The Best Chicken Salad with Grapes recipe is made with tender chicken, small pieces of celery, fresh juicy grapes, and a simple, light and creamy dressing in 10 minutes.
Perfect for salads, sandwiches, and wraps!
Consider this a 'copycat' version of the Sonoma Chicken Salad recipe from Whole Foods. Just like my other favorite chicken salad recipe, this recipe is a little different from what you might consider a 'classic chicken salad recipe,' but in a good way. 🤩
Specifically, the honey and apple cider vinegar give this delicious chicken salad an extra touch of sweetness, while celery and walnuts give it a little crunch that you'll just love!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Recipe In my opinion, the best chicken salad recipe must be an easy recipe 😉 Of course, you can always add fresh herbs or red onion, but it's really not necessary. This is an easy recipe made with simple ingredients that can be found in your local grocery store.
- High in Protein 23 grams of protein per serving! Chicken salad is a great way to help meet your protein needs.
- Meal Prep I like to make a big batch homemade chicken salad, so we have enough for a few days. Chicken salad packs well for lunches and makes an easy meal, especially on busy weeknights and hot summer days.
- Kid-Approved It's one thing for my own kids to like this recipe, but it was even more special when my nephew gave it rave reviews! 😍
- Dairy Free This is a dairy-free and gluten-free chicken salad recipe.
Dietitian Tips
Tip 1: This healthy chicken salad is an excellent option for school lunches. I suggest packing the chicken salad and what your kids will be eating it with (like crackers or bread) in separate lunch containers.
My kids especially love eating chicken salad with whole wheat pita bite crackers, pita chips, Triscuits, or on a whole grain croissant. Chicken salad served in lettuce wraps would is also delicious!
Ingredient Notes
- Shredded Chicken Use shredded chicken breasts (or thighs), store-bought rotisserie chicken, or leftover roasted chicken (as long as the seasoning goes well with this recipe). Chicken is a good source of protein.
- Walnuts Significantly high in omega-3 ALA, according to California Walnuts. Walnuts are also a good source of protein, fiber, and magnesium.
- Red grapes Use red seedless grapes for the best color. Contain various compounds that have health benefits, including flavonoids. Green grapes can be used instead.
- Celery High in fiber and rich in minerals. Celery adds color, texture, and flavor. According to my kids, chicken salad isn't chicken salad without celery.
- Honey I use raw local honey because of its many potential health benefits. But that's just me. Use what you have!
How to Make This Chicken Salad with Grapes Recipe
Here is a summary of the steps to make this easy chicken salad recipe. For a full list of ingredients and complete instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a large bowl and whisk well.
- Add chicken, celery, grapes, and walnuts (optional) to the dressing.
- Stir well to incorporate the dressing.
- Taste this recipe as is before adding salt or black pepper. If you think it could use some, stir in a small amount at a time and taste again before adding more.
How to Serve Chicken Salad
There are a variety of ways to serve chicken salad. Here's a list of the most common ways I've seen it served. Feel free to share more ideas in the comments below!
- Chicken Salad Sandwich Whether with sandwich bread or on a croissant, serving it as a sandwich is probably the most common way chicken salad is served.
- As a Wrap Whether you use lettuce cups or tortillas, there's something extra delicious about wrapping up chicken salad and enjoying it that way.
- Salad Greens I also see chicken salad served on top of salad greens. You could add salad dressing if you'd like but wouldn't be necessary if you use this recipe because it already has so much flavor.
- With Crackers In my opinion, this is the best way to enjoy chicken salad. I like to dip whole grain pita crackers in to chicken salad when I eat it.
- With Veggies This is my second favorite way to eat chicken salad, lol. Celery or carrot sticks taste so refreshing when eating chicken salad for lunch!
Helpful Tips
- For optimal flavor, let sit or refrigerate for five minutes before serving.
- Use either homemade shredded chicken breast or leftover rotisserie chicken.
- If you are using chicken that you just cooked, let it come to room temperature before using it in this recipe.
- If you are making this chicken salad for the next day, store it refrigerated in an airtight container.
- If your child does not have a dairy allergy, consider substituting 2 tablespoons of greek yogurt for 2 tablespoons of the mayonnaise. In this case, you would use 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise in place of the quarter cup of mayonnaise.
- Walnuts are optional. If your child has a nut allergy, do not add walnuts to this recipe.
Questions You May Have
Chicken salad can be served on top of a lettuce salad, served with crackers, as a sandwich, or in a wrap. If you have large pieces of celery left, you can fill in the center of the stalks with chicken salad and eat it that way, too!
Store chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
I never have but you definitely could add hard boiled eggs to chicken salad. From what I understand, eggs are sometimes used in 'Southern style' chicken salad.
Related Recipes
More Recipes with Chicken
Did your kids love this chicken salad recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating below or a review in the comments section!
Don't forget to snap a pic of the chicken salad and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Chicken Salad with Grapes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cooked chicken, shredded
- ⅓ cups red grapes About 14 grapes. Sliced in half lengthwise.
- 1 stalk celery Washed. Chopped into small pieces. About ⅓ of a cup.
- 1 tablespoon walnut pieces, toasted Smashed into very small pieces. Optional.
Dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise Preferably avocado oil-based mayonnaise.
- 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon poppy seeds
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- salt and black pepper To taste. Optional.
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Add shredded chicken, celery, grapes, and walnuts (optional) to the dressing.
- Mix all ingredients together so that the dressing is evenly distributed.
Notes
- For optimal flavor, let sit or refrigerate for five minutes before serving.
- Use either homemade shredded chicken breast or shred leftover rotisserie chicken.
- If you are using chicken that you just cooked, let it come to room temperature before using it in this recipe.
- If your child does not have a dairy allergy, consider substituting 2 tablespoons of the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt. In this case, you would use 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt in place of the quarter cup of mayonnaise.
- Salt and pepper are optional ingredients. Taste the dressing first, then if you would prefer more flavor, add a pinch of salt and/or pepper.
- This chicken salad can be served on sandwiches, in wraps, or with crackers.
- For school lunches, pack the chicken salad in its own airtight container and the crackers or sandwich bread separately so they don't get soggy.
Amy R says
Just made this tonight for lunch tomorrow. So good!
Kristi says
Thanks for letting me know, Amy! So great that you planned ahead!
Lisa says
Made this tonight and it was delicious! Will see if the kids want to pack it for school lunches. Thanks for the idea.
Kristi says
Yay, I'm so glad!