicken salad. I’d swear one of you copied off the other! They also put their chicken salad on a beautiful croissant. It’s delicious. But my favorite is on the grilled sourdough. Also with the chopped pecans. (I bring my own celery seed!)
Miss you lady, and our morning sing-a-longs! Pat ❤️🙂❤️
I will definitely visit Kate’s Kitchen next time we go to Kansas. Sounds scrumptious! I just recently started adding celery seed to my everyday potato salad and it does add some “oomph”. LOL
I was telling the Captain the other day…. as we watched the old movie “Good Morning Vietnam” and the James Brown song “I feel good” came on….how I came down the hall dancing and singing that song after a short illness. And you said you knew I would be singing that song and we sang together. The good old days huh? 🥰
What a lovely afternoon! I love good chicken salad and yes please on your delicious additions, especially the grapes and pecans, yum! Have a great weekend Kari 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Jenna
thanks Jenna…I know you had fun at the beach. Happy summer, my friend.
Dear Kari, your chicken salad looks delicious, but Ron won’t eat chicken and he doesn’t like eggs. LOL I love a good egg salad sandwich. I loved your plates too.
Sandy
Sandy you are so sweet to stop by. I love egg salad too…and ham salad and tuna salad and roast beef salad! Lets face it, I love just about any kind of salad sandwich. LOL. I’ve been watching the weather up in KC and you have been having some storms that are concerning. Take care and stay safe this holiday week-end. Hugs to you and Ron.
I love ham salad and tuna salad sandwiches too but haven’t ever tried roast beef salad. lol So far, the weather is mostly rain, thunder, lightning and some hail. We hope it doesn’t get too bad. We had to take the tree down in our front yard due to all the rain because the roots were headed for our foundation.
Thank you for the hugs.
stay safe….lots of bad weather in the midwest.
Kari, I am a fan of chicken salad with all of the extras! My Mother would occasionally add pineapple and it was always delicious. Your tea party with a friend looks like fun (love the red transferware). Thanks for sharing your recipe, and yes I love it on a croissant! Happy weekend 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
Yes Pam…I like to add pineapple also. There are really so many ways to make it. We did have fun, and I had not used the transferware in a long time so it is good to get out these pieces and use them again. Be safe this holiday week-end and blessings always.🇺🇸
I enjoy Chicken salad. I also like to “kick it up a notch.”
Your transferware is lovely. I’m sure your friend felt very special, because of your beautiful table setting and delicious chicken salad.
Thank you for the recipe!
Enjoy your weekend, Kari!
thanks Nancy…I just love to do “girly” things. Guess it is the child in me. thanks for stopping by my friend.