Simple Southern chicken salad is a rich, creamy sandwich filling or dip. This easy chicken salad recipe doesn’t have a lot of extras in it but is big on taste and texture and makes a delicious lunch or dinner.
Nothing beats a simple chicken salad.
Sure you can put all sorts of things into the sandwich filling like grapes, raisins, nuts, or even curry powder.
And those variations are all delicious, for sure.
But sometimes you just want the classic, and you want it done well.
That’s when simple Southern chicken salad really proves it the MVP of the sandwich game.
What is southern chicken salad?
Southern chicken salad is a rich and creamy version of the dish.
And this means, the mayonnaise is even more important than the chicken itself.
The mayo is what makes it so rich, creamy, and delicious so you must use a quality mayonnaise.
What kind of mayonnaise should I use for chicken salad?
In the South most people will tell you that means either Hellman’s or Dukes.
You could also use Blue Plate, but don’t stray from these brands.
And whatever you do, do not use low fat mayo or mayonnaise style dressing, or, even worse, Miracle Whip.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Chicken– I like using finely chopped rotisserie chicken.
- Celery stalks– Minced for crunch
- Mayonnaise– See above for all the notes about the best kind of mayo for your chicken salad.
- Seasoning– Celery salt, cracked black pepper, smoked paprika, and green onions
How to Make
This chicken salad couldn’t be easier to make.
To do it, just add all of the ingredients to a bowl except for the celery salt and stir them all together until evenly combined.
Then stir in just a 1/2 teaspoon of the celery salt until it’s all evenly incorporated.
Give the mixture a taste and add more if needed.
Serve and enjoy!
Can I put eggs in chicken salad?
Some recipes call for hardboiled eggs in the salad, but my recipe does not.
If you would like to add them though, don’t let me stop you!
Serving suggestions
This chicken salad is delicious on sandwiches or crackers.
It is also really yummy as dip for sturdy veggies like cucumber slices or carrot and celery sticks.
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Tips and Tricks
- You can serve the chicken salad as soon as it’s done, or cover and chill for 2 hours first.
- Have leftover roast chicken? That would work in place of rotisserie chicken.
- The green onions and smoked paprika are optional.
Other Southern Style Recipes You’ll Love
This creamy Southern chicken salad is a tried and true classic. Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other Southern style recipes? Try these:
- Classic Deviled Eggs
- Creamy Tomato Bacon Dip
- Tuna Macaroni Salad
- Homemade Hushpuppies
- Raspberry Iced Tea
- 2 Ingredient Coleslaw
If you’ve tried this SOUTHERN CHICKEN SALAD, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Creamy Southern Style Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups finely diced rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup minced celery stalks
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1/2-3/4 tsp celery salt
- 1/8 tsp cracked black pepper
- pinch smoked paprika optional
- thinly sliced green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients, EXCEPT the celery salt, to a mixing bowl, and stir until evenly combined.
- Start by adding the 1/2 tsp of celery salt, stirring to evenly incorporate. Taste the mixture, and add the remainder if needed.
- Serve the chicken salad & enjoy!
Notes
- You can serve the chicken salad as soon as it's done, or cover and chill for 2 hours first.
- Have leftover roast chicken? That would work in place of rotisserie chicken.
- The green onions and smoked paprika are optional.
Nutrition
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