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A creamy, chunky-style Southern Chicken Salad made the old fashioned way and seasoned to perfection with a creamy dressing. Tender chicken pieces, eggs, and celery are smothered in a sweet pickle relish mayonnaise dressing.
If you want even more delicious varieties of chicken salad be sure and try some of these family favorites – Apple Walnut Chicken Salad, Pineapple Chicken Salad, Poppyseed Chicken Salad, Dill Pickle Chicken Salad, or Santa Fe Chicken Salad.
Southern Chicken Salad Recipe
Oh my goodness, we LOVE this southern style chunky chicken salad. It is perfectly creamy, flavorful, and seasoned to perfection with an easy and super creamy dressing with some stand-out ingredients like sweet pickle relish and paprika.
I love any version of chicken salad but I especially love this southern-style because of the chunks of hard-boiled eggs throughout and the crunch of the finely chopped celery. Serve it inside buttery croissants with a side of potato chips and grapes for the perfect dinner idea. It’s also a great option to serve at a gathering, luncheon, baby shower, or party. Have the sandwiches all ready to grab & go for the guests.
Ingredients Needed
- Cooked Chicken : Use chopped chicken or shredded chicken. I like to use a rotisserie chicken when I make chicken salad but you can also use canned chicken or grill some chicken breasts, or put some chicken breast into the slow cooker along with a can of chicken broth and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours.
- Hard-Boiled Eggs : Try my Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs or buy some ready-to-use hard-boiled eggs from the store. You can also try this Stove Top Method For Hard-Boiled Eggs or Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs.
- Celery
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- Mayonnaise : For the best flavor and thickness I recommend using full-fat mayonnaise or a lite mayonnaise for a lighter option. I also recommend using a high-quality brand of mayo such as Duke’s mayo or Hellman’s brand mayonnaise.
- Dijon Mustard
- Lemon Juice : Freshly squeezed is best but bottled lemon juice can be used as well.
- Paprika
- Salt & Black Pepper
How To Make Perfect Chicken Salad The Southern Way (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Stir in the finely chopped celery and sweet pickle relish.
In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper until combined and thoroughly mixed.
Pour the dressing over the chicken salad mixture and stir well until everything is coated in the creamy dressing.
Cover the chicken salad with a lid or plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
How To Store Leftover Chicken Salad
Southern chicken salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can be stored for up to 3-4 days. It’s not recommended to freeze chicken salad as the mayonnaise and eggs can separate and change texture once thawed.
What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?
- Chicken : Use leftover chopped or shredded chicken. Buy precooked chicken breast filets from the store and cook according to package directions. Some stores sell already cooked and chopped chicken that you can use. Use canned chicken that has been drained well and flaked. Or pick up a rotisserie chicken and use that (this is my preferred way to make chicken salad).
- Celery : Substitute with chopped cucumber or chopped bell pepper for a different crunch if you don’t like celery. You can also omit the celery and add some finely chopped nuts (like almonds or pecans).
- Sweet Pickle Relish : Use dill pickle relish for a tangier flavor or chopped dill pickles or capers for a different flavor.
- Mayonnaise : Substitute with plain Greek yogurt or a half & half mixture of mayo + plain Greek yogurt for a lighter option. Take note that using Greek yogurt will alter the flavor of the chicken salad. For the best taste I highly recommend using mayonnaise or a lite mayonnaise if you want a lighter option.
- Mustard : For a different flavor use honey mustard or regular yellow mustard.
- Salt : Use more or less depending on preference and/or what chicken was used. Sea salt, kosher salt, pink Himalayan salt, or table salt are all great options. You can also use celery salt for a different flavor.
How To Serve The Best Southern Chicken Salad
One of my favorite ways to serve this southern style chicken salad is inside buttery croissants. You can also buy some dinner rolls for serving as well. Other options include crackers of choice to dip into the salad, or serve inside lettuce wraps or on top of a bed of lettuce with any additional salad toppings you want.
Southern-Style Chicken Salad Recipe FAQ’s
What Do I Serve With Chicken Salad Sandwiches?
I love serving chicken salad sandwiches for an easy meal, especially during the summertime days, along with some sides to make it more of a complete and hearty meal. Serve with a side of fruit like apple slices, watermelon, grapes, strawberries, or other fresh seasonal fruit options. Try serving with a side of potato chips or vegetable sticks with ranch for dipping.
Can I Make This Easy Chicken Salad Recipe Ahead of Time?
Yes, making it in advance allows the flavors to blend together. Store the chicken salad in a covered airtight container or cover the bowl with plastic wrap or foil for storage inside the fridge. The longer the salad sits in the fridge the more it will soak up that creamy dressing, so note that the chicken salad will get thicker as it sits in the fridge and you may need to add additional mayonnaise to moisten things back up for serving.
What Type of Bread Should I Use For The Best Chicken Salad Sandwich?
There are lots of bread options for serving like whole grain bread slices, pita bread, buttery croissants, sliced white bread, sliders, or dinner rolls. You can also make a chicken salad wrap with flour tortillas of choice and some lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Or try making a low-carb version and serve the southern chicken salad inside lettuce wraps or on top of a bed of lettuce.
Can I Add Nuts?
Yes, adding chopped nuts like almonds or pecans can provide some extra crunch and texture.
More Sandwich & Wrap Recipes You’ll Love
- Hot Chicken Salad French Bread Sandwiches
- Best Tuna Salad Recipe
- Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
- Crispy Chicken Caesar Wraps
- Tuna Egg Salad
- BLT Sandwich
- Chopped Italian Sub Sandwich
- Egg Salad Sandwich With Bacon
Southern Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken (shredded or chunked)
- 3 hard-boiled eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- salt & black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked chicken and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Stir together to combine.3 cups cooked chicken, 3 hard-boiled eggs
- Add in the finely chopped celery and sweet pickle relish. Stir to combine.1/2 cup finely diced celery, 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper until combined and thoroughly mixed.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon paprika
- Pour the dressing over the chicken salad mixture and stir well until everything is coated in the creamy dressing. * Taste the creamy chicken salad and add salt & pepper as needed. Depending on what kind of chicken you used, you may need salt or maybe not. I use a rotisserie chicken + about 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and a small pinch of black pepper when I make this.salt & black pepper
- Cover the chicken salad with a lid or plastic wrap and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 1-2 hours, before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve the southern style chicken salad inside buttery croissants (I recommend this!), on top of green lettuce, or with crackers for dipping.
Notes
Nutrition
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