This easy and creamy Pioneer Woman’s Best Chicken Salad is a quick and nutritious meal perfect for any occasion. Packed with tender chicken, crisp celery, and sweet grapes, it’s customizable with simple ingredients like yogurt or sour cream. Serve it chilled for a refreshing dish the whole family will love
Ingredients Needed
- 1 whole fryer chicken, cut up
- 2 to 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 2 to 3 cups grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 to 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- Small handful fresh dill, minced
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
How To Make Best Chicken Salad Recipe
- Cook the Chicken: Place the chicken in a large pot of water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove the chicken, let it cool, then pull the meat off the bones and chop into bite-sized chunks.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the chopped chicken, chopped celery, green onions, and halved grapes.
- Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, yogurt (or sour cream), lemon juice, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the minced dill and a pinch of cayenne pepper for an extra kick.
- Combine and Chill: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated. Stir in the slivered almonds. For best flavor, chill the salad for several hours or overnight.
- Serve: Serve the chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, in a sandwich, or just enjoy it straight from the bowl!
Recipe Tips
- Use Fresh Chicken: For the best flavor, cook fresh chicken instead of using pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken. Freshly cooked chicken will give the salad a more tender texture.
- Chill Before Serving: Let the salad chill for a few hours or overnight to let the flavors blend together. This makes the salad taste even better!
- Adjust the Sweetness: Taste the dressing and adjust the brown sugar to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter salad, add a little more sugar, or if you like it less sweet, reduce it.
- Add Crunch with Almonds: Slivered almonds add a nice crunch. If you don’t have them, you can use chopped walnuts or pecans for a different flavor.
- Use Greek Yogurt for Creaminess: Greek yogurt will make the salad extra creamy while adding a little tang. If you prefer a milder taste, you can use regular plain yogurt or sour cream instead.
How To Store Leftovers
Place leftovers chicken salad in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings
- Calories: 415
- Total Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 59 mg
- Sodium: 395 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 8 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3 g
- Sugars: 7 g
- Protein: 15 g
More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
Pioneer Woman Best Chicken Salad Recipe
Description
This easy and creamy Pioneer Woman’s Best Chicken Salad is a quick and nutritious meal perfect for any occasion. Packed with tender chicken, crisp celery, and sweet grapes, it’s customizable with simple ingredients like yogurt or sour cream. Serve it chilled for a refreshing dish the whole family will love
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Place the chicken in a large pot of water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove the chicken, let it cool, then pull the meat off the bones and chop into bite-sized chunks.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the chopped chicken, chopped celery, green onions, and halved grapes.
- Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, yogurt (or sour cream), lemon juice, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the minced dill and a pinch of cayenne pepper for an extra kick.
- Combine and Chill: Pour the dressing over the chicken mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated. Stir in the slivered almonds. For best flavor, chill the salad for several hours or overnight.
- Serve: Serve the chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, in a sandwich, or just enjoy it straight from the bowl!
Notes
- Use Fresh Chicken: For the best flavor, cook fresh chicken instead of using pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken. Freshly cooked chicken will give the salad a more tender texture.
- Chill Before Serving: Let the salad chill for a few hours or overnight to let the flavors blend together. This makes the salad taste even better!
- Adjust the Sweetness: Taste the dressing and adjust the brown sugar to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter salad, add a little more sugar, or if you like it less sweet, reduce it.
- Add Crunch with Almonds: Slivered almonds add a nice crunch. If you don’t have them, you can use chopped walnuts or pecans for a different flavor.
- Use Greek Yogurt for Creaminess: Greek yogurt will make the salad extra creamy while adding a little tang. If you prefer a milder taste, you can use regular plain yogurt or sour cream instead.
Pioneer Woman Best Chicken Salad Recipe