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Basic Chicken Salad

See how to make a simple chicken salad that’s, well, basically delicious! See more

READY IN 10 mins

Basic Chicken Salad

Read Reviews (291)

"This is a family favorite. I like to use baked thighs or breasts that have been sprinkled with basil or rosemary." — Jackie

Ingredients Edit and Save

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Original recipe makes 2 servings Change Servings

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat
1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
1 stalk celery, chopped

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Directions

Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.
In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss with chicken, almonds, and celery.

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PREP 5 mins
COOK 5 mins
READY IN 10 mins

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This is great chicken salad. It's simple, but with lots of flavor. I make it all the time when it's too hot to cook. I just bake the chicken or boil it in broth, then dice it up. I've made it with a variety of different nuts - pecans, walnuts - and low-fat mayonnaise. It always tastes wonderful! I highly suggest including the lemon juice, it adds a great subtle flavor.

—Caroline

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Feb 07, 2011

This was pretty good, although I left out the celery and added bacon (mmm).

—theyummy

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366 Ratings

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Oct 08, 2003

Good basic. I added fresh pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, a little dijon, and crushed pecans instead of almonds for a richer chicken salad.

—HEATHERMAUREEN

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Jan 25, 2007

Exactly what the name implies. Great and simple. I didn't use the almonds because we didn't have any. I did add just a little sprinkle of garlic powder and some sweet pickle relish....it was delicious. Thanks for the post.

—Momof2

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Jul 18, 2006

I love this recipe. So does my whole family. It is a great starter recipe. You can make it as is or you can add or take out the things you like or dislike. I love the slivered almonds in mine. I like to cut up some apples and grapes and serve them on the side. That way everyone can eat it the way they like it. I don't put celery in mine but I do add a finely chopped green onion and some sour cream to the mayo. I use half of the mayo and the other half sour cream. It is great!! Thanks for this recipe!! Will make again and again!!

—goodcooker

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Jan 22, 2003

This is a great basic recipe. It was a little bland until I added some extra spices like garlic powder and onion powder, but I guess that's why it's called "basic." This recipe calls for a LOT of almonds, but I love them in chicken salad, so I used them all!! Thanks for the recipe.

—PRATE002

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Jul 24, 2003

I don't always have the lemon juice on hand, so I omit it. I also toast the almonds in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 which gives them a lot more flavor. We love onions so I also add a small minced onion to the mix. Delish!

—GABRIELLAM

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May 28, 2009

Delicious chicken salad! I love the nice hint of lemon flavor. I didn't have almonds on hand. I used 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp. each of salt and pepper. I added a little bit of dijon mustard and dried parsley. I used Hellman's light mayo and let this set in the fridge for an hour before serving.

—Jillian

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Nutrition

Calories
779 kcal
39%

Carbohydrates
8.4 g
3%

Cholesterol
126 mg
42%

Fat
63.1 g
97%

Fiber
2.9 g
12%

Protein
44.3 g
89%

Sodium
403 mg
16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Basic Chicken Salad

Serving Size: 1/2 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 2
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 779
Calories from Fat: 568

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 63.1g 97 %
Saturated Fat 9g 45 %
Cholesterol 126mg 42 %
Sodium 403mg 16 %
Potassium 572mg 16 %
Total Carbohydrates 8.4g 3 %
Dietary Fiber 2.9g 12 %
Protein 44.3g 89 %
Sugars 2.2g
Vitamin A 6 %
** Vitamin C 7 %
Calcium 12 %
Iron 28 %
** Thiamin 10 %
Niacin 183 %
Vitamin B6 70 %
Magnesium 42 %
Folate 14 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.