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Waldorf Chicken Salad is a classic chicken salad recipe with the perfect balance of texture and flavor – sweet grapes, crisp tart apples, tender chicken, and toasted pecans covered in a creamy dressing.
Waldorf Chicken Salad Recipe
Waldorf chicken salad is a classic American salad that combines the classic flavors of tender chunks of chicken with chopped red apples, sweet grapes, crunchy celery, and toasted pecans, all tossed in a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
The combination of texture and flavors of this delicious salad – especially the nutty toasted pecans, crisp apples, and sweetness of the grapes – makes it a popular choice and good recipe for sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, tasty lunch with crackers, or as a salad on a bed of lettuce greens.
Waldorf chicken salad gets its name from the Waldorf Hotel in New York City. The original Waldorf salad was created in the 1800’s by the hotel’s first maitre d – Oscar Tschirky.
Simple Ingredients Needed
Creamy Dressing Ingredients
- Mayonnaise
- Plain Yogurt
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
Classic Waldorf Chicken Salad Ingredients
- Cooked Chicken
- Red Seedless Grapes
- Toasted Pecans
- Granny Smith Apples
- Celery
- Fresh Parsley
How To Make Classic Waldorf Salad (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, plain yogurt, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until creamy and combined.
Stir in the chicken, grapes, pecans, apples, celery, and parsley until well combined.
Serve the chicken salad on a bed of bib lettuce, lettuce cups, or between two slices of bread for a chicken salad sandwich.
How To Store Chicken Salad
Chicken Waldorf salad should be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 4-5 days. I don’t recommend freezing it.
What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?
- Mayonnaise : You can use vegan mayonnaise, reudced-fat mayonnaise, avocado oil mayonnaise, or lite mayo. I prefer using real, full-fat mayo in chicken salad because it’s creamier and tastes better.
- Plain Yogurt : You can also use sour cream if wanted. I don’t recommend using plain Greek yogurt because it’s thicker and has a more bitter taste to it which doesn’t pair well in the creamy salad. But if you want to, you could certainly try it and see what you think.
- Diced Chicken : Leftover chicken from a previous meal or a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store would work. Canned chicken that has been drained & flakes is another option. Even if you want to make fresh chicken (whole chicken or boneless, skinless chicken breasts + chicken broth in the slow cooker) you can do so, as long as the chicken is cooked and cooled before adding it into the salad. You can also use grilled chicken as well.
- Red Grapes : If you want the grapes to a have a bit more tanginess to them, you can use green grapes instead. Or try using a mix of both red grapes and green grapes.
- Toasted Pecans : You can buy toasted pecans or toast them yourself in the oven. Or just use regular pecan if wanted. I highly recommend toasting the pecans for this salad because it adds a depth of flavor that you just can’t get with untoasted pecans, and they’re crunchier when toasted!
- Granny Smith Apples : These green apples are more tart and crisp, if you prefer a sweeter bite then use Gala apples, Fuji apples, Ambrosia apples, Golden Delicious apples, or Honeycrisp apples.
Serving Suggestions For Chicken Waldorf Salad Recipe
There are so many delicious and different ways to serve chicken salad – here are some ideas to get you started.
- Lunch Meal Prep : Chicken salad makes for great meal prep for an easy lunch all week long. Simple portion out the chicken salad into meal prep containers and then eat your preferred way (crackers, sandwich bread, a fork, etc).
- Chicken Salad Green Salad : It may sound weird to have a salad on top of a salad, but it’s actually one of my favorite ways to eat this chicken salad. Place the Waldorf salad on top of a bed of greens, lettuce, or whatever greens you want.
- Lettuce Cups/Lettuce Wraps : Serve the chicken salad inside Bibb lettuce, iceberg lettuce, or green lettuce leaf for a wrap or a cup.
- Chicken Salad Sandwich : Use any bread you love to make a sandwich! Croissants are always really good, brioche buns, sourdough bread, rolls, gluten-free bread, toasted Dave’s Killer Bread is one of my favs, or any bread you want.
- Crackers : Use crackers to scoop up the chicken salad with. I love using Nut Thins or other gluten-free crackers for a healthy lunch option.
- Tortilla Wraps : Make a chicken salad wrap with a large burrito-sized tortilla, shredded lettuce, etc and make a wrap.
Recipe FAQ’s
Do I Have To Add The Pecans Or Can I Omit The Nuts Altogether?
If you don’t like pecans you can switch to slivered almonds or walnuts. But if you don’t like nuts at all, or are allergic, you can eliminate them and the dish will still taste amazing.
Can I Make Waldorf Chicken Salad Ahead Of Time?
Yes, this dish is a great make-ahead meal. By making it ahead, it allows the flavors to meld together better. When I know the day is really busy, I always make some form of a chicken salad, that way, we can grab & go as needed from the fridge and make a sandwich.
Should I Peel The Apples?
No, you do not need to peel the apples before adding them; however, if you do not like the skins on them at all and want them peeled, that is fine, too. Whichever you prefer works great!
More Chicken Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Dill Pickle Chicken Salad
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad
- Southern Style Chicken Salad
- Poppy Seeds Chicken Salad
- Apple Walnut Chicken Salad
- Pineapple Chicken Salad
- Santa Fe Chicken Salad
Waldorf Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh squeezed or bottled)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups diced cooked chicken
- 2 granny smith apples diced
- 1 cup halved red grapes
- 1 cup toasted pecans chopped
- 1 celery stalk thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, plain yogurt, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until creamy and combined.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Stir in the chicken, apples, grapes, pecans, celery, and parsley until well combined.4 cups diced cooked chicken, 2 granny smith apples, 1 cup halved red grapes, 1 cup toasted pecans, 1 celery stalk, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Serve the chicken salad on a bed of bib lettuce, lettuce cups, or between two slices of bread for a chicken salad sandwich. * You can serve it right away or for a chilled chicken salad (which I prefer), store it covered in the fridge for up to 2-4 before serving.
Notes
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Prepare: Spread the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake: Toast for 7-10 minutes, stirring halfway through, until fragrant and lightly browned.
- Cool: Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Heat: Place pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat.
- Toast: Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes, until fragrant and lightly browned.
- Cool: Remove from heat and transfer to a plate to cool.
Nutrition
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