How to Make Classic Chicken Salad
The chicken salad itself doesn’t contain anything too out of the ordinary. It is, after all, a classic mixture for a reason — there’s nothing here that needs changing. You’ll obviously be using chicken breast cubes to add the protein into the salad.
The rest of the ingredients used are fresh parsley, lemon, diced red onion and celery, a minced garlic clove, Dijon mustard, and whole black peppercorns. They all combine perfectly to provide lots of essential nutrients while making one great tasting salad.
The homemade chicken salad is just fine to enjoy all on its own, but to really take this recipe to the next level you will be including the tasty homemade paleo mayonnaise. It’s fairly simple to prepare, requiring a single egg yolk to be placed in a bowl before adding salt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.
As you whisk these ingredients together, gradually begin to add either avocado oil or a light olive oil into the mixture until it resembles the thick texture of regular mayonnaise.
The choice of avocado oil or olive oil is entirely up to you — both options will add a moderate amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats to the mayo that will provide some great cardiovascular and antioxidative benefits. (2)(3)
This recipe ends up making enough of the homemade mayonnaise to use with the chicken salad while still leaving around half of the batch left over. The remaining mayo can be safely stored in the fridge for future use. When the chicken salad is combined with this delicious creamy mayo, it can of course be enjoyed as is. I like to take it a step further though and make paleo-style ‘sandwiches’ with it by wrapping it in lettuce. Give it a try.
Ingredients
- For the mayonnaise
- 1 large egg yolk
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup avocado oil or light olive oil
- The rest of ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ lemon, sliced
- ¼ tsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- salt, black pepper to taste
Directions
- In a pot place the chicken, lemon slices, black peppercorns and season with salt.
- Add enough water to cover the chicken breasts, plus one additional inch.
- Cover the pot with a lid and cook over medium heat 25-30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and allow to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, make the mayonnaise.
- In a bowl, place the egg yolk.
- Add the salt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar and whisk until combine about 30 seconds.
- Add ¼ cup oil a drop at a time, whisking constantly, until mixture is emulsified and thick.
- Gradually add remaining oil in very slow thin stream, whisking constantly, until mayonnaise is thick.
- Cut the chicken into 1/2-inch cubes and add to a bowl.
- Add the celery, onion, parsley, garlic, Dijon mustard and half of prepared mayonnaise.
- Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper and serve.
- Refrigerate the rest of mayonnaise for another use.
- Serve the salad in sandwiches with lettuce.
Servings
Time
More Paleo Chicken Salad Recipes:
Easy Traditional Chicken Salad with Grapes
Any time there is chicken leftover from a recipe, I like to make it into this popular chicken salad, which also features homemade Paleo mayonnaise. Serve with some romaine lettuce for an easy and packable lunch. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your desired taste.
Ingredients
4 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
5 tbsp Paleo mayonnaise
2 tsp Paleo honey mustard
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1-2 cups red grapes, cut in half
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken with the mayo and mustard until evenly coated. Add in the salt, garlic powder, parsley, and pepper. Lastly, stir in the red grapes. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Serve cold.
6-Ingredient Avocado Chicken Salad
Less is most definitely more in this delicious paleo chicken salad, as the ingredients speak for themselves. With creamy avocado and tender chicken, the crunchy celery adds a wonderful texture, while the lime and cilantro-infused mayo brings it all together beautifully.
Waldorf Paleo Chicken Salad with Apples, Grapes and Walnuts
This Waldorf chicken salad has everything – protein, vitamins, minerals, and a huge variety of flavors. From the tender pieces of chicken to the satisfying walnut crunch, the Waldorf is dressed with a simple paleo mayonnaise, lemon, and salt and black pepper to taste.
Easy Bacon and Green Onion Paleo Chicken Salad
Packed full of protein and healthy fat, this dish will change the way you see salads forever. Made with heaps of succulent chicken, bacon cooked just the way you like it, and flavorsome chopped green onions, this salad is finished off with homemade or store-bought mayonnaise.
The Most Addictive Buffalo Chicken Salad
Lovers of buffalo chicken will quickly become addicted to this salad, because it harnesses all the flavors of their favorite meal in a healthy, protein packed dish. With chicken, celery, and green onions, the piece de resistance is the combination of a hot sauce and apple cider vinegar.
