This classic chicken salad with grapes combines tender chicken, crisp celery and sweet red grapes in a creamy, perfectly balanced dressing. Whether served on rolls, in lettuce cups or stuffed into avocados, this easy chicken salad is a timeless favorite for lunches and gatherings.
What You’ll Need
A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise– Some folks prefer miracle whip or even plain Greek yogurt to reduce a few calories. The basics are that you want something creamy to hold the blend together.
- Cooked Chicken- This can be leftover chicken from another dish or make my easy baked chicken breasts. If you don’t have chicken on hand, grab a rotisserie chicken or canned chicken.
- Celery and Sweet Onion– The veggies used are crispy and complement other flavors. Sweet onion can be swapped for a red onion for more color and onion punch. Carrots are sometimes also used.
- Celery
- Sweet onion
- Red grapes
- Walnuts or pecans
- Lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- Fine sea salt
- Ground white pepper
- Bibb or butter lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Bread
How to Make Chicken Salad with Grapes (Step-by-Step)
One of my favorite parts about this recipe is how easy it is, especially if you use a store bought rotisserie chicken like I mentioned before!
- Chop chicken. You need to start by chopping your chicken into small cubes. Or if you prefer, you could even use shredded chicken for a different texture.
- Mix ingredients. Then it’s as simple as mixing all of the ingredients in a large bowl, and serving!
Mix Things Up!
There are endless ways for you to make this chicken salad with grapes recipe your own. Here are a few ideas.
- Serving vessel – Trying to cut back on carbs? Try serving your chicken salad in a lettuce wrap or even in an avocado half, boat style.
- Swap out the grapes – I like an element of sweet to my chicken salad recipe. To accomplish this, you can use raisins, dried cranberries, or even apples instead of grapes.
- Greek yogurt – As a lighter, more protein-packed option, try swapping some of the mayo for greek yogurt instead.
Serving Ideas
You can serve this chicken salad with grapes on just about anything you’d like. I love mine on a buttery croissant, but I also love pita pockets, sandwich rolls or even some multigrain bread. You can also serve it as a dip of sorts with crackers.
When I’m trying to lower my carb intake, I like to enjoy it in a lettuce wrap, stuffed into an avocado half or even as a topper over a mixed greens salad.
Best Chicken Salad Recipe with Grapes FAQs
Many of the ingredients in chicken salad have high water content and will start to leak liquid while sitting, making it more watery the longer is sits.
Using a serrated knife can aid in the cutting of grapes. I like to cut mine lengthwise into quarters so they are the perfect size for taking a bite and getting all the other flavors.
This can be due to several factors. The first is the quality of ingredients and flavor of the chicken. The second is being understood- try adding more salt or stronger black pepper. The third is leftover chicken salad, which can lose flavor when chilled. Reseason and give it a good stir. Adding another spritz of fresh lemon juice and also brighten it up.
Yes, but make sure to drain it thoroughly to prevent a watery chicken salad.
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Chicken Salad with Grapes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ cups cooked chicken , chopped or shredded
- ¼ cup celery , finely minced
- 2 tablespoons sweet onion , minced
- 1/4 cup red grapes , quartered, optional
- 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans , chopped, optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
- Bibb or butter lettuce
- Fresh tomato
- Rolls , pita bread or avocados
Instructions
- Combine the 1/2 cup mayonnaise, c1 ½ cups cooked chicken, ¼ cup celery, 2 tablespoons sweet onion, 1/4 cup red grapes, 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Serve on your choice of Rolls with Bibb or butter lettuce and sliced Fresh tomato.
- If you've tried this recipe, please come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We used Costco’s $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken. It’s always most and made a great chicken salad.
Great idea and time saver!
Chicken Salad is a favorite at our house. I usually make it pretty much the same way as yours, but I use very little (if any) mustard. I use sliced almonds instead of walnuts, and I use a combination of light & dark chicken meat leftover from a meal. A good quality mayonnaise is very important. I use “Duke’s”, but “Hellman’s” will also do. Some folks prefer “Miracle Whip”…go figure! Personally, I would NEVER serve a supermarket Rotisserie Chicken to my family! Not only are they a major ‘rip-off’, but they’re Injected with salty brine, flavor enhancers, and goodness knows what else! I prefer to buy a large chicken every week, season & roast it, and use It for one good main meal, and to have leftovers to do ‘whatever’ with for the rest of the week. BTW, I make Chicken salad Sandwiches on Croissants, with Bibb lettuce.
Indeed there is nothing beat a squeeze of fresh lemon juice into salad dressing. This sandwich looks so good and will be the perfect lunch. 🙂
You definitely cannot go wrong with a classic recipe like this! 🙂
This is one of my favorite classic sandwiches! Great for a picnic or camping!
I love chicken salad with grapes. Adding Dijon mustard is such a good trick, it really added a nice little kick!
I love this chicken salad! It reminds me a bit of Waldorf salad. Yum.