Chicken salad is an irresistibly flavorful, versatile, and hassle-free lunch solution that’s great for using up leftover or precooked poultry from rotisserie chicken, cans of chicken, or frozen pieces.
Add zest and crunch with fresh herbs like basil or dill. Dried fruit or nuts make for delicious yet nutritious additions.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise, made from oil and egg yolks, is a condiment commonly found in salad dressings and popular as an addition to sandwiches, potato salad, or deviled eggs. Additionally, mayonnaise can also be used as a spread or ingredient when flavoring foods such as sandwiches or potato salad.
Mayonnaise comes in many varieties, but all have one thing in common: They form a creamy consistency without separation thanks to egg yolk emulsifiers.
Make homemade mayonnaise at home easily by mixing olive or vegetable oil, lemon juice/vinegar and seasonings into an emulsification bowl. As soon as all the ingredients have been combined, continue adding more oil as necessary until your mayonnaise emulsifies.
If you decide to make your own mayonnaise, be aware that homemade varieties can quickly deteriorate as egg yolks may become contaminated with salmonella and cause it to spoil more rapidly than store-bought varieties.
A top mayonnaise recipe should include healthy oils like olive or canola oil that contain omega-3 fatty acids which can provide many cardiovascular health benefits.
Healthy oils will extend the shelf life of your mayonnaise and allow you to make more batches without purchasing new jars. Plus, using specific oils may affect its overall flavor profile; make sure that you find one that best matches your palate!
Mayonnaise is an indispensable condiment, perfect for use in many recipes like chicken salad. But keep in mind that its high-fat content may lead to overindulgence if portion control is neglected; thus it is recommended that portions be measured out beforehand.
Dill
Dill is an ideal ingredient to add variety and depth to many dishes, from salads to soups. Incorporating this versatile herb can add great flavor while simultaneously cutting calories!
Dill is an ideal herb to add fresh, herbal flavors to chicken salad recipes, while its slightly sweet citrusy flavors complement many different dishes perfectly.
Dill is not only known to add flavor, but it is also packed with flavonoids which have been shown to significantly lower LDL cholesterol and thus reduce risk for heart disease; which is the leading cause of global death.
Dill is often used as a garnish when serving foods like grilled meat or fish, salads containing cucumber and lettuce, or to create delicious ranch dressing. It also plays an integral part in its combination with buttermilk in creating tasty ranch dressing recipes.
When making this recipe, use fresh and tender dill. Chopping it finely ensures its full flavor remains.
Once mixed, add dill to chicken, salt, pepper and mayonnaise in a bowl and refrigerate until serving time – it can then be served either on top of salads, in wraps or sandwiched between bread.
Dill is one of the most versatile herbs, serving as an indispensable ingredient in many household recipes, from salads and yogurt sauces to potato salads and more. Easy to incorporate into meal plans and healthful, it should become part of any healthy lifestyle plan.
Celery
Celery is an extremely versatile vegetable used in many cuisines worldwide, from North American and European dishes to Asian and African fare. As a low-cal food with high fiber content and plenty of vitamin A and C as well as various minerals including calcium, sodium potassium magnesium – celery can fit easily into most eating plans!
Also a rich source of folic acid and Vitamin B6, spinach is also an excellent way to get some phytochemicals, flavonoids, and antioxidants that may have anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting properties. You can eat it raw or cooked.
Celery stalks are perhaps the most commonly consumed part, though its leaves and seeds are also used in cooking.
Celery may not be high on most people’s list of vegetables to consume regularly, but it can actually be one of the healthiest choices to include in their daily diets. Celery contains high amounts of fiber which supports intestinal motility and regularity as well as being an excellent source of potassium and calcium – essential minerals needed by our bodies for normal functioning – along with Vitamin K which assists with blood cell formation and clotting processes.
Apigenin and luteolin, two bioactive flavonoids known for their anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting properties, may act as chemopreventive agents by neutralizing free radicals while hindering cancer cell proliferation in the body.
If you want to introduce more celery into your diet, chicken salad can be an easy and tasty way to do just that. Not only is it straightforward and quick to make; fresh ingredients add variety while celery adds crunchiness and sweetness for added interest in every bite!
Red Onion
Red onion is an indispensable component in many chicken salad recipes, providing flavor and crunch while still keeping things light and healthy. Yellow or white onions also work well – you just may need less for maximum flavor!
Add some citrus zest for extra acidity, or even try including some green onion slices!
This chicken salad features tender, cooked chicken pieces shredded into bite-size chunks combined with crunchy celery and red onion for a delightful mix that’s both gluten-free, low carb, keto and Whole30 compliant! Enjoy as an individual side or use as filling for chicken salad sandwiches!
To prepare this dish, you’ll need shredded or chopped chicken breasts, cranberries, grapes, celery and red onion; along with a mayo-based dressing consisting of mustard, lemon juice, kosher salt and black pepper.
Once combined, combine everything in a bowl. Serve immediately or chill it first to ensure all flavors blend nicely together.
If you have leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken, this is an easy and quick way to breathe new life into it! Plus, this recipe makes the most out of what vegetables may be lurking around in your pantry!
Combine all of the ingredients with dressing and mix well, seasoning as necessary with salt, pepper and more mustard if necessary. Refrigerate this chicken salad up to four days.
Lemon
A delicious tangy lemon dressing adds zesty citrus flavor to this chicken salad, complementing the crunchy almonds, tarragon and yogurt perfectly. Quick and simple to create on its own or used as a dip for crackers or pita chips!
For optimal results, freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest offer extra zesty flavor. Bottled varieties may offer similar vitamins, but none of the natural sweetness of fresh citrus juice.
Simply switch out mayo for plain full-fat Greek yogurt for an alternative creamy texture and extra probiotic benefits! Plus you get an added dose of good bacteria!
Serving chicken salad in any of these tasty formats makes for a quick, convenient meal that can be stored airtight until ready for consumption.
This recipe is ideal for using up leftover chicken from roasting or rotisserie, as well as any left-over shredded chicken that you might have lying around.
If you’re in search of additional chicken salad recipes, why not give these Chinese Ramen Chicken Salad, Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad and Curried Chicken Salad recipes a try! All four will satisfy any crowd without exceeding 5 ingredients each!
Make this delicious lemon chicken salad recipe the night before and store it in your refrigerator until lunch time – it will leave you feeling both satisfied and healthy! Why not give this meal a try now!?