Low Carb Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado
Avocados provide healthy fats AND a fancy way to serve in this paleo chicken salad. Simply mix up the chicken, cilantro, tomatoes, and dressings and seasonings, and then heap the mixture onto an avocado half for a highly nutritious and delicious light lunch or dinner idea.
Paleo Curry Chicken Salad
Salads are usually thought of as a light dish, and perfect for lunch. However, this version is filling and satisfying and will keep you going until your next meal thanks to the chicken, celery, and fresh and dried fruits, which are all tossed with a lightly-curried mayo dressing.
Chicken Salad Ranch Wraps with Homemade Paleo Tortillas
Pack chicken, bacon, and veg into one (or more) of these homemade tortillas and change the way you lunch forever. Made with coconut flour, eggs, and psyllium husk powder, these wraps are well seasoned and perfect for holding the delicious ranch chicken filling.
Chipotle Chicken Salad
You can whip up your own healthy mayo with this recipe, and it can be done in under 30 seconds. Using an immersion blender, the avocado oil and egg mixture is flavored with chipotle sauce and other seasonings and is perfect when mixed with chicken, celery, and onion.
Greek Chicken Salad
Seasoning can totally change the flavor of foods, as this simple recipe shows. By adding Greek seasoning (which includes more than a dozen herbs and spices) to chicken, celery, and grapes, you will have a flavorsome dish which tastes completely different to any other salads you’ve made.
Paleo Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad
Using a non-dairy coconut yogurt instead of mayo makes this dish a lighter option for lunch. The lime juice and cilantro combine well with the mild coconut taste, and with the addition of red pepper flakes, this chicken mix is delicious when served on a bed of mixed salad leaves.
Pesto Paleo Chicken Salad
Making your own basil pesto is so easy, and it can be adjusted to suit your tastes, too. With easy instructions, this recipe shows you how to make your own using basil and spinach, and how to combine it with chopped chicken, pine nuts, and paleo-compliant mayonnaise.
Basil Cashew Chicken Salad
Cashews add a delightful crunch to this simple lunch idea, as well as a good dose of healthy fats. Halved and toasted, they can be combined with mayo, chicken, and fresh basil and cucumber for a fresh, summery taste with a hint of the Mediterranean.
French Onion Chicken Salad
If you’re a fan of French onion soup, you’re going to love this salad, because it includes all of those fabulous flavors in a mayo. Add to shredded chicken, cucumber, and fennel, and you’ll have a brand new take on a classic but sometimes slightly bland dish.
Paleo Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwiches
This sandwich filler is incredible, and can be added to paleo-friendly bread, crackers, tortillas, or even lettuce wraps. With a host of herbs and seasonings, what really sets this mixture apart is the addition of dried cranberries, which bring a sweet tang and a little vibrant color.
Taco Chicken Salad
There’s a long list of herbs and spices in this tasty recipe, but the taste will be totally worth it. The real star of this show is the taco mayo, however, which infuses both the chicken and the veg with the flavors of chili, chipotle, and chopped fresh cilantro.
Dill Chicken Salad
For a low carb sandwich filler or salad topper, try this delicious chicken and dill recipe. With just over 1 net carb per serving, this fresh and clean tasting dish includes dill to give the chicken an incredible, mild licorice flavor.
Whole30 Rosemary Chicken Salad
Rosemary is such an aromatic and tasty herb that it infuses any dish with a fresh, wonderful flavor all by itself. Incredibly simple, this recipe need only add mayo, lemon juice, green onions, almonds, and sea salt – and of course chicken – to make a filling and flavorful meal.
Fiesta Chicken Salad
If you don’t like the taste of mayo but crave the addition of something creamy on your salad, this recipe is for you. Mashed avocado lends a silky smooth creaminess to the shredded chicken and other ingredients, and is full of incredibly healthy fats and clean, summery tastes.
How long will the mayonnaise keep in the fridge?
So good! I use primal mayo because I’m lazy haha.
This is my favorite chicken salad recipe I’ve ever tried! Thank you so much for sharing!