This is my all-time favorite chicken salad. There are SO many variations of chicken salad and many of them are very good. I’ve tried all different kinds of nuts- pecans, walnuts, slivered almonds- included fruit, both fresh and dried- apples, pears, peaches, cranberries, cherries, orange, mandarin, grapes- and tried a variety of herbs and dressing recipes. This one comes out as a winner time and time again and it couldn’t be easier. Creamy, crunchy and so fresh! Don’t be fooled by the simplicity, it’s extremely delicious.
I won’t post amounts, because you can scale it to whatever amount you need. It’s very forgiving.
Amy’s Favorite Chicken Salad
by Amy Love, Real Food Whole Health
Ingredients:
Cooked pastured chicken, cubed (I often use leftover roasted chicken breast meat)
Organic celery, cut into paper thin slices
Pecans, ground finely (from soaked and dried nuts)
Homemade mayonnaise with extra lemon juice and lemon zest additions
Unrefined sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Very often, I will make the mayo first in the food processor (see recipe for mayo). I will pour out almost all of it into its glass jar for storage, leaving enough for my chicken salad behind. Then I add in my chicken and pulse to blend. Add celery. Pulse. Add pecans. Pulse. Add salt and pepper. Pulse. Taste. Adjust seasoning. Voila!
You can also make it in a glass bowl and just chop it up with a fork.
Serve on lettuce leaves, on homemade sourdough bread or atop crackers (I like it on rice snaps). Served beside avgolemono soup, this makes a lovely light lunch or summer dinner.
This looks great Amy! I love chicken salad and I haven’t made it in SOOOO long. I was thinking about chicken salad a few weeks ago wishing I had some. Next week when I make another whole chicken, I’m going to make this. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Raine! Thanks!! 🙂 Let me know how you like it- we love it! 🙂
This looks great Amy! I love chicken salad and I haven’t made it in SOOOO long. I was thinking about chicken salad a few weeks ago wishing I had some. Next week when I make another whole chicken, I’m going to make this. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Raine! Thanks!! 🙂 Let me know how you like it- we love it! 🙂
This is a favorite of mine too – I was just thinking about this two days ago. If only I had pecans! My oldest is allergic to them which makes me crave them even more!
Oh no! Could you do walnuts?
This is a favorite of mine too – I was just thinking about this two days ago. If only I had pecans! My oldest is allergic to them which makes me crave them even more!
Oh no! Could you do walnuts?
Love chicken salad – love this with the pecans. Duly noted!
Love chicken salad – love this with the pecans. Duly noted!
That sounds delicious! It’s definitely coming up to the time when I switch my soup making for salad making so I’ll be sure to try this one out 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m also taking part in the Heath & Soul hop and that’s how I found your blog.
That sounds delicious! It’s definitely coming up to the time when I switch my soup making for salad making so I’ll be sure to try this one out 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m also taking part in the Heath & Soul hop and that’s how I found your blog.
Hi Amy! You are so right about chicken salad and what a personal taste situation it is! I really love the combination of pecans with the lemon zest in this recipe and you are so right, it couldn’t be easier to make. You are really doing double duty making the mayo first and then the salad! Thanks so much for sharing this healthy recipe on the hearth and soul hop! All the best, Alex
Hi Alex! Thanks for stopping by. Isn’t that sooo good? It’s just simple and fresh. Yes, making the mayo first is definitely a good idea, and then you only have to clean the food processor once. lol Thanks for the comment, take care! 🙂
Hi Amy! You are so right about chicken salad and what a personal taste situation it is! I really love the combination of pecans with the lemon zest in this recipe and you are so right, it couldn’t be easier to make. You are really doing double duty making the mayo first and then the salad! Thanks so much for sharing this healthy recipe on the hearth and soul hop! All the best, Alex
Hi Alex! Thanks for stopping by. Isn’t that sooo good? It’s just simple and fresh. Yes, making the mayo first is definitely a good idea, and then you only have to clean the food processor once. lol Thanks for the comment, take care! 🙂