Chicken Salad

 

MEl's FAVORITE CHICKEN SALAD

yield: 8 SERVINGS

 

prep time: 30 MINS

total time: 30 MINS

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Salad:

• 4 cups cooked, shredded (or small chopped) chicken (see note)
• 1 cup small diced celery
• 1 cup red grapes, halved or quartered
• ½ cup chopped slivered almonds or cashews
• 2-3 tablespoons finely diced green onions or chives
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Dressing:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream (use plain dairy free yogurt to make dairy free) 
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice or red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon coarse, kosher salt (use a bit less for table salt)
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, I use coarsely ground
• ⅛ teaspoon dried dill
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
• Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until smooth.
• Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and mix until evenly combined. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve on lettuce or rolled up in a gluten free tortilla

NOTES

Chicken: A rotisserie chicken works great here, Costco chicken is gluten free. Otherwise, here’s a great method for cooking chicken for recipes like this. Another option is to throw a couple chicken breasts in an electric pressure cooker with 1-2 cups chicken broth, salt and pepper, and cook for 8-10 minutes high pressure. Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure. Drain liquid and shred chicken to use in recipe.

Dressing: the flavors of the dressing get better with time so while the chicken salad can be served right away, it tastes better if it is refrigerated for 1-2 hours. The dressing can be made ahead several days in advance.

Adaptable: this recipe is very adaptable. Leave out ingredients (like nuts) if you can’t eat them/don’t like them, or add in others that you like (dried cranberries, drained mandarin oranges, etc).
Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe