5 Chicken Salad Recipes

Here are 5 Simple Chicken Salad Recipes made with wholesome ingredients. Easy, delicious and perfect for any meal.

If you loved this round-up, you might enjoy these 5 Freezer Friendly Chicken Marinades. Nothing beats having a batch or two (or three) of meal-prepped dinners waiting for you in the freezer. Freezer meals helped me get through those early days with a new baby, so if that’s you, try these out!

EASY CHICKEN SALAD RECIPES TO TRY

Dive into these 5 family favorite Simple Chicken Salad Recipes. I love that all these recipes are made with rotisserie chicken – a great way to use up leftovers.

You can eat these easy chicken salads as is, tuck them into wraps, pitas, or sandwiches, or eat them with crackers.

PEPPERONCINI CHICKEN SALAD

One of my absolute favorite easy chicken salad recipes is this creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Salad, which takes just 15 minutes to make. I love this as an easy recipe for lunch meal prep. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for main dish chicken salad recipes.

It is also a 6-ingredient (plus seasoning) recipe and is a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. What’s not to love here?!

Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad

With this Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad, think chicken, sweet corn, fresh jalapenos, lightly spiced ingredients, all with a luscious, creamy lime dressing. SO good! I love this as a picnic dish, a make ahead lunch, or a quick and light dinner.

Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Salad

This Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Salad is incredibly creamy, cheesy and packed with flavor. It’s filling enough to be a main meal salad, which I love. It’s also a great potluck salad recipe. Made with tender rotisserie chicken, fresh spinach and marinated artichoke, it’s incredibly tasty.

This was one of my favorite Simple Chicken Salad Recipes that I would make as part of my rotation of easy postpartum meals – packed with nutritious ingredients and protein from the chicken. I ate this a couple of times a week as a light snack or lunch.

Bang Bang Chicken Salad

In this Bang Bang Chicken Salad, crunchy veggies and rotisserie chicken come together with spicy, bold mayo, sweet chili and sriracha dressing! This is one of those Simple Chicken Salad Recipes everyone loves. You can make the dressing a few days ahead and then just toss it with salad ingredients.

My Bang Bang chicken is delicious, whether tucked into a wrap or served in a bowl with crackers.

Chili Oil Chicken Salad

Bold and smoky, this Spicy Chipotle Chicken marinade is packed with flavor. It’s perfect for tacos, bowls, salads or just good old meal prep. 

This was one of my favorite and best postpartum meals that I reached for over and over again. Try this chicken recipe with a side of my Air Fried Elote Mexican Street Corn or the best guacamole recipe.

HOW TO STORE THESE SIMPLE CHICKEN SALAD RECIPES

To keep leftover chicken salad fresh, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can safely store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, according to USDA safety guidelines. This isn’t taking into account when the rotisserie chicken was cooked.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH THESE 5 CHICKEN SALAD RECIPES

These 5 Simple Chicken Salad Recipes are very versatile. They pair well with a bunch of sides, so you can easily turn them into a balanced meal. 

Whether you’re serving your chicken salad as a main course for lunch, a light dinner, or even as part of a picnic spread, these sides will all work well:

• Start with bread options—fresh croissants, crusty baguette slices, or whole-grain wraps all work well with these chicken salads. 
• When I want to go low-carb, I pair these salads with lettuce cups or collard green wraps. This is a great way to add fiber to the meal, too. 
• Add a side of soup, like my Freezer Friendly Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
• Try crunchy sides like sweet potato chips, pita crisps, or veggie sticks with hummus.
• For drinks, I love to serve iced tea or sparkling water with lemon.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN SALAD AHEAD OF TIME

I’ve found, especially in my early days of mothering, that making one of these chicken salads ahead of time is a lifesaver when planning meals. Additionally, letting the flavors sit overnight often brings out the salad’s flavors. 

To prep ahead, start by cooking and shredding or chopping your chicken. You can store this separately in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.

Next, mix up your dressing—whether it’s a creamy mayo base, a yogurt dressing, or a vinaigrette—and store it in a sealed jar until you’re ready to combine everything. Most of these chicken salad recipes here can be mixed up and stored fully assembled but you can also combine the ingredients just before eating, if you prefer.

Most of chopped veggies can be prepped ahead and stored in airtight containers.

HOW TO KEEP CHICKEN SALAD FROM GETTING WATERY

Nobody likes a watery chicken salad! The key is controlling moisture at every step. 

Next, dry your vegetables thoroughly—especially high-moisture ones like celery and artichokes.

A major trick: store the dressing separately and only combine it with the chicken and vegetables right before eating. 

If you want to mix it ahead of time, use full-fat mayo, which holds up better than low-fat versions. 

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