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Garlic & Zest

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Loaded Chicken Salad

Loaded Chicken Salad
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Loaded chicken salad is just that… loaded!

There is something decidedly Southern and old-fashioned about chicken salad.  Picture a group of ladies lunching while playing bridge.  Or an afternoon bridal or baby shower, where the chicken salad main course is served in a pineapple boat.   If you’re of a certain age, you know what I’m talking about.

 

 

diced chicken

Even so, there’s nothing better for lunch than a scoop of good chicken salad nestled on freshly dressed greens, or piled high on a soft kaiser roll with a pickle on the side.  

 

chicken with apples, onions, celery and grapes

Let’s qualify what “good” chicken salad is, because there have been so many times I’ve been disappointed by an average, ho-hum effort.  You know what I mean, a little diced chicken, a spoonful of mayo and some chopped onion or celery if you’re lucky.  Really?  I think we can do better.

 

Tarragon in the dressing

To me, good chicken salad starts with the mayonnaise — I’m not going to insist that you make it yourself — but you’d definitely score bonus points if you did.  Duke’s or Hellman’s works fine here, but I like to jazz it up with fresh lemon juice, some whole grain Dijon mustard and plenty of freshly chopped tarragon.

 

mixing the salad

Then we get to the add-ins.  (Think of it like ice cream at Stone Cold Creamery — what mix-ins do you want?)  Finely diced red onion and celery are a must.  But I also like a sweet component.  

 

salad with the pecans

 

Dried fruit would work, but there’s something about crispy sweet-tart apples and seedless grapes that makes this chicken salad sing.  That, along with a healthy dose of chopped, toasted pecans.  I am from the South, after all!

 

Loaded Chicken Salad with arugula

If you’re packing this as a brown-bag option for lunch, put the chicken salad in a Tupperware container and pack the bread/greens separately.  It’s better when it’s assembled just before eating!

 

Loaded Chicken Salad with fork

Loaded Chicken Salad

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apples, chicken, grapes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 296 kcal

This chicken salad goes beyond the ordinary with toasted pecans, sweet grapes and a herbal tarragon dressing!

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Ingredients

  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion about 1/4 of a whole onion, minced
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken breast cooked and diced
  • 1 cup seedless grapes halved lengthwise
  • 1 small apple peeled, seeded, chopped
  • 1/2 cup pecans
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup tarragon freshly chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Lay pecans on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly toasted and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
  3. Add celery, onion, chicken, grapes and apple to a large bowl and toss to combine.
  4. In a small bowl stir together lemon juice, mayonnaise and whole grain mustard. Stir in chopped tarragon and taste for seasoning -- adding salt and pepper as needed
  5. Add mayonnaise mixture to chicken. Using a large spoon or spatula, fold the mayonnaise into the chicken until well coated.
  6. Roughly chop the pecans, add them to the salad and stir to combine.
  7. Great served with toasted bread or on a bed of greens.
Nutrition Facts
Loaded Chicken Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 296 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 47mg 16%
Sodium 232mg 10%
Potassium 438mg 13%
Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 7g
Protein 15g 30%
Vitamin A 4.2%
Vitamin C 7.4%
Calcium 4.1%
Iron 7.2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Chicken/Poultry// Entrees// Meat// Salads// Sandwiches, Tacos & Pizzas5 Comments

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Comments

  1. Dennis McCarthy says

    September 2, 2018 at 10:37 AM

    This is really close to how I make mine, great stuff. I like on toasted wheat bread romaine lettuce and fresh summer tomatoe!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 2, 2018 at 7:08 PM

      Great minds think alike! The bread and toppings sound delish!

      Reply
  2. Pat Stoddard says

    August 28, 2018 at 7:09 PM

    I invited my neighbor down for lunch and then went to garlic and zest to find a yummy recipe. My neighbor loved it, Bud loved it and I loved it. It is probably better with roasted chicken but since I had canned chicken getting close to its expiration date, I used it. I used less chicken so cut down on the dressing. I’m glad I used all the other ingredients as called for, especially the toast pecans.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      August 29, 2018 at 6:55 AM

      Pat, thanks so much for sharing your experience. This chicken salad is also my daughter’s favorite — I’m so glad you, Bud and your neighbor enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Kelly - A Side of Sweet says

    January 16, 2015 at 10:59 AM

    This is so beautiful! It’s funny how a bit of arugula just makes everything look (and taste!) better.

    Reply

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Calling all cooks! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table! At Garlic & Zest, I’ll show you how to make hundreds of seasonal, fresh recipes and indulgent comfort foods with easy step-by-step instructions and photos to help you master the dish.

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