Crispy Chicken Salad (Printable)

Tender chicken with creamy mayo, celery, grapes, and mixed greens for a fresh crunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 3 cups cooked rotisserie chicken, shredded or chopped
02 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
04 - 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
05 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, spinach)
06 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds or pecans (optional)
07 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

08 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives or parsley, chopped (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, gently mix shredded rotisserie chicken, mayonnaise, diced celery, and halved grapes until evenly coated.
02 - Add salt and black pepper to taste, mixing lightly to incorporate.
03 - Distribute mixed salad greens evenly across four plates or a large serving platter.
04 - Spoon the chicken mixture evenly over the bed of greens.
05 - Sprinkle sliced almonds or pecans, if using, over the salad and garnish with chopped chives or parsley.
06 - Serve immediately to maintain optimal crispness and freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can set the table, no cooking required.
  • The sweet grapes and creamy chicken create an unexpectedly elegant combination that feels fancier than it actually is.
  • It's the rare salad that satisfies without leaving you hungry an hour later.
02 -
  • If your mayo-to-chicken ratio feels off, remember that the greens beneath the salad will absorb some of the creaminess, so don't be stingy—you need it to taste rich on its own.
  • The whole point of this salad is that contrast of warm and cold, creamy and crisp; assembly just before eating is not optional if you want it to matter.
03 -
  • Buy a rotisserie chicken that still feels warm to the touch; it means it's fresher and the meat will be more tender and moist.
  • If your mayonnaise starts to look separated or broken while you're mixing, you might be overworking it—stop, let it rest for a minute, and the mixture will come back together when you fold in the final ingredient.
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