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Classic Creamy Southern Chicken Salad Recipe

Close-up of creamy chicken salad piled high with celery chunks and topped with whole pecans.
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Make the best creamy, deli-style Southern Chicken Salad using rotisserie chicken for a quick and satisfying lunch. This recipe focuses on achieving the perfect texture—creamy yet crunchy—ideal for sandwiches or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (use rotisserie chicken for ease)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (Duke’s recommended for Southern style)
  • 1/4 cup finely diced celery
  • 1/4 cup halved red grapes (optional, for sweetness)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional, for crunch)
  • 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped hard-boiled egg (optional, for classic Southern texture)

Instructions

  1. Place the shredded chicken in a large bowl. If using rotisserie chicken, remove all skin and bones first.
  2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. This is your creamy dressing base.
  3. Add the diced celery, grapes, pecans, and hard-boiled egg (if using) to the bowl with the chicken.
  4. Pour the dressing over the chicken and mix gently until all ingredients are evenly coated. Avoid overmixing to prevent the salad from becoming watery or mushy.
  5. Taste the chicken salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Cover the bowl and chill the chicken salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and firms up the texture.
  7. Serve the chicken salad on croissants, bread for a classic chicken salad sandwich, or over fresh lettuce.

Notes

  • To prevent a soggy chicken salad, make sure your cooked chicken is completely cool before mixing it with the mayonnaise.
  • For a tangier, deli-style flavor, substitute half the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
  • This recipe is excellent for chicken salad meal prep; it stays fresh in an airtight container for up to four days.
  • If you prefer a finer texture, pulse the chicken briefly in a food processor before shredding by hand.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hearthbite.com/classic-creamy-southern-chicken-salad-recipe/