Classic Chicken Salad

I can easily classify a few types of sandwiches as classics that everyone should learn to make. This simple chicken salad recipe is great as a sandwich for lunch, with crackers, inside lettuce and tortilla wraps, or as a finger food tea sandwich for parties.

The best way to cook chicken for a chicken salad: Before you get started, this recipe requires cooked and chopped chicken.

Of course, it’s perfect if you have leftover chicken you need to use up, but if you are making fresh to table, air-frying is pretty quick (here is our Ninja Foodi chicken breast recipe if you need help); grilling chicken tenders doesn’t take too long on a gas grill; or poaching and shredding chicken also works well (but takes longer) and makes pretty hearty sandwiches.

If in a hurry, grab pre-cooked rotisserie or chopped chicken from the store; it saves a lot of time.

Ingredients

• Chicken, cooked and cut into small bite-sized pieces
• Condiments: Real Mayonnaise and Dijon Mustard
• Seasonings: Dried dill weed, ground black pepper, and seasoning salt
• Vegetables: Diced celery, Sliced green onion, Sliced Tomato, Romaine Lettuce
• Bread: 6 slices Italian Loaf Bread (fine to substitute type but I will die on the hill that using good quality bread makes the sandwich)

• As a note, the taste of chicken salad comes down to seasoning. Make sure to season it to taste and test it before eating. Although I try to avoid salt, I find that more salt is a welcome addition to this recipe.

How to make a Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich

Like an egg salad recipe or a chicken club sandwich, many ingredients can be added to customize your chicken salad sandwich. This is a common version with an old-fashioned, classic taste. Feel free to alter it as you like.

1. In a bowl, combine 2 cups of cooked, chopped chicken with 1/2 cup of real mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of diced celery, 1 thinly sliced green onion, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of dried dill weed. Mix well.
2. Season the chicken salad mixture with ground black pepper to taste.
3. Toast the 6 slices of Italian loaf bread until they are lightly golden and crisp.

1. On one slice of toasted bread, lay a single layer of romaine lettuce and top with a sliced tomato.
2. Spoon about 6 tablespoons of the chicken salad mixture over the tomatoes.
3. Cover it with another slice of toasted bread to complete the sandwich.
4. Repeat the process to make a total of 3 sandwiches. Slice each sandwich in half before serving for lunch or diagonally in 4 triangles to serve as a tea sandwich.

Any leftover chicken salad mixture should be stored in the refrigerator and covered. This recipe is great for meal prep and, properly stored, lasts 3-5 days.

Alternative ingredients

To sweeten the savory chicken mix, add dried cranberries, slivered almonds, or quartered green grapes. If you do that, skip the tomato, as it does not complement those ingredients.

Some people also do not like chopped celery. If you want to replace that crunch with another flavor, dice apples up and add that over celery.

Lastly, chopped egg is a great way to add a little bulk and protein and is a wonderful addition as a mix-in.

What to serve with a Chicken Salad Sandwich

Sandwiches are typically paired with chips and fresh fruit, but chicken salad goes great with various sides.

Here are four choices that I love to round out a delicious plate:

Broccoli Grape Salad

Frito Corn Salad

Hidden Valley Ranch Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Couscous Salad