Easy Chicken Salad with Bacon
Rotisserie chicken with crispy bacon, grapes, pickles and hard boiled eggs. This combo mixed with a simple creamy dressing is super tasty.
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Chicken salad is a dish with many variations. It’s traditionally made with just a few ingredients, but in recent years has become a tailor-make recipe. My sister-in-law shared this version with me and I have to say, I was a little apprehensive about the grape and pickle situation, however she did not steer me wrong. The sweetness from the grapes with the salty pickles, combined with all that shredded chicken, egg, and smoky bacon is DE-licious! Not to mention the dressing is simple and creamy. When we have this salad on hand you can often times find me standing in front of the refrigerator, with the door open, and spoon in hand.
Chicken salad is perfect for lunches and snacking.
Both my husband and I work outside the home so we appreciate having easy lunch and snack items we can grab in a cinch. This chicken salad is great to have on hand for quick pack-and-go-lunches and snacking. It’s healthy, has tons of protein, and it’s so good!
How do you pack chicken salad to go?
We like using bento boxes so we can pack the salad on one side and use the other side for crackers or bread. This way nothing gets soggy before lunch or snack time rolls around. Plus, something about food organized in separate compartments makes eating lunch and snacks more fun. Maybe it’s just me. š¤
These are the bento boxes we love to use for packing lunches.
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Chicken salad is great for luncheons, baby showers, and tea parties.
In addition to everyday lunches and snacking, chicken salad is an ideal item to serve at small gatherings. It’s easy to put together and you can customize the salad however you like. Depending on your theme or time of day, chicken salad can be the star of the show with buttery croissants and a couple side options like chips, fruit and veggies. Or you can serve the salad in addition to other party foods with a variety of crackers for scooping. Either way, everyone will love it. Check out Amy at 804 sycamore, she is the party planning guru and has great tips for organizing and executing the perfect party. From invitations to supply’s, and even what to serve for food and beverage, she takes the fuss out of the planning for you. You can also check out her affordable DIY eBook here!
How do you serve chicken salad?
There are so many ways to enjoy chicken salad and these are my favorite:
- Buttery croissant – Most common and can be toasted or untoasted.
- Brioche bun – This is probably my favorite; soft and slightly sweet.
- Butter lettuce – A great option if you want a light lunch or snack and it also has fewer carbs.
- Crackers – Any kind of cracker will do but I particularly like multi-grain or butter crackers for scooping.
- A spoon – Because sometimes that’s all I have time for. š
What is the best chicken to use for chicken salad?
I happen to love using store-bought rotisserie chicken because it already has flavor and it’s convenient. You can use a combination of dark and white meat, but for this recipe I used the white meat only. Leftover chicken also works great for chicken salad or you can roast chicken breast and/or thighs.
How long does chicken salad stay fresh?
When serving at room temperature it shouldn’t be left out any longer than 2 hours. Chicken salad will stay fresh in a sealed container for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. If making ahead for a party or luncheon, leave out the crispy bacon until just before serving. The bacon will still be good after a few days but it’s especially good when it’s fresh and crispy.
Chicken salad add-ins:
Classic chicken salad is made up of chicken, celery, green onion and mayonnaise however, this salad can be modified to your liking. I happen to love the addition of crispy bacon no matter what ingredients you choose but have fun with the combinations. Here are some additional add ins-
- Red grapes
- Chopped nuts
- Avocado
- Dried fruit
- Cheddar cheese
- Crispy bacon (my favorite)
- Black olives
- Dijon mustard
- Hard boiled eggs
- Celery
As you can see chicken salad is versatile making it easy to customize and do what you love.
Let’s eat!š¤
Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups shredded chicken I used the breast meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken
- 1 1/2 cups red grapes sliced in half
- 1 cup chopped dill pickles
- 3 bacon slices cooked crispy
- 3 hard boiled eggs roughly chopped optional
Dressing
- 1/3 cup non-fat Greek yogurt or all mayo
- 2-3 tbsp mayo
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Dressing
- Mix all the dressing ingredients until smooth and season with salt and pepper. Adjust seasonings to your liking. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.
Chicken salad
- Add all the ingredients minus the bacon to a large serving bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Taste for seasonings and crumble bacon over the top. You can mix the bacon in with the salad or leave it on top.
Notes
- Chopped nuts
- Avocado
- Dried fruit
- Cheddar cheese
- Black olives
- Dijon mustard
- Green onion
- Celery
Here are a few more of my favorite kitchen essentials and recommendations for everyday cooking.
