The Best Chicken Salad is an easy to make chicken salad recipe that is my go-to chicken salad recipe for sandwiches, subs, and lettuce wraps! This easy chicken salad with apples recipe is the best chicken salad ever! The mix of juicy chicken, diced apples, sweet raisins, salt, and pepper with creamy mayo makes this the best chicken salad!
BEST Ever Chicken Salad Recipe
You might think that Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins is a crazy idea but I promise you once you try it you are going to love it! Chicken Salad with apples has an amazing sweet and salty flavor combination that is amazing no matter what type of bread or roll you use.
You only 6 ingredients to make this easy chicken salad that is perfect for making a tasty sandwich! This is perfect because I am so not in the mood for anything that is difficult. I am currently at the point where I just want things easy peasy during the day so there is more time to get all of this yard work done that we are working on.
After living in this house for 6 years things are finally coming together with the yard that seems to never be done and we have spent the last few weeks tackling as much of fixing the yard as we can. This recipe is so easy that as long as I have cooked chicken already the kids can make it while I get other things done. Which having the kids help with lunches is also helping them learn how to make tasty meals which is a skill I want them to have for later in life.
Looking for more easy sandwich recipes? Check these out!
- Spinach Mozzarella Grilled Cheese
- Grilled Cheese roll ups
- Provolone Grilled Cheese
- Egg Salad Recipe
- Chicken Salad Recipe
- Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
- Meatball Grinder
- Reuben Sandwich
What goes well with chicken salad?
The great thing about this recipe is there are so many things that go well with it. While chicken salad is great as a lunch recipe it also makes a great dinner and picnic recipe too. When I make this chicken salad for dinner I do different side dishes than when I make them for lunch. Our favorite sides to serve no matter what meal we are making these sandwiches for are:
What is the Best Chicken to use for Chicken Salad?
I originally made this easy chicken salad recipe one day when I had leftover chicken. So if you have leftover chicken you are trying to figure out what to make something with this chicken salad recipe is perfect! I have also used a rotisserie chicken and it came out delicious too!
The only thing I advise against using is canned chicken. It doesn’t pair well when making this recipe. You can use it if you are in a pinch but it is not something I would recommend.
How to Serve Chicken Salad
When you are putting your sandwich together you can just put the salad mixture on to bread or you can add lettuce and tomatoes too. It is up to you how you serve this as a sandwich.
I also suggest using Romain lettuce or bib lettuce instead of bread to make a low-carb chicken salad lettuce wrap.
What is the Best Bread for Chicken Salad Sandwiches?
You can use any bread when you are making these sandwiches. We have yet to find a bread that didn’t go well with it.
If you want to get fancy and use a pretzel bun or a brioche bun my kids love it when I make sandwiches using fancy bread and rolls. This salad recipe also tastes amazing on a croissant too!
How to Make Low Carb Chicken Salad
If you are wanting to lower the carbs on this chicken salad sandwich cut back on the amount of raisins you are adding or skip them altogether. Raisins are high in carbs but you can easily cut the amount that you use.
Can I add Bacon to Chicken Salad?
While I stick to apples and raisins the majority of the time that I make this easy recipe if you are wanting to change things up, adding things like slivered almonds, cooked crispy bacon, or changing out the raisins for cranberries are great options.
Variations of this Recipe
Chicken salad with grapes is also a tasty option, just replace the apples with grapes. Or if you are like my kids have both!
You can also add walnuts or pecans to give your chicken salad with apples some more crunch.
How long is chicken Salad good for?
This chicken salad recipe will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days stored in an airtight container.
Can I freeze Chicken Salad?
If you are wanting to prep ahead of time, I only suggest cooking the chicken and cutting it up into pieces, and freezing it. Chicken salad doesn’t freeze well and the longest part is cooking chicken but if you have cooked chicken on hand it will cut down on the time needed.
How to Cook Chicken
If you do not have cooked chicken ready to go and need to make some it is easy. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before cutting it into pieces. Then allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before making the chicken salad.
Use a Rotisserie chicken. If you want things easier you can grab a cooked rotisserie chicken at the store or cook one at home.
Boil chicken. Just add raw chicken breasts to a pot and cover with 3 cups of chicken broth or water whichever you prefer. Heat on medium high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling turn heat to low and cover pot with a lid and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Bake chicken. Spray a baking sheet with non stick spray place the chicken breast on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper on it. Then bake forfor 15-18 minutes at 450°F minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
Chicken Salad with Apples Ingredients
- Apple – any type will work
- cooked chicken breast shredded or chopped
- raisins
- mayo
- salt
- pepper
How to Make Chicken Salad with Apples
If you do not have cooked chicken breast cook it using the directions above.
Once the chicken is cooked to room temperature dice the chicken into small pieces or shred the chicken.
Wash and cut your apples into small pieces.
In a large bowl add the chicken, apples, raisins and mayo. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Mix all ingredients until everything is well combined.
Serve on your favorite sandwich bread or in lettuce for a lettuce wrap.
Chicken Salad with Apples
Ingredients
Instructions
- If you do not have cooked chicken breast cook it using the directions above. Once the chicken is cooked to room temperature dice the chicken into small pieces or shred the chicken.
- Wash and cut your apples into small pieces.
- In a large bowl add the chicken, apples, raisins and mayo. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix all ingredients until everything is well combined.
- Serve on your favorite sandwich bread or in lettuce for a lettuce wrap.
6 Weight Watchers Smart Points per serving when using light mayo and chicken breast
Comments & Reviews
alison says
This is just standard stuff…the usual recipe
Sarah says
I add almonds or walnuts, and chopped celery.
Carol ONeil says
This sounds really good I love chicken salad! Thank you!
Paula says
Sounds good, but I’ll skip the raisins.
Katie Brinkerhoff says
I do this with died cranberries……..so yummy!
Angie C. says
I am definitely trying this with dried cranberries. Sounds delish! What are some other suggestions for add ins?
Kay says
Sounds delicious, going to add chopped up celery.