One of the skills that comes out of creating almost 2000 recipes is reinventing dusty recipes. You’ve had that beloved (and maybe overdone?) rotisserie chicken salad with grapes, right? The one served in a croissant? What if I told you to make a few swaps? My version is familiar, but with a twist, and it leave your guests begging for the recipe.
Dare I say I like my version better? It’s just as easy as the original – maybe easier using a rotisserie chicken. The apples and nuts add a nice crunch and the honey-dijon dressing adds a little tangy sweetness.
Put it in a sandwich (or a croissant, just like old times) or eat it straight out of the bowl!I It’s perfect for light entertaining or a meal prepped lunch for the week.
Crisp and fresh Chicken Salad with Apples
I really love chicken salad with apples and recently I stripped a whole chicken I pulled out of the slow cooker and made this salad. Um, wow. So much better with well-seasoned chicken! This would be a snap with a store-bought rotisserie chicken. (Whole Foods has clean ones!) Even my picky little eaters liked it and my oldest requested it in her lunch the next day.
If you need a homemade mayo recipe, use this one: Homemade Mayonnaise. I use avocado oil now instead of olive because I like the neutral flavor better. I also throw in a little garlic, because… garlic. I used to turn my nose up at mayonnaise and shudder at recipes that used it by cupful, but after I realized homemade mayo is actually WAAAAY better for you and tastes superior to commercial mayo, it doesn’t scare me any more.
Rotisserie Chicken Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken (Cooked)
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Apple
- Celery stalks
- Green onion
- Nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews, or slivered almonds)
- Lettuce leaves
How to make Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Place chicken in a large bowl and shred or cut into small pieces. Add apple celery, green onions, and nuts to the bowl.
- In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. Pour mixture over chicken and stir it up.
Chicken Apple Salad variations
Fruit: Pears make a great substitute for apples. Add some cranberries or raisins for a touch more sweetness.
Chicken: Any cooked chicken will work in this recipe, so feel free to use leftovers!
New H2: Tips for the best Chicken Salad with Rotisserie Chicken
Note:
This recipe improves with time as the flavors develop, so I like making it a day in advance. It’s perfect for quick snacks or lunches.
The smaller the chicken pieces, the better, as it ensures a better mayo-to-chicken ratio.
How to serve Apple Chicken Salad
Serve in rolls, bread, lettuce cups, or eat it alone!
Storing leftover Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Keep leftovers in a lidded container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Chicken Apple Salad
This makes a perfect, portable picnic lunch without needing to make a bunch of sandwiches. We love the sweet crunch from the apples!
Ingredients
- 1 whole, cooked and seasoned chicken, meat stripped (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 large apple, cored and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 thinly sliced green onion
- 1 cup of toasted nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews, or slivered almonds)
- Lettuce leaves, for serving
Instructions
- Place chicken in a large bowl and shred or cut into small pieces. Add apple celery, green onions, and nuts to the bowl.
- In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. Pour mixture over chicken and stir it up.
- Serve in rolls, bread, lettuce cups, or eat it alone!
Notes
Nat's Notes:
- If you don't have or want to use a rotisserie chicken, about three large, cooked and seasoned chicken breasts would be fine.
- If you don't have issues with dairy (or don't like mayonnaise), you can replace half or all of the mayonnaise with full-fat, plain Greek yogurt.