The leftover meat from a roast or stewed chicken presents a vast array of options. But whether it meets a classic American mayo-and-celery dressing, a vibrant mixture of grapes and nuts, or a sesame-spiked Asian slaw, there's no better use for cold, leftover chicken than salad. We've rounded up our favorite chicken salad recipes to help make your leftovers shine.
A picnic staple, the classic mayonnaise-based chicken salad is creamy and delicious. We like to keep our chicken salad simple, making it with hard-boiled eggs, celery, pickle relish, and onion and serving it with saltines. Chicken salad is a retro dish—we have a couple of versions that date back to the 1950s. One version, served at Neiman Marcus department stores, is made extra rich with whipped cream and is studded with grapes and sliced almonds. Another, made for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation lunch, is flavored with curry powder and mango chutney.
If you want a mayo-free chicken salad, look to Asia for inspiration. Our Vietnamese shredded chicken salad features cabbage and carrots and is dressed with a mixture of chiles, garlic, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, and fish sauce. Our Guam-style chicken salad is dressed with cane vinegar and soy sauce and gets sweetness and heat from coconut and chiles. Chinese chicken salad likely originated in California, but is flavored with ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger.
Find all of these dishes in our collection of our favorite chicken salad recipes.
Helen Corbitt's Chicken Salad
Famed Texas cook Helen Corbitt created this rich chicken salad for the cafe menu at Neiman Marcus department stores in the 1950s. It’s delicious on toasted multigrain bread with lettuce and tomato.
Coronation Chicken Salad
Made for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation lunch in 1953, this curry powder- and mango chutney-laced chicken salad has been wildly popular in Britain ever since.
Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad
Leftover chicken layered with shredded cabbage, pungent fish sauce, spicy chiles, and fresh mint makes a bright and simple salad great for a quick lunch or weeknight meal.
Guam-Style Chicken Salad
Marinated in cane vinegar and soy sauce, this succulent grilled chicken salad gets a dose of sweetness and heat from coconut and chiles. Get the recipe for Guam-Style Chicken Salad »
Laura's Mom's Chicken Salad
Savory chicken salad gets a sweet kick from a generous dose of pickle relish in this Southern recipe, which comes from Associate Digital Editor Laura Sant’s mom. It’s perfect on soft rolls or white toast, and we particularly like it with good old Saltines.
Grilled Chicken and Toasted Coconut Salad (Ayam Jeruk)
For this vibrantly spiced Balinese dish, finely shredded grilled chicken is tossed in an aromatic sambal with lime juice and toasted coconut.
Chinese Chicken Salad
Variations on this salad have been served in Los Angeles everywhere from the Fox Studios Commissary to Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois on Main.
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