Does anyone one have a good recipe for Chicken Salad?

Question

I really like it, but find that it can be rather bland. Any good ways to liven it up?

Wow, some really good ideas so far guys, thanks.

Thanks for all the great ideas everybody, they all sound so delicious. Unfortunately I cannot choose a best answer out of all these good ones, so Ill let you all decide. Thanks again!!

Answer 1

Try using spicier chicken. There's a TopSecrets recipe called Tupelo chicken which is boneless breasts breaded in cornflakes, cumin and hot peppers (among other things), then deep fat fried. It's delicious as it is, then you shred the chicken, coating and all, and just add some mayonnaise for chicken salad on the second day.

I always think simple is best: mom's chicken salad was cooked, chopped chicken, diced onion, diced sweet pickles, a diced boiled egg, a little mustard and a lot of mayonnaise, with pepper and season salt to taste.

Maybe you could experiement with the bun or the underlying vegetables?

Answer 2

This is what I always make:

Cashew Avocado Chicken Salad

"Try this chicken salad when you really want a treat! This recipe makes sandwiches - but it can be served over lettuce as an alternative."
Original recipe yield: 6 sandwiches

PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 10 Min
READY IN 1 Hr

INGREDIENTS
4 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded
1/3 cup prepared Ranch salad dressing
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 cup cashews
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
12 slices bacon
6 slices Swiss cheese
12 slices bread, toasted

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix the cooked chicken, dressing, dill, cashews, and avocado. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown; drain.
Spread even amounts of the chicken mixture on 6 slices of toasted bread. Top each with 2 slices bacon and 1 slice Swiss cheese. Top with remaining bread slices to make sandwiches.

Answer 3

Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
1 chicken breast, boiled and cut into pieces
1 egg, hard boiled and sliced
1 potato, boiled, skin removed and diced
2 lettuce leaves, shredded
2 tomatoes, cut in wedges
1/2 cucumber, sliced
1 level tablespoon mayonnaise

Garnish ( optional )
a sprig of parsley

Method
1. Mix the chicken and potato with half the mayonnaise
2. Spread the lettuce leaves on the salad bowl.
3. Arrange the chicken, potato, tomato, cucumber and egg in the bowl.
4. Pour the remaining mayonnaise over it.
5. Garnish with parsley. Serve cold.

Answer 4

SittinPretty! - This is a yummy, easy and fun chicken salad recipe. It's a favorite of mine. You can easily make it for pot-puck lunches because everybody loves it. If you prefer, you can the change the almonds for walnuts and add diced cranberries too - which adds a really nice texture and flavor. (Just be sure to let folks know there are nuts in the salad in case they are allergic.)

Ingredients:
1+1/2 cups apple juice
2 chicken breasts
1+1/2 cups seedless grapes
1 cup diced apple
1/2 cup celery
3/4 cup slivered almonds
2 cups of cooked wild rice (or white/wild rice combination)
1 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt ( or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2-3 lettuce leaves

Cook 2 breasts of chicken in 1.5 cups of apple juice until tender (about 15 minutes), then dice and store in the refrigerator until chilled.

Mix the cold diced chicken with grapes, apples, celery, almonds and the cooked rice.

Mix together mayonnaise, salt and cinnamon. Toss with salad.

Line a serving bowl with a few lettuce leaves and spoon the salad into the bowl for a pretty presentation.

Answer 5

Take 3 or 4 boneless chicken breasts ,brush them with Italian Dressing .
Cool then dice into small pieces .
Take 3 Scallions and slice small diagonal slices . Use the green down to the white.
Half 10 green grapes
!/4 tbsp of sweet relish
1 stalk finely minced celery
3/4 cup of HELLMANS MAYONAISE.
Salt and pepper .
Mix together and chill .

If you like spices you can add any of these spices ,Curry ,sage or ground thyme .
Enjoy

Answer 6

Add some mayo, chopped fresh tarragon and some finely chopped shallots, celery seed, finely chopped celery, salt, pepper to taste, chopped grapes or apples for more of a WALDORF salad effect.

For an exotic change of pace, saute some curry powder in a bit of olive oil on medium heat and add to chicken salad mixure as well as purple onion, mayo, celery, salt, pepper to taste.

Answer 7

I boil my chicken in salt water (little salt) be bone (or boneless) I grill lightly in chop while hot and tender add finely chopped onion and celery sometimes a little pickle some mayo to taste and consistency (I'm not a mayo lover)
salt and pepper to taste ...... i eat it on toast with fresh tomato, and is very good in a tomato or avocado. I love chicken salad, and I do eat it while warm yumm

Answer 8

Here's how my mom makes it:

cook your chicken breast in minced garlic (and she also puts it in olive oil, but you could do water) until falling apart...cool and shred it (or chop it)
add: chopped cooked bacon, mayo, tiny diced celery or apples, salt & pepper to taste, and now, for the secret ingredient....bddddddddddddddddd (that's a drum roll)...poultry seasoning...she puts in probably 2-3 tsp for about 3 pounds of chicken breasts, but you'll have to figure out what you like the taset to be. this recipe is a awesome!!!

Answer 9

INGREDIENTS
3 cups diced cooked chicken
2 large stalks celery, diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 red onion, diced
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
6 tablespoons sour cream
1 (4 ounce) package feta cheese, crumbled
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
In a serving bowl, mix together the chicken, celery, and red onion. In a separate bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, feta cheese, and dill. Pour over the chicken mixture, and stir to blend. Taste, and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving.

Answer 10

CHICKEN SALAD
1 c. finely chopped cooked chicken
1/4 c. finely chopped celery
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
2 tbsp. sweet pickle relish
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash of black pepper
1/3 c. mayonnaise
3 tbsp. softened butter
Sandwich bread

Combine first 6 ingredients. Spread softened butter on bread, then spread salad mixture on bread and cut into desired shapes. Chill in covered container until ready to serve.