Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

If you don't make anything else from this blog, find time to make this Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe! And then make a whole bunch of chicken salad sandwiches!

In this chicken salad recipe, lean, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are poached in a "secret" ingredient, then pulsed in a food processor with seasonings, crisp vegetables, pickle relish, and hard boiled eggs to make the ultimate chicken salad sandwich spread. It's delicious on whole grain bread, crackers, or even eaten with spoon!

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (1)


Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (2)

A few years back, I helped out my neighbors by working at their family owned Chick-fil-A restaurant for a short time. I handed out freebies and chicken samples for just a few months. It was fun! And, of course, I got to sample all of the goods myself.
One of the items I really enjoyed was their chicken salad. I heard the chicken salad sandwich isn't available at Chick-fil-A anymore. All good things come to an end, I suppose.
I've always been a huge fan of chicken salad. One of my all time favorite recipes for chicken salad is this Waldorf Style Chicken Salad. It's full of big crunch from apples and walnuts! And, I do love this not-so-ordinary Blueberry Pecan Chicken Salad too!
But, neither of these chicken salad recipes, as good as they are, are really suited for sandwiches. They are chunky and crunchy, not smooth and homogeneous.

This chicken salad recipe I'm sharing today, is perfectly suited for sandwiches. It reminds me a lot of the chicken salad recipe I enjoyed at Chick-fil-A. I wouldn't say it's a copycat recipe, but I would say it's pretty darn close!
It's a southern style chicken salad, full of crisp celery and onion, pickle relish, and yes, eggs! That's right, this Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe has eggs in it! Have you ever had chicken salad with eggs?

If not, you are in for a treat!

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But first things first, let's talk about cooking chicken breasts for this chicken salad recipe.

How to cook chicken breasts for salad recipes:

My favorite method for cooking chicken breasts for salad recipes is poaching. By definition, "poach" means to cook something by simmering it in a small amount of liquid. I find this method is best because it leaves the entire chicken breast soft and moist.

This is the texture you want for chicken salad recipes like this one. This method works well for boneless and bone in chicken breasts. But I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breasts when I make chicken salad.

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What kind of liquid can I use to poach chicken breasts for chicken salad?

You can use just about any liquid you like to poach chicken breasts. Water is fine, but chicken broth is better. Even fruit juices and milk make great poaching liquids! You can also add aromatics to the poaching liquid to give the chicken different flavor profiles. Sliced lemons, black peppercorns, and bay leaves are popular additions.

My secret ingredient is Sprite! I love poaching chicken breasts in Sprite! The lemon lime soda leaves a slightly sweet citrus flavor to the chicken which I think is just perfect in this chicken salad recipe!

How to poach chicken breasts for chicken salad recipes:


  1. Add chicken breasts to skillet with a lid. Sprinkle with salt.
  2. Add enough poaching liquid to the pan to completely cover the chicken breasts.
  3. Turn on heat and bring liquid up to just boiling.
  4. Cover pan and turn heat down to simmer.
  5. Simmer until internal temperature of chicken breasts reach 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the meat.
  6. Remove chicken from poaching liquid and allow to cool enough to handle. If poaching for this chicken salad recipe, let cool completely before turning them into chicken salad.

Of course, if you don't want to or feel like poaching the chicken for this recipe any diced leftover chicken breast would work in any chicken salad recipe here on my blog.

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How do you make homemade chicken salad?

Once the chicken breasts are completely cooled the food processor will make easy work of combining everything. For best results, cube cooled chicken, hard boiled egg, celery, and onion to about the same size before adding to the food processor.

Make sure you use a food processor that is 6 - 9 cups or bigger for this chicken salad recipe. This recipe does make a lot of chicken salad! But, this recipe is also suitable to be halved to make a smaller amount if you like.

Can chicken salad be frozen?


Chicken Salad cannot be frozen. The mayonnaise in the salad will not hold up and will break. The salad will be slimy and unappealing when defrosted.

Even more salad sandwiches to love!

chicken salad recipe, chicken salad with egg, southern chicken salad

Main Course

American

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (6)

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe is boneless, skinless chicken breasts are poached Sprite, then pulsed in a food processor with seasonings, crisp vegetables, pickle relish, and hard boiled eggs to make the ultimate chicken salad sandwich spread.

Ingredients

  • 2 - 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, poached, cooled and diced into 2" cubes (see poaching instructions in text above)
  • 2 large stalks of celery, cut into 2" pieces
  • 1/2 medium sweet onion, cut into 2" pieces
  • 1/4 cup pickle relish (sweet or dill)
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup Mayonnaise made with Olive Oil
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 tsp. celery salt
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. In 6 cup (or bigger) food processor or larger fitted with blade, add all ingredients. Process for several seconds, then scrape down sides and process until desired consistency.
  2. Store covered, in refrigerator.

Notes

Nutritional Information is an estimate.Serving size is approximately 1/4 cup

Nutrition Facts

Calories

142

Fat (grams)

5

Carbs (grams)

4

Protein (grams)

19

Copyright © 2018 Renee's Kitchen Adventures


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Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (7)

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Southern Style Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my chicken salad so bland? ›

Cooked chicken breast (or leftover rotisserie chicken), creamy mayo, celery, and salt make up a basic chicken salad, but what it's really missing is an acid, something that can break through the blandness so the chicken salad can stand up to whatever bread or roll you serve it on.

Why is my chicken salad so dry? ›

There are two major mistakes many people make when they prepare chicken salad, over-cooking their chicken and using too many ingredients.

What is chicken salad Chick chicken salad made of? ›

Classic Carol

All white meat, shredded chicken, finely minced celery, mayonnaise, & our secret seasoning.

How to make Kylie Jenner's sandwich? ›

Once the cheesy bread is toasted, layer on your choice of meat. We followed Kylie's combo of shredded turkey, thinly sliced salami, and pepperoni. 4. Add sliced onions and pickles for added crunch (optional, depending on your taste preference).

What goes bad in chicken salad? ›

Two main ingredients in chicken salad are ripe for harboring bacteria: cooked chicken and mayo. If you like fresh vegetables or fruits like apples with your chicken salad, these can also spoil in just a few days.

Why am I still hungry after eating chicken salad? ›

If you still feel hungry after eating a meal, this could be because you aren't eating the right amount or type of foods. There are a few other causes to be aware of, too. Some diet changes may help you avoid feeling hungry after eating. Try to eat more foods that are high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Is it better to shred or chop chicken for chicken salad? ›

The important thing is to use white meat and shred it by hand, rather than chop it. Mayonnaise dressing clings to bite-sized shreds of chicken better than uniform little cubes. The only exception to this rule is if you like your chicken salad in more of a smooth, spreadable consistency, as a topping for crackers.

What should you not do in the preparation of chicken salad? ›

Undercooked chicken

Although mayonnaise can certainly cause food poisoning, it's not the only chicken salad ingredient that can lead to a bad result. Raw or undercooked chicken is also a common culprit of foodborne illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How to thicken chicken salad? ›

Ah yes, the age-old question - how to thicken up chicken salad. Well, my trusty kitchen companions, one of the easiest and most foolproof ways is to add a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt to the mix. This will help to give the salad a creamy texture and a bit of a tangy flavor. Enjoy!

How do restaurants get their salads so crisp? ›

Lettuce needs good airflow with some moisture (but not too much!) to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

How to stop chicken salad from getting watery? ›

To prevent chicken salad from getting watery, ensure that any added vegetables, like celery or onions, are thoroughly dried before mixing. You can also use less mayonnaise or add a small amount of Greek yogurt to help bind the ingredients together.

How long should chicken salad sit? ›

How long should chicken salad sit before eating? Let the chicken salad sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours before eating. This gives the flavors a chance to meld. It's even better if it sits overnight.

How do you make chicken salad sandwiches not soggy? ›

"Put the composed salad mixture (be it tuna, chicken, egg, or ham salad) on a dry piece of washed lettuce when making the sandwich," suggests chef John Politte. The dry lettuce acts like a protective barrier to stop the moist filling making the bread soggy.

What makes a chicken sandwich a chicken sandwich? ›

A chicken sandwich is a sandwich that typically consists of boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh, served between slices of bread. Variations on the "chicken sandwich" include chicken on a bun, chicken on a Kaiser, hot chicken, or chicken salad sandwich.

Why did Chick Fil A get rid of chicken salad sandwich? ›

Speaking with Today, a representative for Chick-fil-A stated, "We know that many of our customers loved our Chicken Salad, but we have also heard from guests that they are looking for new tastes and fresh flavors on the menu in our restaurants." The desire for novel flavors seems a bit overstated, considering that ...

How good is homemade chicken salad good for? ›

It's tempting to stir up a big batch so that we can enjoy leftovers for a few days. But how long is it safe to keep chicken salad on hand? The short answer is to store chicken salad in a sealed container in the fridge or cooler for no more than four days.

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